Edwin Valentine

Edwin M. Valentine was the eldest son born to Jonathan and Mary A. Valentine in about 1832^[1]. His parents had a farm in East Bradford Township, PA just three-quarters of a mile outside of the borough of West Chester on Strasburg Road^[2]. Jonathan Valetine in addition to farming was the Auditor for Chester County. In the 1850 Federal Census, Edwin is recorded as an 18-year-old farmer working for his father. How he learned photography is not known, but he opened his own daguerreotype studio in West Chester in 1855. The East Bradford Township tax list for that year records him as a single freeman but does not list his occupation^[3].

Edwin Valentine succeeded Pierce & Johnson at their Daguerreotype Establishment on Gay Street, West Chester, PA in April of 1855^[4]. His advertisement in the American Republican of April 10, 1855 described his studio:

Identical advertisements appeared in the Register & Examiner ^[6] and The Jeffersonian^[7] on April 28, 1855. The only other advertisement for his daguerreotype gallery appeared in the American Republican on September 11, 1855,^[8]

In this advertisement references are made to the exhibitions held in the fall by the Chester County Horticultural Society at Horticultural Hall. Trades were exhibited as well and daguerreotypes were frequently displayed. Edwin Valentine had competition coming from other Daguerreians in West Chester, namely Woodward & Cheyney and dentist Chalkley M. Valentine (no direct relation) that year.

How long he is in business at this address is a question. The Septennial Census^[9] finds him in East Bradford Township close by West Chester in 1857, his occupation listed as daguerreotypist. It is logical to theorize that he may have been living at home on his parents’ farm and commuted to his West Chester studio on a part-time basis. This would allow him to be assisting his parents on the farm as well. However, it seems that Valentine gave up the gallery by June 1857 when it became occupied by Levis Davis.^[10]

This theory is confirmed by the West Chester Tax lists for single freemen in East Bradford Township from 1856-1858. The tax collector did not name his occupation, but gives him an occupational evaluation of $100, except in 1858 it is downgraded to $50. For 1859 his entry is crossed out signaling relocation.

The 1860 Federal Census finds him living in a hotel in West Chester recorded as a 24-year-old “gentleman” a term that usually denotes a person of means who was self-employed^[11]. When he moved to the borough and how long he continued as a photographer is a mystery since he is not recorded in the West Chester tax lists during the 1860s.

1867 was a year that turned the Valentine family’s world upside down. Edwin’s father Jonathan was supervising a tree being cut down on his property when a large branch fell fracturing his skull killing him^[12]. He left behind his wife Mary, two sons and two daughters. According to his will Edwin was appointed Executor to settle the estate. However, he renounced this office appointing John Hanum in his place citing his poor health^[13].

When Jonathan Valentine died he was heavily in debt and the family farm would have to be sold to satisfy them. Jonathan had tried to sell the farm, including a stone house and barn the year before according to an advertisement placed in The Village Record February 10, 1866^[14]. According to the will all the property was sold^[15] including horses, oxen, pigs, farm products and agricultural equipment^[16], the residual was divided with each family member received $942.11^[17]. Mary and her daughters then moved into town.

The Village Record of August 24, 1867 announced the opening of a second gallery for Edwin. Perhaps his inheritance provided the funds he needed to go into business again.

This ad appeared from August 24 – September 7^th. His work is represented in the collection of the Chester County History Center by a single tintype on a carte-de-visite mount of sculptor William Marshall Swayne^[19]. The imprint of the undated tintype advertises his business at No. 7 East Gay Street, over Worrall’s Book Store.

So from this, we know Valentine grew as a photographer and progressed with the times, he learned the new processes as they came along. He was serious about his craft. Competition was stiff among the galleries in West Chester as is evidenced by the number of photographers that embarked on business in the borough, but did not stay long.

The 1870 Federal Census records Edwin living in West Chester in a boarding house, this time his occupation was as a store clerk^[20].

Valentine took on a new venture in business when he became a sales agent for a book by Drs. Daniel Garrison Brinton & G. H. Napheys, titled, “The Laws of Health”^[21]. The Village Record of January 14, 1871 reported that he was engaged in canvassing West Chester.

Then in 1877, Edwin Valentine is again recorded on the West Chester Tax List as a tenant/single freeman with the occupation of photographer. His tax evaluation is only $200 per year as compared to Thomas W. Taylor’s $400 in 1877^[22]. It is possible that he could be working for another photographer since there are no advertisements for a studio in his name nor are there any examples of cartes-de-visite, cabinet cards, or other photographs in the collection of the Chester County History Center. The only other photographer listed in the West Chester Tax List for 1877 was Thomas W. Taylor, so it is possible that Valentine was employed by him.

The tax list also records him as a photographer in 1878 and his entry in the 1879 tax list is crossed out, indicating his removal from the borough. Sadly this removal is by death.

Valentine died at age 47 on January 18th according to his obituary in The Daily Local News of 20 January 1879. The funeral was from his home at 58 West Miner St.. The obituary gave no other details of his profession or family^[23].

©Pamela C. Powell, 2019, updated June 2025.