Portrait of John G. Ellinwood, photographer. Manchester Historic Association, Manchester NH. Used with permission.
If you are a peruser of early Manchester New Hampshire photographs, no doubt you have seen his work. Known usually as “J.G. Ellinwood” John Gilman Ellinwood was born on 12 November 1844 in Deering NH, son of John B. & Leonora (Alcock) Ellinwood. John’s father was a grocer and trader while in Manchester NH. It is not known how or exactly when John became interested in photography and who he apprenticed with but very probably it was while living in Manchester.
In 1860 he was living in Hillsborough, Hillsborough Co. NH with his parents along with siblings Marcus, George, and Emma. Within a few years his family had moved to Manchester NH and he moved with them. By 1869 he was already in a business partnership with Charles McClary, as Ellinwood & McClary. They took some of the earliest stereoview photographs of Manchester scenery (in addition to that of surrounding towns such as Francestown and Concord. [Editor’s note, Ellinwood & McClary took a photograph of Fanny (Favor) Morse who was 100 years old in March of 1869 and who died in December of the same year].
