My Genealogy Hound

C. W. VAN ALSTINE is the leading artist and photographer of Kearney, has his studio at 2111 Main street, and has had an experience of thirty years in photographic work. When a lad of twelve years he lost his father and at that early age started out to make his own way in the world He first went to work at Watertown, N. Y., where he learned the trade of carriage trimming. Abandoning it on account of his poor health he learned the daguerreotype business, traveled two years, and then located at Potsdam, N. Y., where he remained until 1877. Poor health again caused him to relinquish his business, but in 1878, however, he regained his health and removed to Big Rapids, Mich., where he opened a photographic gallery, remaining there six years, when, being attacked once more with poor health he sold out and went south to Kansas; soon afterward he went to Richmond, Va., where he remained a few weeks and recovered sufficiently to remove to and open a gallery at Red Oak, Iowa, where he soon became fully restored to health and where he remained until 1889, when he sold out and opened his present photographic parlors at Kearney.

Mr. Van Alstine has been married twice — first, in 1864, to Miss Theresa A. Clark, by whom he had one son — Charles H. Van Alstine, now a practical photographer. Mrs. Van Alstine died in February, 1878. She was a member of the Episcopal church and for many years was organist of recognized merit. In April, 1884, Mr. Van Alstine was united in marriage to Miss Emma T. Green, then of Big Rapids, Mich., but a native of Belmont, N. Y. Mrs.Van Alstine is an artist and a finished and natural retoucher, and has had, for the past eight years, the reputation of being one of the finest artists in this respect in the country. She makes it very pleasant for the ladies, as she has excellent taste in the arrangement of drapery.

Mr. and Mrs. Van Alstine rank among our best people and enjoy the confidence and respect of all who know them; they are members of the Episcopal church and Mrs. Van Alstine is a member of the K. P. Sisterhood. Mr. Van Alstine is a Royal Arch Mason. The negatives used in making the portraits of Buffalo county citizens that appear in this work were made by Mr. Van Alstine.