John C. H. Grabill (1849United States Census, 1850, Ohio, Clark County, Donnelsville, Bethel Township, lines 22–27, page 100b, image 206, August 6, 1850 – 23 August 1903) was an American photographer, known for his historical photographs, most of which were taken in South Dakota. He was born at Donnelsville, Ohio in 1849, the youngest son of David Grabill, a carpenter by his wife Catherine, née Kay.Clark County, Ohio, Register of Marriages, 1818–1865, January 11, 1838 marriage between David Grabill and Catherine KayUnited States Census, 1850, Ohio, Clark County, Donnelsville, Bethel Township, lines 22–27, page 100b, image 206, August 6, 1850 By 1860 the family had relocated to Champaign, IllinoisUnited States Census, 1860, Illinois, Champaign County, City of Champaign, lines 20–26, page 642, October 3, 1860 where Grabill spent his formative years. He was involved in mining in Pitkin and Chaffee Counties in Colorado.
Grabill had studios in Buena Vista, Colorado, Sturgis, Deadwood, Lead City and Hot Springs, South Dakota and Chicago, Illinois. He was the official photographer of the Black Hills and Fort Pierre Railroad and the Homestake Mining Company in South Dakota.Mildred Fielder Railroads of the Black Hills Superior Publishing Company; (1964)ASIN: B0007E4QJU Photographs on pages 45, 63 and 118 are credited to Grabill, courtesy of the Homestake Mining Company and Mrs. James O'Hara Between 1887 and 1892 Grabill sent 188 photographs to the Library of Congress for copyright protection. These photographs are now in the public domain.
Mining Grabill was involved in mining and prospecting in the Aspen, Climax and Buena Vista, Colorado area as early as 1880.Leadville Daily Herald; December 8, 1880 Mr. John Grabill has a four foot vein of Copperas on Maroon Mountain"Aspen Weekly Times; May 14, 1881 "We are pleased to note the Mr. John C. H. Grabill, who has been ill with bilious fever, is convalescent"Aspen Weekly Times; December 10, 1881 "Mr. J. C. H. Grabill returned to see his many friends in Aspen this week. His address will be Buena Vista this winter." He was the owner, with partner H. McCall, of the Mammouth and Vallejo mines on Aspen Mountain.Rocky Mountain Sun; November 22, 1884 He was involved in placer mining in Chaffee County as early as 1883.Buena Vista Democrat; March 1, 1883 "Mr. Grabill has made arrangements with Win. Belly, C. H. Stuart and Wm. H. Wyatt to work the placer claims owned by himself and others, situated about three miles south of Buena Vista, on tho Arkansas, and containing about 400 acres. These gentlemen went to work on Monday, and in ten hours obtained five and one half Drachms of pure gold, by means of a rocker, and the ground was frozen at that. Mr. Stuart, who is an experienced placer miner, thinks it the richest prospect in the state." Grabill had an assay office in Buena Vista, which burned down in 1883.Buena Vista Democrat; March 15, 1883 "Friday's Fire – The cause and origin of the fire is a mystery. It was first discovered in the rear of Grabill's assay office, a few minutes before one o'clock, and rapidly spread to the adjoining buildings. In less than fifteen minutes the entire block from the railroad the east to Tabor Street on the west, was one sheet of flames..." He opened a second office only a short time later in a different building.Buena Vista Democrat; March 22, 1883State Census, 1885, Colorado, Chaffee County, line 18, page 14b, June 1, 1885 Grabill grubstaked Nelson ("Nels") Wanemaker to stake three claims on Mount Antero for gold. Nelson Wanemaker is credited with the discovery of aquamarine and other beryllium minerals on Mount Antero in Chaffee County. Jacobson, Mark Ivan and Bryan K. Lees. 2008. Aquamarine and associated minerals from Mount Antero, Chaffee County, Colorado. The Mineralogical Record, May-June, v. 39, no. 3, p. 190. For more detail see Jacobson, M. I. 2012. John C. H. Grabill and Nelson D. Wanemaker: paths that crossed on Mount Antero. Mineral News, v. 28, no. 1 p. 1, 2, 5-7 and v. 28, no. 2, p. 1, 3-7. Grabill was also in the electroplating business.Salida Mail; Volume V, Number 49, May 8, 1885 "ELECTROPLATING. Gold, silver, copper and nickel plating of jewelry, knives and forks and all kinds of work done on short notice and satisfaction guaranteed by J. C. H. GRABILL, Buena Vista, Colo." Grabill was a Templar.Buena Vista Democrat; July 29, 1885 "The following is the result of the election of Good Templars, Saturday evening... J. C. H. Grabill... Kenneth Hartley took over the assay office in 1886.Buena Vista Democrat; June 2, 1886 "Kenneth Hartley has opened an assay office in the place formerly occupied by J. C. H. Grabill. The laboratory is being refitted throughout, new furnace, etc. Mr. Hartley's ability in this line is highly spoken of and we bespeak for the young man a good share of success..."
