Transcribed by Larry Fearneyhough
Page 141
The son of Samuel and Emma (Edwards) Mosher, was born in Winchester, Scott county, Illinois, January 11, 1870. His father was born in Stanstad, Stanstad county, Canada, in 1834. He came to the United States in the early 60's. His mother was born in Scott county, June 20, 1840, and has lived in the county all her life. She was married to Samuel Mosher, at Exeter, June 20, 1868. Watt Mosher was educated in the schools of Winchester, and it is said of him that he had a fairly good time while attending school. He cut his school days short, however, and in 1884 entered the photographic studio of Geo. Merritt at Winchester (the identical gallery in which he is now doing business) and began to learn the mysteries of the art of "striking" pictures. Photography had a peculiar fascination for the lad and he was careful to watch very closely and ask a whole lot of questions. He was even a trifle more inquisitive than the lad in the Sunday-school story of George Washington and the hatchet episode. He was in that photograph gallery for a purpose - that purpose was to learn the business, and he was going to do so by every possible means. Thus he worked on - watching and asking. asking and watching - until the expiration of two years, when he purchased the gallery of Mr. Merritt and started in business for himself. He did well, people liked his work and gave him their patronage. For some reason, at the end of the third year he owned the gallery, he closed it up and quit the business in Winchester. In order to gain experience, and know something of how other photographers did work, he traveled for six years and, during that time, worked in Des Moines, Iowa; Paris, Illinois; Terre Haute, Indiana; St. Louis and Montgomery City, Missouri. Watt was particular where he worked these six years, and accepted positions in only the very best galleries. He was after experience and he wanted to gain it in shops where they did work, and did it right. He went, he saw, he conquered. He returned to Winchester at the expiration of that time and rested for a short season. Watt was always a charitably inclined sort of a fellow. The preceding statement is a sort of a side light on the subsequent events of his life. Shortly before his return home there came along a combination printer and photographer, with a photographic car, and camped in Winchester. His experience there was the same old saw of "jack at all trades" and in few short moons the bubble of prosperity burst and the poor fellow folded his tent and stole silently away; but he left his photographic outfit and car behind - they remained in Winchester a monument to his nerve. It is just here that Watt Mosher's fine Italian hand became manifest. He took hold of that car, scrubbed it out and opened up for business. His quarters were not very elegant, but he was a workman, skilled in the art, and turned out work that could not be excelled in Jacksonville, Springfield or Quincy. He soon got the run of the paying custom and in a little while was on easy street - the high road to prosperity. For two years Watt Mosher conducted business in that old car. He did good work, and lots of it, and at the end of that time purchased of Mr. Jefferson the old studio which he had closed eight years before. In addition to being a hustler and an inquisitive sort of a lad Watt was always tasty. Today he takes a world of pride in his business, and everywhere about the gallery one can but notice the elegance of taste displayed in the cozy little nooks and corners about the place. He has the finest and most showy gallery in this section of Illinois - one of the best in the state. The finishings and furnishings are simple and elegant yet in their simplicity are rich and beautiful. He extends to his patrons, and all visitors, the glad hand and does his utmost to make their visit pleasant.
In point of equipment Mosher's gallery ranks with hte best of them. Nothing but the finest and most expensive instruments and the very best grade of materials are used. His long years of experience has enabled him to select his stock with great care and with an eye single to the needs and demands of the Scott county trade. His long suit is "striking pictures" and he is fully prepared to execute any order for photographic work, and the range may embrace anything from the smallest conceivable photo to almost a life size one. All manner of photographic work he turns out and you can get "struck" in whatever fantastic shape you desire. He uses "Aristo Platino" paper exclusively - it's the best on earth - and turns out nothing but absolutely first class work. He guarantees his work true to life, or better, and if you want to be made better looking than you really are it will pay you to see Mosher. Promptness is his motto and pretty pictures of homely people his specialty.
The work from which the majority of the engravings in this atlas were made came from Mosher's studio and no better advertisement of a man's ability can well be asked for. He is a member of Winchester Lodge, No. 609, Knights of Pythias, and is an active worker in the order, also an M. W. A., and a good fellow.