Timeline sources: US census, city directories, newspaper items
1838 Nov 07
Shapleigh, ME, W H Abbott is born to Milo and Maria Abbott
1863
Little Falls, NY, US civil war registration as Daguerrian and artist; res Elm below High
1870
Little Falls, NY, state business directory as photographer (no address)
1874
Little Falls, NY, state business directory, as photographer
1875
Little Falls, NY, NY state census as “Dentist” (probably a misprint)
1880
Little Falls, NY, US census as photographer; res 285 Monroe
1886
Little
Falls, NY city directory as photographer at 128 Main; res 318 Monroe
1889
Little Falls, NY, city directory as photographer with Abbott and Fletcher W Law at 547 e Main; res 609 Monroe
1892
Little Falls, NY, NY state census as photographer; no addresses
1893
Little Falls, NY, city directory as photographer at 547 e Main; res 609 e Monroe
1897
Little Falls, NY, city directory as photographer at 547 e Main; res 609 e Monroe
1898 Oct 01
William Abbott dies at age 59
The studio name and same address were carried on by his son Fred E. Abbott at least until about 1925 and then he moved the studio. He died in 1944.
Records are fairly thin for W H Abbott. It appears he was partnered with Fletcher Law in 1889 but it could possibly have been from 1887 to 1892. The cabinet cards here, imprinted Abbott and Law, would have been finished at that time.
His obituary says William Abbott was also partnered with a “Mr Gavin” but no documents were found to tell when this was.
The two cards imprinted with W H Abbott were probably done after that time. The gold lettering and edge would indicate 1890 or after.