Alfred Shea Addis
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Alfred Shea Addis, aka A.S. Addis, Western itinerant photography, mostly known for photographs of Kansas, Mexico and the Southwest, b.1832, Philadelphia, d. September 10, 1886, Chihuahua, Mexico.
Alfred Shea Addis migrated to Lawrence, Kansas, in 1850. He found employment as a photographer’s assistant for Thomas Short. Addis later married Short’s daughter, Sarah, and the Addis’ had two children: Yda Hillis Addis, 1857, and Judge Addis, 1862.
As a confederate sympathizer, the situation in Lawrence became violent, the Addis’ and the Shorts moved to Leavenworth, Kansas. Addis started his own photography business. He advertised "Photographs, Ambrotypes, Melainotypes, Photographs framed in Superior style. Pins and Lockets filled in best style. Call and give me a trial."[1] At night he managed the Union Theater, by 1862 he owned the theater. As the potential for Civil War heated up, the Abolitionist increased their stronghold in Leavenworth. When Missouri succeeded from the Union in November 1862, violence broke out at Leavenworth. Brig General Blunt proclaimed martial law; in August Pro-slaver William Quantrill lead a brutal massacre on Free-Staters at Lawrence.[2] A.S. Addis gave a benefit performance at the Union Theater, the proceeds to go to the Lawrence victims. In January 1864, the Abolitionist burned down the Union Theater. The Shorts and the Addis’ along with their slaves fled to northern Mexico.
Once established in Mexico, Addis took his daughter with him when he traveled into the wilderness searching for exotic vistas to photograph and later send to a New York photograph dealer. Addis moved his family further south into Mexico looking for new views of native people and the country. By mule train the family migrated to Mazatlan, Hermosillo. After the Civil War ended, Addis took his family aboard the sailing ship The Orizaba for California. There was news of lucrative gold and silver mines in New Mexico. Addis left his family in Los Angeles; he traveled through Nevada, to Silver, New Mexico, photographing Indian tribes and buying real estate. When he moved to Tucson, Arizona, he became the Territory Marshall. His son, now a young man, joined his father in Tucson. One night a thief robbed Addis and escaped south to Mexico. Addis and his son tracked the robber to Chihuahua, Mexico, where Addis was shot by the thief and died the following day.
