Jacob Shew
Part of a talented family of daguerreotpyists, Jacob Shew began his photographic career in 1841 in Watertown, New York with his three brothers, Trueman, William and Myron. The Shew brothers had several gallery locations in different western New York locations, then established the firm of L. P. Hayden & Co. at 1 Park Place in New York City.
A historical source lists Jacob Shew as manager of John Plumbe Jr.’s Baltimore gallery from 1843 until May of 1846. He opened his own first gallery at 17 Baltimore Street in 1847 or 1848. By 1849 or 1850 he had moved to another location in Baltimore and then went to Philadelphia to open a gallery with his brother Myron. Shortly thereafter he traveled to California, arriving during the gold rush craze. He was listed as a photographer in the 1852 California census and had several galleries in San Francisco and Sacramento.