ORIGINAL CUSTER CABINET CARD PHOTO with HISTORY~ SD ~ YATES ~ GEORGE ~ MORA NY For Sale

ORIGINAL CUSTER CABINET CARD PHOTO with HISTORY~ SD ~ YATES ~ GEORGE ~ MORA NY
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ORIGINAL CUSTER CABINET CARD PHOTO with HISTORY~ SD ~ YATES ~ GEORGE ~ MORA NY:
$5000.00

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Up for sale is a fantastic, original cabinet card photograph of Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer.
This photo was taken at the Mora studio by Jose M. Mora in New York and measures approximately 7.75\" x 5.75\".

The photo is identified as K -150 in Katz\'s Book - \"Custer In Photographs\".
The photo was taken in March 1876, just three months before the Battle of the Little Big Horn.
It\'s one of the rarest and most valuable of Custer photographs.

When I first saw this photo, I thought it was odd that it had a stamp in the lower left corner. When I turned the photo over... well that\'s when the magic happened. It has provenance (a mailing label) from - I. Yates in Moundsville, West Virginia to a minister and his family... REV. WILLIAM BRANFIELD living in
RAPID CITY, SOUTH DAKOTA (see back of photo) during the gold rush days.

The other REALLY interesting thing about this cabinet card photograph is the last name noted as the \"sender\"... YATES.
I believe this cabinet card photo might have a George W. Yates connection... read further:

George W. Yates... (4th Michigan Volunteer Infantry during the Civil War)
was a close friend of Custer\'s.

He ended up in the in the 7th US Cavalry and fought...
and also died at the Battle of Little Big Horn.

George Yateshad married Lucretia Beaumont Irwin on January 5, 1865 and divorced her on January 31, 1867. Five years later, George Yates
marriedAnnie Gibson Roberts on February 12, 1872. They had three children before he died at battle.

George Yates was also part of the \"Custer Clan\" while serving under Lieutenant Colonel Custer in the 7th US Cavalry.
The \"Custer Clan\" was a group of close-knit friends and relatives of General Custer.

So, was this a GEORGE YATES family member that had sent, or just given a photo to the Reverend Branfield and family in South Dakota, where not so far away, Custer and Yates died in battle... and where both George and Libby Custer as well George and Annie Yates lived at Fort Abraham Lincoln?

*** PLEASE NOTE... The image of Custer and his wife Libby sitting at the table is NOT included in the sale and is used for references purposes only. ***

In addition to the mailing label/address sticker on the back, you also find handwritten in period ink on the back of the photo - Rev. Wm. Branfield -
Mrs. Wm. Branfield - Pearle Branfield.
Also noted on the back is \"A CHRISTMAS GIFT\" and G. A. CUSTER - 7th USSA CAVALRY... in lighter ink.
The Mora photographer tag (707 Broadway, NY )- was securely applied on the back of the cabinet card.


When viewing the pictures of the sale item, please take note of the *actual measurements* of the item in description.
In some cases, photos are enlarged to show detail.
Condition as pictured. It\'s edges are chippy, otherwise, overall, it\'s a strong image. ****Please see photos for reference****.
An AMAZING addition to any collection.
Be sure to take a look at my other sale items!

RAPID CITY, SOUTH DAKOTA during this time period:

The public discovery ofgoldin 1874 by theCusterExpedition brought a mass influx of settlers into theBlack Hillsregion ofSouth Dakota. Rapid City was founded (and originally known as \"Hay Camp\") in 1876 by a group of disappointed miners, who promoted their new city as the \"Gateway to the Black Hills.\" John Brennan and Samuel Scott, with a small group of men, laid out the site of the present Rapid City in February 1876, which was named for the spring-fedRapid Creekthat flows through it. A square mile was measured off and the six blocks in the center were designated as a business section. Committees were appointed to bring in prospective merchants and their families to locate in the new settlement. The city soon began selling supplies to miners and pioneers. Its location on the edge of the Plains and Hills and its large river valley made it the natural hub of railroads arriving in the late 1880\'s from both the south and east.
By 1900, Rapid City had survived a boom and bust and was establishing itself as an important regional trade center for the upper mid-west.

