J.W. Graham was interviewed by the Kansas City Times on October 23, 1948, his 92nd birthday. Mr. Graham was a photographer with 6 years experience in 1882. In the interview he recalls how on Monday April 2, 1882, he started a new job working as a photographer for R.C. Smith, manager of the photo studio in St. Joseph, owned by attorney James W. Porch. On Tuesday April 3, 1882, Jesse James was shot and killed in St. Joseph, Missouri, and Mr. Graham was given written authorization by the city marshall Enos Craig, for the exclusive privilege of photographing the body of Jesse James at Siedenfadens's undertaking establishment. After a short delay waiting for the coroner ("young Dr. Heddens" whose father was also a doctor) to finish his examination, Mr. Graham photographed the body of Jesse James. Mr. Graham said that for months they shipped out hundreds of the photographs daily. A couple of days later, Mr. Graham also photographed Bob and Charlie Ford in the city jail, noting that the Ford brothers were wearing their firearms in their cell for their protection. When the photo studio was sold a few years later, Mr. Graham retained the James negatives, but the Ford negatives went to the studio owner, and later reported stolen. The interview with Mr. Graham was published in the Kansas City Times on Friday November 12, 1948, along with a picture he'd taken of Jesse James body. Mr. Graham died shortly after this, before the end of the year, as indicated by his marker.
J.W. Graham was interviewed by the Kansas City Times on October 23, 1948, his 92nd birthday. Mr. Graham was a photographer with 6 years experience in 1882. In the interview he recalls how on Monday April 2, 1882, he started a new job working as a photographer for R.C. Smith, manager of the photo studio in St. Joseph, owned by attorney James W. Porch. On Tuesday April 3, 1882, Jesse James was shot and killed in St. Joseph, Missouri, and Mr. Graham was given written authorization by the city marshall Enos Craig, for the exclusive privilege of photographing the body of Jesse James at Siedenfadens's undertaking establishment. After a short delay waiting for the coroner ("young Dr. Heddens" whose father was also a doctor) to finish his examination, Mr. Graham photographed the body of Jesse James. Mr. Graham said that for months they shipped out hundreds of the photographs daily. A couple of days later, Mr. Graham also photographed Bob and Charlie Ford in the city jail, noting that the Ford brothers were wearing their firearms in their cell for their protection. When the photo studio was sold a few years later, Mr. Graham retained the James negatives, but the Ford negatives went to the studio owner, and later reported stolen. The interview with Mr. Graham was published in the Kansas City Times on Friday November 12, 1948, along with a picture he'd taken of Jesse James body. Mr. Graham died shortly after this, before the end of the year, as indicated by his marker.
Family Members
Children
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Records on Ancestry
Advertisement
