Full Name

Email Address

Phone Number

Photographer

Message

Information and Sources about this Photographer

Raw Data - E_Person

ID: 1156
CATNUM: 1257
IsPhotographer: True
IsArchitect: 
NameFirst: Mayhew ~James Nelson
NameLast: Mayhew
NameMiddle: Nelson
NameMaiden: 
NameUsed: 
NameNewFirst: James
PersonHonorificTypeID: 
PersonSuffixTypeID: 
PersonStatusTypeID: 
PersonSexTypeID: 1
PersonColorTypeID: 
BirthMonth: 12
BirthDay: 13
BirthYear: 1838
BirthCA: 
OriginalBirthCity: Shelbyville
OriginalBirthState: IN
OriginalBirthCounty: Shelby
OriginalBirthNation: USA
DeathMonth: 6
DeathDay: 26
DeathYear: 1920
DeathCA: 
DeathCause: 
OriginalDeathCity: Indianapolis
OriginalDeathState: IN
OriginalDeathCounty: Marion
OriginalDeathNation: USA
Parents: Royal and Lucia (Huntington) Mayhew
Children: Grace Mayhew and Clara Mayhew Deacon
Spouse1Name: Amanda Edsall
Spouse1StartMonth: 9
Spouse1StartDay: 7
Spouse1StartYear: 1865
Spouse1StartCA: 
Spouse1EndMonth: 
Spouse1EndDay: 
Spouse1EndYear: 
Spouse1EndCA: 
Spouse1MarriedCity: 
Spouse1MarriedCounty: 
Spouse1MarriedState: 
Spouse1MarriedCountry: 
Spouse2Name: 
Spouse2StartMonth: 
Spouse2StartDay: 
Spouse2StartYear: 
Spouse2StartCA: 
Spouse2EndMonth: 
Spouse2EndDay: 
Spouse2EndYear: 
Spouse2EndCA: 
Spouse2MarriedCity: 
Spouse2MarriedCounty: 
Spouse2MarriedState: 
Spouse2MarriedCountry: 
Spouse3Name: 
Spouse3StartMonth: 
Spouse3StartDay: 
Spouse3StartYear: 
Spouse3StartCA: 
Spouse3EndMonth: 
Spouse3EndDay: 
Spouse3EndYear: 
Spouse3EndCA: 
Spouse3MarriedCity: 
Spouse3MarriedCounty: 
Spouse3MarriedState: 
Spouse3MarriedCountry: 
Spouse4Name: 
Spouse4StartMonth: 
Spouse4StartDay: 
Spouse4StartYear: 
Spouse4StartCA: 
Spouse4EndMonth: 
Spouse4EndDay: 
Spouse4EndYear: 
Spouse4EndCA: 
Spouse4MarriedCity: 
Spouse4MarriedCounty: 
Spouse4MarriedState: 
Spouse4MarriedCountry: 
LastLivedCity: 
LastLivedCounty: 
LastLivedState: 
LastLivedCountry: 
Biography: 
MilitaryEvent: 
Output: True
CreatedDate: 10/30/2021 5:46:07 PM
CreatedBy: sa
LastModifiedDate: 10/30/2021 5:46:07 PM
ModifiedBy: sa

---

Raw Data - E_CareerPhotographer

ID: 1156
PersonID: 1156
StartMonth: 
StartDay: 
StartYear: 
StartCA: 
EndMonth: 
EndDay: 
EndYear: 
EndCA: 
KnownMonth: 
KnownDay: 
KnownYear: 
KnownCA: 
EducationCareer: 
FamilyInPhotography: 
OriginalNotes: Note: a spot check of 1860s-1880s Indianapolis city directories does not indicate that he was ever a commercial photographer, or worked for one. Listed as optician and jeweler.