On October 3, 1885 Grabill married Margaret "Maggie" Gillespie,Rocky Mountain Sun; October 24, 1885 formerly of Illinois, a teacher.Salida Mail; Volume IV, Number 901, January 3, 1885
Photography
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.Buena Vista Democrat; December 16, 1885 He is noted in the local paper as producing fine photographs in March 1886.Buena Vista Democrat, March 31, 1886
In June 1886 Grabill set off on a photographic expedition to the Northwest.Buena Vista Democrat; June 23, 1886 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.Salida Mail; Volume VII, Number 8, July 30, 1886Buena Vista Democrat; July 28, 1886 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".Sturgis Weekly Record; date?, 1886 Grabill bought the McIntyre building in Sturgis, South Dakota and remodeled it as a residence and photographic studio in November 1886.Sturgis Weekly Record; November 5, 1886 "A resident Photographer..."
In 1889 the local papers reported that Grabill was moving to Chicago.The Daily Deadwood Pioneer Times (Deadwood South Dakota); January 13, 1889 "On or about February 1st Grabill to Chicago to open a gallery"The Black Hills Daily Times (Deadwood South Dakota); January 5, 1889 "J. C. H. Grabill has decided to close up his business on Feb. 1, next, and remove to Chicago, and during the present month he will sell his views of the Black Hills scenery at a discount of 25 per cent. Any of his patrons desiring duplicates of their photographs will please hand in their orders at once, as it is Mr. Grabill's intention to take all of his negatives with him." Grabill returned to the Hills and opened a new studio in Deadwood in 1891.The Daily Deadwood Pioneer-Times (Deadwood South Dakota) December 20, 1891 "J. C. H. Grabill of the defunct Grail Photograph and View company, arrived in the city yesterday from Chicago. Mr. Grabill states that he came back to resume business providing he can find a suitable location." 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"The Daily Deadwood Pioneer Times (Deadwood South Dakota); August 15, 1889 ,"Mr. Grabill, the photographer, returned Wednesday from a trip to Camp Cheyenne, away up on the Belle Fourth, where he took a photograph of all the Indians and soldiers at the camp. He was gone just one week. and says that he enjoyed himself hugely…" 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.The Black Hills Daily Times (Deadwood South Dakota); September 4, 1890
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.The Black Hills Weekly Times (Deadwood South Dakota); October 25, 1890
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.The Black Hills Weekly Times (Deadwood South Dakota); May 2, 1891 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.The Black Hills Daily Times (Deadwood South Dakota); May 1, 1891 He was in a fight on Main Street with two of his former employees, George Winchester and W. R. Locke.The Black Hills Daily Times (Deadwood South Dakota); February 8, 1891 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.The Black Hills Daily Times (Deadwood South Dakota); March 1, 1890 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.The Black Hills Daily Times (Deadwood South Dakota); August 1, 1891
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.The Black Hills Weekly Times (Deadwood South Dakota); April 14, 1891