John Grabill

One of Grabill's earliest known photographs shows his photography studio and mining exchange in Buena Vista. He opened a photographic studio in Buena Vista in December 1885. He is noted in the local paper as producing fine photographs in March 1886. In June 1886 Grabill set off on a photographic expedition to the Northwest. In July 1886, on a trip to Fort Fetterman, Rapid City and other points north for the benefit of his health, Grabill suddenly became very sick in Cheyenne and Mrs. Grabill traveled to Cheyenne to help him. Before opening his studio in Sturgis, he went on a "typographical tour that included Nebraska, Kansas, Arkansas and Texas but found no country that pleased him better than the Hills". Grabill bought the McIntyre building in Sturgis, South Dakota and remodeled it as a residence and photographic studio in November 1886. In 1889 the local papers reported that Grabill was moving to Chicago. Grabill returned to the Hills and opened a new studio in Deadwood in 1891. Many articles about Grabill appear in the local papers through 1892. Many of these mention his travels to take photographs, such as his famous photographs taken during the "Indian troubles" in eastern South Dakota. These are so specific that one could actually date many of his prints. Others say that he was traveling to Hot Springs, Fort Robinson, Lead, Chadron and other locations to start studios. He was defrauded of significant money by Frank Knapp. In October 1890 Grabill traveled to Devils Tower to get signatures on a petition to create a Devil's Tower National Monument. This was presented to the President, Congress and Secretary of the Interior. He was in court in 1891 for menacing John M. Watson with a pistol to get him to leave the studio but Watson alleged that he also menaced him with it on the street. Charges against Grabill for assault, filed by Watson, were dismissed as well as a larceny charge against Watson by Grabill but Grabill was put under bonds in the sum of $100 to keep the peace and taxed $20 costs. Grabill was also fined $1 and $24 costs for carrying concealed weapons on a complaint made by Watson. He was in a fight on Main Street with two of his former employees, George Winchester and W. R. Locke. He was the victim of a theft by a man named Hilton. The article alleges that various things, such as photographic prints were stolen from the studio. While Grabill was in Hot Springs three of his employees, Mr. Rogan, Hugh Callaly and Sadie Clayton, quit. He telegraphed Marshall Garr to take charge of the Gallery quickly, alleging that these people were stealing from him. Marshall Garr closed the studio but under orders from Justice Hall to satisfy a fine and costs of $25 he closed it and placed Joseph Richardson there to guard it. In April 1891 Grabill incorporated the Grabill Portrait and View Company to succeed the business of Mr. Grabill. The company issued 1,000 shares of stock with a par value of $10,000. The company was to start studios in New York, Boston, Baltimore, Chicago and Omaha. This was to allow Grabill to take photographs rather than run the business. During this time there were rumors that he had incurred significant debt starting these other studios and that he was insolvent. In 1892 Grabill was sued by Charles H. Souder and Christopher S. Hursh. Grabill was unable to pay his debts and the Gallery and its assets were auctioned off to pay his creditors. The finished portraits were purchased by Max Fishel who offered to sell them for 25 cents each. The studio was acquired by Messers. Locke & McBride who continued to operate it. In 1892 Grabill was divorced. In 1892 and 1893 the Chicago Portrait and View Company was insolvent and being sued by its creditors. In 1893 The World's Columbian Exposition was held in Chicago. Grabill took photographs during this event. In 1893 Grabill sued the Wild West Show in Federal court for copyright infringement and sought an injunction against Buffalo Bill for copying and distributing his photographs of Indian scenes at Pine Ridge and South Dakota. The backs of Grabill's prints from this period were stamped with "Grabill Chicago Portrait and View CO., 113 Adams Street, Opposite Post Office, CHICAGO." For example, the Elmo Scott Watson collection at the Newberry Library in Chicago contains an original sepia-tone print of his iconic photograph "THE COW BOY" with this stamp.