*POSSIBLE* CAPTAIN GEORGE YATES FAMILY CONNECTION! ...you decide:

George Wilhelmus Mancius Yates was born in Albany, New York on February 26, 1843. George Yates was the son of Richard and Margaret Mancius Yates.
On June 20, 1861 young George Yates enlisted in the 4th Michigan Volunteer Infantry. His duty as a Union US Civil War soldier began that same day when he was mustered into Company A. Moving up the ranks quickly, George was appointed First Lieutenant on September 26, 1862. Lieutenant Yates was wounded during the fighting at Fredericksburg in the winter of 1862.
Yates traveled toMonroe, Michiganto recuperate and there he met General George Armstrong Custer.

The two George’s became good friends very quickly. George Custer used his influence to have Lieutenant George Yates assigned to Brigadier General Alfred Pleasanton’s staff. Yates served General Pleasanton from June 1863 to April 1864. A good soldier and leader, George Yates earned several brevet promotions during the US Civil War. On March 13, 1865 George Yates received a brevet promotion to Lieutenant Colonel which was the highest rank he achieved. On January 11, 1866 with the post Civil War US Army heavily downsizing, Yates was mustered out.

George Yates re-enlisted in the army three months later and was appointed Second Lieutenant in the 2nd US Cavalry and stationed at Fort McPherson, Nebraska. On June 12, 1867 Lieutenant Yates was transferred to the famed7th US Cavalry. While serving under General (his true rank at the time was Lieutenant Colonel) George Armstrong Custer, Lieutenant Yates was a member of the \"Custer Clan\". The Custer Clan was a group of close-knit friends and relatives of General Custer.

George Yates was promoted to Captain, the rank he held at the time of his death at theBattle Of The Little Big Hornon June 25, 1876. Captain Yates most likely commanded E and F Companies during the battle. Some believe Captain Yates took command after the initial fighting at Medicine Tail Coulee, believing General Custer was mortally wounded there. Regardless of what transpired during the battle, Captain Yates was found on Last Stand Hill. If you are standing at the mass grave Soldier monument and look down the hill at General Custer’s headstone, Captain Yates’ marker is just to the right of Custer’s and a few feet up the hill.

Like the rest of the fallen Cavalry Troopers, Captain Yates was initially buried on the battlefield where his body was found. In July of 1877, like most of the fallen Officers, Captain Yates\' body was exhumed and reburied elsewhere. Captain Yates now rests atFort Leavenworth National Cemetery, Kansas.

Captain Yates left behind a wife and three children. Yates had married Annie Gibson Roberts on February 12, 1872 in New York City. Their three children were George Livingston Yates, Bessie Violet Yates, and Milnor Roberts Yates. After the US Army booted Annie Yates out of Fort Abraham Lincoln, she moved back to Monroe, Michigan. Annie was a very close friend of General George Custer’s widow, Elizabeth,more commonly known as Libbie.
Annie later spent many years teaching at Carlisle Indian School in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Annie Yates would be crushed to death in New York City in 1914 when she fell in the path of a subway train. George Yates had a previous wife before Annie. He had married Lucretia Beaumont Irwin on January 5, 1865 and divorced her on January 31, 1867.

Captain Yates’ brother-in-law, Richard Roberts, was employed in the Custer column as a civilian herder and part-time correspondent for the New York Sun. His horse gave out seventy miles from the Battle Of The Little Big Horn and Richard Roberts dropped out, luckily sparing his life.