Indianapolis News, June 26, 1920, p. 7 - obituary
J. N. Mayhew, Pioneer Optician, Dead at 82. A pioneer optician and photographer of this city, died of paralysis today at his home, 5501 University Avenue, after illness of a few months. Ritired about 20 years ago, after conducting the Mayhew Opotical Company at 11 N. Meridian Street, for several years. Previously he was member of the Bingham, Walk, and Mayhew Company, in which he was associated with W. P. Bingham and Julius C. Walk. His father brought family to Indianapolis in 1844 from Shelbyville, after being elected treasurer of state. James was then six years old, and the family lived at Capitol avenue and Washington street. In his reminiscences of early days in Indianapolis, Mayhew often expressed pride in his connection with the City Grays, an organization famous in its day. As a corporal in the guard, he was member of the bodyguard which protected President Lincoln when he passed through to Washington. The City Grays were Democrats, and always paraded on Jackson day. [Recalls his memories of Lincoln speaking from Bates House balcony.] Two daughters survive: Miss Grace Mayhew and Mrs. Clare M. Deacon, both of Indianapolis. Burial in Crown Hill Cemetery.

From "History of Weather Observations Indianapolis, Indiana 1861-1948" by Glen Conner, Scottsville, Kentucky (found on Ancestry.com), p. 31 - Royal Mayhew, father of James N., was first official weather observer in Indianapolis. Born in Maine in 1805 and moved with his family to Shelby County in 1819. Practiced law. Moved to Indianapolis in 1844 after he was elected to be State Treasurer. He served on City Common Council of Indianapolis 1848-1849. Was member of Gov. Wright's Board of Agriculture organized in 1851. Owned valuable property on the SE side of Circle and owned West Mills in Indianapolis. He submitted his weather observations to the Smithsonian Institution from January 1864 until shortly before his death on March 11, 1865. 

1880 Indianapolis Census, 38 W. St. Clair Street
James N. Mayhew, 44?, b. IN, parents born Maine, dealer in jewelry

Mayhew and Comstock listed in Indianapolis newspapers between October 1884 and February 1885. Indianapolis News, February 20, 1885, p. 4 has Notice of Dissolution of Mayhew & Comstock (J. N. Mayhew and Horace A. Comstock) in the jewelry business in this city, dissolved Feb. 14, 1885. Certain accounts transferred to H. A. Comstock. Liabilities of the firm to the above date are assumed by J. N. Mayhew, who will continue the business at 23 West Washington Street.

Indianapolis News, June 12, 1886, p. 4 - Ad for auction sale of jewelry, stock, and fixtures of J. N. Mayhew at 23 West Washington Street by order of the Superior Court.
Martha Mayhew, 34, wife, b. Penn.
Grace, 13, b. IN
Clara, 3, b. IN

Note: His daughter Clara Mayhew Deacon had 2 children. She died in 1856 in Santa Barbara, CA.

From an ebay auction of a salt print 1864 portrait of James Nelson Mayhew (viewed on July 17, 2020) - During the Civil War, James N. Mayhew served with the 11th Regiment, Indiana Infantry as a Private and then Second Class Musician.  There are four letters from him held in the Indiana Historical Society archive written during his Civil War service.  One internet source has him discharged August 14, 1862 while another source lists it as July 19, 1863.  In either case, this portrait was clearly taken shortly after his discharge.

