Clarence M. Bunting

After Samuel Bunting’s death, Adaline moved in with her parents, Edward and Margaret Barry.^[1] Edward was a cabinetmaker in Oxford, PA. Unfortunately, when he was just ten years old Clarence also lost his mother Adaline on October 13, 1881.^[2] Supported by his grandparents, Clarence was educated in the common schools, completing the eighth grade.^[3] It is likely that he then began an apprenticeship to become a photographer. His uncle, John T. Barry was working at the time for Alexander McCormick at the Oxford Hall gallery, it could be that Clarence trained there or at a studio in Philadelphia.

During an apprenticeship, he would have learned how to operate a camera, develop glass plate negatives and print photographs. Posing and lighting portrait subjects was an important part of the training. His duties would have included most of the printing, trimming and mounting of portrait photographs. He is listed in the 1892 tax list for Oxford Borough as a photographer.^[4] It is likely that he was working for his uncle, John Barry, who had purchased McCormick’s gallery that year. But Clarence had paid his dues and had big dreams, that did not include the small town of Oxford.

The year 1892 brought about an opportunity for Clarence to live his dreams. On October 29, 1892, Clarence celebrated his 21^st birthday and received a bequest for $600 from his grandfather, Horatio Bunting’s will.^[5] His grandfather appointed his son and son-in-law, William Bunting and William C. Russell, to hold the inheritance until Clarence reached the age of majority. Horatio also added a codicil to his will that upon the death of his daughter Emma, $400 of her share would pass to Clarence. This gave the young photographer $1000 to begin his career.

Clarence moved to Detroit Michigan, to work as a commercial photographer. There he married Lillian G. Cherihue on December 7, 1892.^[6] She was a 17-year-old milliner in that city.

According to the 1900 census the couple was rooming at 202 Charlotte Street in Detroit.^[7] Clarence was working as a photographer. Clarence’s employer was unidentified, but there were many opportunities for commercial photographers in that city already well known as a vibrant center of industry in the United States.

At some point, the couple decided to travel to different cities where Clarence worked as a freelancer. It is not clear whether or not Lillian also had a role in their business. Their specialty was taking photographs of businesses and industries to be printed on postcards.^[8]

Meanwhile, back in Oxford, Clarence’s grandmother Margaret Ann Barry died on November 27, 1900. She died intestate which meant that the Chester County Orphan’s Court stepped in to divide her property among her heirs. The process of selling her home on Market Street in Oxford did not begin until 1908. However, Clarence who was one of her heirs, could not be located by the court. The Sherrif advertised specifically for him in the Oxford Press for three weeks running. The advertisement requested that Clarence appear for a court inquest. But far away from Chester County, Clarence was unaware of what was going on until his Aunt Maggie Barry tracked him down. Clarence wrote the following letter to Mr. Garrett of the Orphan’s Court. It was addressed from Chicago, Illinois on April 16, 1908:

This letter is evidence of Buntings’ travels during this time and his lack of correspondence with the family back in Oxford.

By the time the 1910 census was taken the couple had moved to Manhattan, New York.^[10] Here Clarence was working in Willoughby’s photographic supply house.^[11] This was a great opportunity to learn about the latest equipment and different aspects of the business.

In 1917 the couple settled in Dayton, Ohio^[12] and opened a photographic business in the historic Arcade Building.^[13] The Arcade was a prime location for shopping and business in downtown Dayton.

According to the 1929 Williams’ Dayton Directory, Clarence was a photographer with a business at 111 E. 4th Street.^[14] The couple rented a house at 341 Elmhurst Road.^[15] A sample of Clarence Buntings work during this time period can be seen in the digital archives at daytonhistory.org.

After a few years of this trade, Clarence joined the staff of the Dayton Journal Herald as a photojournalist. He worked his way up to chief photographer, staying with the newspaper for about 14 years.^[16]

After his wife’s death in 1935,^[17] Clarence took lodgings on Main Street and resigned from the Journal Herald to work as a commercial photographer.^[18] He worked for the Cornwell-Wolfe Studio^[19] located in the historic United Brethren Building at the corner of 4^th and Main Streets, today known as the Center City Building .^[20]

After an illness of about ten weeks, Clarence Bunting died at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Dayton on July 23, 1944. After both a Methodist and Masonic service, he was laid to rest in Dayton Memorial Park Cemetery beside his wife Lillian.^[21] Both Clarence and Lillian were active members of the Masons. Clarence was a member of the Masonic Lodge and the Antioch Shrine.^[22] His wife was as a member of Dayton Chapter No. 125, Order of the Eastern Star.^[23]

© Pamela C. Powell, 2023.