Francis D. Yates, George’s brother, operated one of the Indian trading posts on theRed Cloud Agency. Francis and George looked so much alike that many thought they could pass for twins. Allegedly in November 1876 an Indian man came into the store and laid down a woman’s watch for trade. Francis immediately recognized the watch as belonging to Annie Yates and rushed to the counter. Captain George Yates had carried it with him during the disastrous 1876 Campaign against the Sioux and their allies. The Indian man is supposed to have looked at Francis, became extremely startled, and fled from the store never to return. Those who believe this version of the tale think the poor Indian thought that perhaps Captain Yates had returned from Last Stand Hill. What is known, is that the watch was returned to Annie Yates, a memento of her deceased husband.

Fort Yates, then in the Dakota Territory, was named in honor of Captain Yates, as was Battery Yates at Fort Baker in Marin County, California overlooking San Francisco Bay. source credit: JOSE M. MORA the photographer:

Jose Mora was born in Cuba around 1850, some sources say 1846 or 1849. The 1880 US Census lists the year as 1850. His father was a wealthy planter who sent Jose to Europe to study art, but his son became interested in photography. The 1868 Cuban Revolution forced the Mora family to the United States where the young Jose joined them. Jose studied under the popular New York City photographer, Napoleon Sarony. After gaining enough experience, Jose opened his own studio in 1870 by taking over Gurney & Son\'s gallery at 707 Broadway.

Mora soon established himself as one of the most prominent celebrity photographers in New York in only a few years. He ran a successful, profitable business, staffed by men who were listed by name (behind the scenes staff rarely got credit) in the October 1878 issue ofPhotographic Times--H. C. Terrington in charge of the reception room, A. H. Atwood in charge of printing and J. J. Montgomery in charge of the dark room. Montgomery was hailed as Mora\'s \"right-hand man both in sky-light and dark-room.\" A unique feature of Mora\'s gallery was the many backgrounds and props he used to enhance his portraits. Steps, screens, windows and rocks created an environmental effect. Most of Mora\'s sales were based upon his \"publics\" which were cabinet-card sized photographs, usually of stage celebrities, displayed in theaters and hotels in the United States and Europe. His photographs were also distributed by the New York photographic supply firm of E. & H. T. Anthony through their catalogues,

Jose Mora closed his studio in 1893, reason unknown. He was only 43 and might have changed professions.
On September 16, 1926,The New York Timesgave an account of the last days of Jose Mora. In June of that year he was found unconscious in his room at the Hotel Breslin, his bed had fallen on top of him. He had been living as a hermit since 1911, relying on other guests for food even though it was later found that he had almost $9000 in savings. He supposedly was known as \"Old Joe\" around the hotel and had padlocks put on his bathroom door to prevent himself from taking a bath. According to an article in theWashington Post(June 13, 1926), Jose learned from a quack in Italy that bathing \"would destroy a magnetic quality which gives endless life.\" Strewn about his room were scraps of food, the tub was filled with old newspaper clippings and theater programs, and photographs were pinned to the wall. His only companions being four pigeons. Mora was taken to St. Vincent\'s Hospital and, although his physical condition improved, his mental condition did not. A sheriff\'s jury found him incompetent, ordering hospital confinement. He died only about a month later on October 18, 1926. The only known next of kin were cousins in New York, Cuba and Brazil. credit source: Robert Taft & William S. sales are final and sold as is. Please ask questions prior to offerding.

PAYMENT: Paypal or…, within *3* days of sale end date.
Most items do include domestic tracking or insurance in shipping cost.
Mailing is done ***ONCE*** per week and day varies depending on orders. I\'m up front about the cost for flat rate S&H and please keep in mind that takes a percentage of mailing costs which unfortunately has to be factored in as well. I\'m also clear on MAILING so please don\'t leave less than a 5-star rating with regard to such if you’re going to offer. Thank you in advance.
Please be sure to check back for additional historical and antique items as
I’ll be adding items throughout the week.

Please note that I take pride in the historical items offered and do NOT engage in the sale of reproductions!
Thank you for taking time to look through my sale items.

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