In the book Sketches of Prominent Citizens of 1876, with a few of the Pioneers of the City and County Who Have Passed Away, by John H.B. Nowland, 1877 presents a notation on Royal Mayhew that reads:
Royal Mayhew was among the early settlers of Shelbyville, Indiana.  He was a native of Penobscot county, Maine born on the 18th of January, 1805; his father, Elisha Mayhew, was also born in the same county in 1769.  They were lineal descendents of Thomas Mayhew (governor and patentee of Martha’s Vineyard and Elizabeth Isles), who removed from Watertown, Massachusetts and commenced the settlement of Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket in 1842. Elisha Mayhew and family emigrated to the west in 1818, landing in Cincinnati on the first day of January, 1819.  He then removed to Dearborn County, near Lawrenceburg, where he remained until 1822, settling the latter year in Shelbyville, which was then but a village of about a dozen log cabins. In 1844 Royal Mayhew was elected Treasurer of State, and removed to indianapolis.  After serving out his term of office, which was three years, he engaged in mercantile pursuits.  He then purchased the well known and valuable property known as “West’s Mills,” together with the residence and lands adjoining; here he continued until the time of his death, the 11th of March, 1865. At the time of his death Mr. Mayhew owned some valuable city property on the south-east side of the Circle, on Circle street.
He has several children yet residents of the city.  Oscar Mayhew, the eldest son, has been for several years connected with the agricultural and geological departments of the State.
The youngest son, James Nelson Mayhew, is and has been for some time connected with Moses, the well-known optician.  A daughter, relict of the late William Cox, the once popular druggist of East Washington street.  During Mr. Mayhew’s twenty-one years’ residence in Indianapolis, he enjoyed the confidence and respect of the entire community, and long will he be remembered as one of the best State officials, looking more to his duty to the public than to accumulating money for himself.

In the book The City of Indianapolis, The Advantages Offered for Business Location and the Investment of Capital, 1889 the following entry is noted: James N. Mayhew --Practical and Expert Optician; 13 North Meridian street. --A practical and accomplished optician, educated to the profession and possessing a thorough and extensive experience, a comprehensive and accurate knowledge of the principles of optics and their application to the aid of defective vision, is Mr. James N. Mayhew.  He has been thus engaged in this city for over twenty years.  For a period of fifteen years, hew was associated with Moses, the well-known spectacle man, subsequently in the jewelry and optical business on his own account, being then located on West Washington street, and so continuing until 1886, when he abandoned the jewelry department that he might devote himself exclusively to his present lines, and removed to the premises now occupied by his business, at 1 North Meridian street.  They are handsomely arranged and appointed, and contain every appliance requisite to the successful prosecution of the service.  He carries full lines of optical goods and supplies, embracing best manufacture, in the latest designs and at the lowest prices consistent with their valuable properties.  His particular specialty is the filling of oculists’ prescriptions with exceptional care, making repairs neatly and promptly and attends to the details of the business and the acknowledgement of orders in the most satisfactory manner.  Persons who appreciate the importance of having frames and lenses properly fitted or re-set, are recommended to Mr. Mayhew with the assurance of honorable treatment.  He does a large trade in the city and has acquired the patronage of the most distinguished oculists throughout the State, by whom and the public generally, his establishment is regarded as the leading and most reliable of its kind in Indiana.
OriginalWorkerTypes: photographic materials, photographer
OriginalProcesses: 
OriginalFormats: 
OriginalOccupation: Jeweler, optician
OriginalCombination: 
OriginalSources: 
SeeAlsoPhotographer: 
SeeAlsoStudio: 
CreatedDate: 10/30/2021 5:46:07 PM
CreatedBy: sa
LastModifiedDate: 10/30/2021 5:46:07 PM
ModifiedBy: 

---

Raw Data - E_Location, E_Studio

PersonID: 1156
CATNUM: 1257
NameFirst: Mayhew ~James Nelson
NameLast: Mayhew
LocationID: 602
Address1: 
Address2: 
City: Indianapolis
State: IN
StudioID: 602
----------------------------------
ID: 602
StudioName: [be7bf654-932e-4fe4-8b76-2460df3b86ff]
SeeAlso: 
SeeAlsoPeople: 
SeeAlsoStudio: 
StudioSummary: 
Sources: 
Output: False
CreatedDate: 10/30/2021 5:50:38 PM
CreatedBy: sa
LastModifiedDate: 10/30/2021 6:07:12 PM
ModifiedBy: sa

