The Shelby Museum Of History 
Recorders of Shelby Pictorial History Early Shelby Photographers and their Photographs Augustus J. Longe (c. 1866 - c. 1868) (1870 - 1872 in Kenton, Ohio) Augustus Longe born c. 1800 in the Sachsen region of Germany came to the United States in 1836 with his wife Ester and family of 3 children: Charles, Edward and Julia Ann. The following year their fourth child Harrison was born in Northampton County, Pennsylvania. Four more children: William Henry, Caroline, Augustus and Caroline (I don't know why there are two girls listed with the name Caroline) were born in Pennsylvania before the Longe family moved on to Sandusky Twp, Crawford County, Ohio. The 1850 census indicates that Augustus Longe Sr. was a weaver by trade. Sometimes this would indicate a weaver of coverlets as discussed in the section on area weavers, The following ad ran in The Shelby Pioneer newspaper in May 0f 1859. It appears to have been running since September of 1858 which suggests the Longe family has moved to Shelby and they are involved in many aspects of the woolen business. Notice that they are offering blankets and coverlets. Whether this includes jacquard style coverlets is uncertain. 
Shelby Museum The Woolen Factory mentioned in the above ad was probably located between the Black Fork and Washington Street, just south of what is now Whitney Ave. It would have been just north of where City Mills was built along Main Street west of the Black Fork. It was on this site that the Shelby U B Church was later located. The 1860 census confirms the Longe family have moved to the village of Shelby and Augustus Sr. lists his occupation as "clothier". Oldest son Charles has recently married (c. 1857) and he and his wife Mary have started their family with the birth of Emma in 1858. Charles also lists his occupation as "clothier". Son Augustus does not appear in the Longe household in the 1860 Shelby census. 
Shelby Chronicle Advertisement By the 1870 census, Augustus Sr. and Charles Longe both indicate they "work in a woolen factory" and reside in Shelby. This is in line with the occupation of "weaver" and "clothier", but doesn't explain the advertisement (above) that began running in the Shelby Chronicle on May 23, 1867 or the following photograph: 
Picture courtesy of Robert Sponseller Myers Garrett - April 1866 (For information concerning Myers Garrett, please see the Mrs. Mary Madden section.) The above photograph proves that A. J. Longe was in the photography business in Shelby prior to his purchasing Mrs. Mary Madden's equipment in May of 1867. (As an additional matter of interest, was the above photo taken with a drop and a cutout for Myers' face? ) About one year later an article appeared in the Chronicle newspaper that read as follows: Photographs for all -- A visit to the rooms of Mr. Longe will satisfy the most skipticle (sp) that he understands his business. We have visited a great many operating rooms, and are free to confess that we have never seen one that recomends (sp) itself as does the one now used by him. His operator Mr. Smith, of Hamilton, Canada, is an artist of ten years experience (Fred Smith was 19 years old at that time.) and a gentleman of fine abilities. We hope that the citizens of Shelby will support well this new gallery. Shelby Chronicle - May 16, 1868 * 
Picture courtesy of Robert Sponseller After purchasing the "Stock and Fixtures" of Mrs.Mary Madden, on December 25, 1867 A. J. Longe presented the above complimentary photo to Julia Elizabeth DuBois - oldest daughter of Hobart Graves and Lucy Minerva Boardman DuBois. (In 1870 the H. G. DuBois family was living in Plymouth Township.) (Eugenie Marie de Montijo was wife of Napoleon III and Empress of France. She became widely discussed when Sultan Abdulaziz of Turkey visited France in 1867. She returned his visit in 1869 to emphasize the strong relations between the two empires.) Surviving photographs seem to show a resemblance between Empress Eugenie and Julia Elizabeth Dubois. Who was the presenter: A. J. Longe? How does a "weaver" or "clothier" conduct a photography studio business? That puzzlement was probably answered when Augustus and Ester's youngest son Augustus (bn. c. 1844) was located in the 1870 census. He was then living in Kenton, Hardin County, Ohio and he listed his occupation as "daguertype artist". It can be assumed that son Augustus Jr., after the period of the Civil War and the popularization of photography, the return of Zackary Taylor, and the appearance of Frederick Smith, saw a business potential in this area for another photography studio. It is not known at this time whether Augustus Jr. had any experience in photography but certainly Frederick Smith had a good background. The combination of Longe, who was 24, and Taylor, who was 20, and the 19 year old Smith would perhaps be just what this community needed. It appears that something went awry not long after this studio was born, because Augustus Longe Jr. was in Kenton, Ohio in 1870, less than two years after the article appeared in the Shelby Chronicle. Taylor and Smith were running advertisements in the Shelby Independent News less than a year later. It seems that a breakup occurred and Augustus Jr. moved on while Taylor and Smith remained together for a few more years. 
Notice - Shelby Times - Feb. 6, 1868 issue Note - January 4, 2008: James Hennessy found the above notice which confirms the break-up of the Taylor - Longe partnership and the end of the Longe & Taylor photographic era in Shelby. Thank you again Jim for your contributions! Since thie Longe & Taylor partnership lasted only a short time, the number of photos taken must have been much smaller than those from Mary Madden or Taylor and Smith. 
This photograph must have been taken during the period 1867 to 1868. By 1869 Taylor and Smith were taking photos like the one below using the same backdrops and props (table) as was used in the Longe and Taylor photo. 
Picture courtesy of the Shelby Museum In September of 1870 A. (Augustus) J. Longe, resident of Kenton, Ohio signed papers to sell Shelby lot 534 to David Lowrie of Shelby. Lot 534 is adjacent to the current location of the Shelby Museum. The evidence seems to indicate that it was Augustus J. Longe, son of Augustus & Ester Longe and brother to Charles and William Henry Longe, that was the "Longe" in the Longe & Taylor partnership. 
Augustus J. Longe (c. 1868-1870) This CDV was just discovered (February, 2008) in a collection of Shelby area photos. It is signed "Gus Longe". The style of dress as well as the construction of the photograph indicate the photo was probably taken in the late 1860s. This provides further proof of the existance of a dapper, younger Augustus Longe in the Shelby area. A. J. Longe continued his career as a photographer and "daguertype artist" in Kenton, Hardin County, Ohio. He soon formed a Longe & Baker partnership that appears to have lasted just a few years. 
Picture courtesy of Robert Sponseller Mary Ella DuBois c. 1872 (Mary Ella, born 1855, was the youngest daughter of H. G. & Lucy Minerva Dubois.) 
c. 1870 - 1872 He later produced photos labeled " A. J. Longe's Fine Art Studio" in Kenton, Ohio. Mr. A. J. Longe was no longer living in Kenton, Ohio in the 1880 census and we can find no later information on him. If you have further information concerning the Augustus Longe family or have a Longe and Taylor photograph that you would like to share, please contact the Shelby Museum. * Thanks to James Hennessy for finding the article in the Shelby Chronicle that started the hunt for a Mr. Longe and his photographs.... If you have questions or if you would like to add information, please contact :