1890`s Live Bird Shooter

Discussion in 'History Buffs' started by Trap3, Oct 30, 2018.

  1. Trap3

    Trap3 Mega Poster

    HB...? What do we know about Abner Price... from Chicago I believe. In the collection is this nice old cabinet card photo from a 1890`s shoot at Kansas City...

    Trap3

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  2. HistoryBuff

    HistoryBuff US Navy Retired US Navy Retired Founding Member Forum Leader Official Historian Member State Hall of Fame

    Wow Trap3,

    Thank you for posting your cabinet card picture of Abner Price. I had never come across a picture of him before in any of the sporting journals. Most likely since he died in 1905. He's buried next to his wife Imogene at the Oak Woods Cemetery in Chicago. I have never found an obituary either and was surprised that his passing was not in Sportsmen's Review since he was a well-known shooter who shot with the best.

    HEADSTONE-PRICE, Abner.jpg

    As you have noted, the picture is likely from the 1890s and might even be related to the challenge matches between the Chicago and Kansas City teams.

    Abner was a mason contractor in business with his brother Cornelius and together built many of the structures in the Chicago Loop.

    Mr. Price competed with some of the best shooters in the land: Thomas A. Marshall, J. A. R. Elliott, George Roll, Adam H. Bogardus, Chauncey Powers, the Kleinman Brothers, etc. Abner actually had a couple shoot offs with A. H. Bogardus. I'll provide the full report.

    He held several offices in local gun clubs (Kinnicott GC, Audubon GC & English Lake Shooting & Fishing Club) and leadership positions the Illinois State Sportsmen's Association along with his brother William. He was one of the main promoters of the ISSA back in 1874 and help develop the ISSA Rules for trapshooting that many other states used for their tournaments.


    1874-03-11 Formation of ISSA.jpg

    He was a fierce promoter of fish and game preservation and pushed for laws to protect game from being depleted.

    I'll put together some of his major accomplishments in a follow-up post.

    The earliest I have him first shooting is in 1870. He shot well so I'm certain he had been shooting several years before that.

    He should have been inducted in the first couple years of the Illinois Trapshooting Hall of Fame in my opinion. And how could Illinois have overlooked the Kleinman Brothers (Abe, George, Henry & John)?


    A great piece of history you have shared with us Trap3 and I greatly appreciate it.

    HB
     
  3. Trap3

    Trap3 Mega Poster

    HB... you`re very welcome. Glad to share... Hadn`t researched Mr. Price but remember Dick Baldwin mentioning him competing with the Kleinman brothers... Thanks for the research!

    Trap3
     
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  4. Jakearoo

    Jakearoo Mega Poster Forum Leader

    You guys are amazing. I mean, amazing. Both of you. (HB you flat out blow my mind.)
    I've said it before, but I sure hope you all are putting all your incredible knowledge into some form that will survive.
    Thank You and Best Regards, Jake
     
  5. HistoryBuff

    HistoryBuff US Navy Retired US Navy Retired Founding Member Forum Leader Official Historian Member State Hall of Fame

    Well thank you Jakearoo. Thank you on behalf of everyone with a passion for trapshooting history, especially those with a willingness to share. There are several members on this site who have remarkable collections of information and memorabilia, some I know personally, others who I've never met but still hold in high regard.

    All my historical documentation is on file and backed up daily on an external hard drive. This is necessary since I conduct research almost every day. I have files on a great many subjects from shooters, traps, targets, trophies, tournaments, gun clubs, rules, state associations, state shoots, etc. I've enjoyed compiling these subjects for nearly the last 25 years but get more enjoyment from sharing this information with others.

    All the accolades should go to those who took the time to write-up and insure that their report made it to publication the last couple of centuries. I'm grateful for them every time I read their reports.

    Enjoy Our History !

    HB
     
    Last edited: Nov 5, 2018
  6. History Seeker

    History Seeker A NoBody Founding Member Official Historian

    Well HB, You certainly have made our household much more enjoyable with all of your information.
    MINI-MU WALL CHART.JPG
     
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  7. HistoryBuff

    HistoryBuff US Navy Retired US Navy Retired Founding Member Forum Leader Official Historian Member State Hall of Fame

    And another history buff heard from.

    Great collection of trapshooting memorabilia Brad's friend (I hope). Thanks for sharing.

    Hey, isn't that a Terry Jordan Wall Chart hanging beyond those gun barrels? His chart sure helped me.

    HB
     
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  8. History Seeker

    History Seeker A NoBody Founding Member Official Historian

    Terry's Chart has helped so many HB.

    The chart was a fitting thing to have in my den with my small (Mini-Mu) collection
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  9. HistoryBuff

    HistoryBuff US Navy Retired US Navy Retired Founding Member Forum Leader Official Historian Member State Hall of Fame

    That's a nice old DuPont Hand Trap you have.

    I have a couple of these old Hand Traps.

    MITCHELL, DUPONT & RIMCO-2.JPG

    The J.C. Hand Trap was invented and patented by John C. “J.C.” Porterfield, of Columbus, Ohio. In his patent, No. 706,342, granted August 5, 1902, Porterfield assigns or sold rights to his patent to Harry S. Mitchell, (The Mitchell Manufacturing Company) of London, Ohio.

    1902-09-23, Invention.jpg

    John S. "Jack" Fanning, sometimes referred to as "Sharkey" went around the county exhibiting these hand traps at gun clubs. He was known as one of the best to use this trap, often throwing targets so difficult that even the experts couldn't break many targets.

    HB
     
  10. Trap3

    Trap3 Mega Poster

    Here are some ads showing the original New J C Hand Trap, Price $2.40... Fanning showing the uses of the DuPont Hand Trap and colorful DuPont ad insert from period shot shell box...

    Trap3

    J C Hand Trap Ad (2).JPG

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  11. BOB711

    BOB711 Member

    Old pictures are great, amazing how well they shot the old guns
     
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