----------------------------------
Name: [be7bf654-932e-4fe4-8b76-2460df3b86ff]
Alternate Studio Names: 
StartMonth: 
StartDay: 
StartYear: 
StartCA: 
EndMonth: 
EndYear: 
EndDay: 
EndCA: 
KnownMonth: 
KnownDay: 
KnownYear: 
KnownCA: 
StudioLocationID: 602
SeeAlso: 
SeeAlsoStudio: 
SeeAlsoPerson: 
StudioSummary: 
Sources: 
Output: False
County: Marion
Country: USA
Longitude: 
Latitude: 
NameNewFirst: James
KnownDates: 1870s, 1885
OriginalLocationNotes: 
OutputStartMonth: 
OutputStartYear: 1870
OutputEndMonth: 
OutputEndYear: 1885
OutputStartStar: 
OutputEndStar: 
OutputStartS: s
OutputEndS: 
NameMiddle: Nelson
NameMaiden: 
PersonHonorificTypeID: 
OriginalSource: Indianapolis Journal, August 16, 1885, p. 3 - Description of a party at "Glen Flora" farm hosted by Emil Wulschner. Mr. James N. Mayhew will act as photographer pro tem.

Indianapolis News, January 27, 1916, p. 7 - Shows photo of "Monument Place as it Looked in the Winter Forty Years Ago" taken by James Nelson Mayhew, now living in Irvington. Taken from upper back room in Fletcher's Bank building, a site now occupied by the Washington hotel. Photograph was taken for a stereoscope and shows a little more than half of the east side of the circle. [The Indiana Historical Society has a stereoview with this image, credited to Ingraham. Perhaps Mayhew worked for Ingraham? http://images.indianahistory.org/cdm/singleitem/collection/p16797coll53/id/3109/rec/1]

Indianapolis News, October 19, 1916, p. 20 - Photo by James Nelson Mayhew, of Irvington, of the Morton Monument in the center of the Circle.
OriginalWorkerType: 
PersonSexTypeID: 1
PersonColorTypeID: 
PersonStudioLocationID: 602




PersonID: 1156
CATNUM: 1257
NameFirst: Mayhew ~James Nelson
NameLast: Mayhew
LocationID: 5524
Address1: 
Address2: 
City: Indianapolis
State: IN
StudioID: 3957
----------------------------------
ID: 3957
StudioName: James N. Mayhew [photographers' materials]
SeeAlso: 
SeeAlsoPeople: 
SeeAlsoStudio: 
StudioSummary: 
Sources: 
Output: False
CreatedDate: 10/30/2021 5:59:47 PM
CreatedBy: sa
LastModifiedDate: 10/30/2021 6:07:12 PM
ModifiedBy: sa

----------------------------------
Name: James N. Mayhew [photographers' materials]
Alternate Studio Names: 
StartMonth: 
StartDay: 
StartYear: 
StartCA: 
EndMonth: 
EndYear: 
EndDay: 
EndCA: 
KnownMonth: 
KnownDay: 
KnownYear: 
KnownCA: 
StudioLocationID: 5848
SeeAlso: 
SeeAlsoStudio: 
SeeAlsoPerson: 
StudioSummary: 
Sources: 
Output: False
County: Marion
Country: USA
Longitude: 
Latitude: 
NameNewFirst: James
KnownDates: 1883, 1884
OriginalLocationNotes: 
OutputStartMonth: 
OutputStartYear: 1883
OutputEndMonth: 
OutputEndYear: 1884
OutputStartStar: 
OutputEndStar: 
OutputStartS: 
OutputEndS: 
NameMiddle: Nelson
NameMaiden: 
PersonHonorificTypeID: 
OriginalSource: 1884-85 Polk's Ind. State Gazetteer & Business Directory, p. 1064
Indianapolis News, June 17, 1916, photograph on James Blake's old home at North St. & Capitol Ave. "The phograph is a picture of the Blake Homestead as it was in 1883 shortly before it was removed. It was photographed by James Nelson Mayhew."
OriginalWorkerType: Studio owner
PersonSexTypeID: 1
PersonColorTypeID: 
PersonStudioLocationID: 6130




PersonID: 1156
CATNUM: 1257
NameFirst: Mayhew ~James Nelson
NameLast: Mayhew
LocationID: 2832
Address1: 76 & 78 W. New York St.
Address2: 
City: Indianapolis
State: IN
StudioID: 3957
----------------------------------
ID: 3957
StudioName: James N. Mayhew [photographers' materials]
SeeAlso: 
SeeAlsoPeople: 
SeeAlsoStudio: 
StudioSummary: 
Sources: 
Output: False
CreatedDate: 10/30/2021 5:59:47 PM
CreatedBy: sa
LastModifiedDate: 10/30/2021 6:07:12 PM
ModifiedBy: sa

----------------------------------
Name: James N. Mayhew [photographers' materials]
Alternate Studio Names: 
StartMonth: 
StartDay: 
StartYear: 
StartCA: 
EndMonth: 
EndYear: 
EndDay: 
EndCA: 
KnownMonth: 
KnownDay: 
KnownYear: 
KnownCA: 
StudioLocationID: 5849
SeeAlso: 
SeeAlsoStudio: 
SeeAlsoPerson: 
StudioSummary: 
Sources: 
Output: False
County: Marion
Country: USA
Longitude: 
Latitude: 
NameNewFirst: James
KnownDates: 1884
OriginalLocationNotes: 
OutputStartMonth: 
OutputStartYear: 1884
OutputEndMonth: 
OutputEndYear: 
OutputStartStar: 
OutputEndStar: 
OutputStartS: 
OutputEndS: 
NameMiddle: Nelson
NameMaiden: 
PersonHonorificTypeID: 
OriginalSource: 1884 Polk's Indianapolis CD, p. 730
OriginalWorkerType: Studio owner
PersonSexTypeID: 1
PersonColorTypeID: 
PersonStudioLocationID: 6131




PersonID: 1156
CATNUM: 1257
NameFirst: Mayhew ~James Nelson
NameLast: Mayhew
LocationID: 6420
Address1: 23 W. Washington St.
Address2: 
City: Indianapolis
State: IN
StudioID: 4546
----------------------------------
ID: 4546
StudioName: Mayhew & Comstock
SeeAlso: 
SeeAlsoPeople: 
SeeAlsoStudio: 
StudioSummary: 
Sources: 
Output: False
CreatedDate: 10/30/2021 6:01:42 PM
CreatedBy: sa
LastModifiedDate: 10/30/2021 6:07:12 PM
ModifiedBy: sa

----------------------------------
Name: Mayhew & Comstock
Alternate Studio Names: 
StartMonth: 
StartDay: 
StartYear: 
StartCA: 
EndMonth: 
EndYear: 
EndDay: 
EndCA: 
KnownMonth: 
KnownDay: 
KnownYear: 
KnownCA: 
StudioLocationID: 6855
SeeAlso: 
SeeAlsoStudio: 
SeeAlsoPerson: 
StudioSummary: 
Sources: 
Output: False
County: Marion
Country: USA
Longitude: 
Latitude: 
NameNewFirst: James
KnownDates: 1885
OriginalLocationNotes: 
OutputStartMonth: 
OutputStartYear: 1885
OutputEndMonth: 
OutputEndYear: 
OutputStartStar: 
OutputEndStar: 
OutputStartS: 
OutputEndS: 
NameMiddle: Nelson
NameMaiden: 
PersonHonorificTypeID: 
OriginalSource: 1885 Polk's Indianapolis CD, p. 718: listed under photographers' materials: Mayhew & Comstock, 23 W. Washington [did not look up individual listing; note: they were primarily jewelers]
OriginalWorkerType: Photographic product sales
PersonSexTypeID: 1
PersonColorTypeID: 
PersonStudioLocationID: 7201