Martin Williams Mealey was born in Canada in October 1847 to Lawrence Alonzo Mealey and Elizabeth Williams Mealey. (The 1850 census lists his birthplace as New Brunswick, while the 1860 census records Prince Edward Island.) The family moved to Lowell, Massachusetts, known for its textile mills, when Martin was very young. His father was a tailor. Martin married Agnes Averill on May 14, 1871, in Lawrence, Massachusetts.
During the 1870s, Mealey worked as a photographer and taught photography in Lawrence. A newspaper article reported that he later worked in Manchester, Haverhill, and Quincy, Massachusetts, but I have been unable to confirm this. By 1877, he had moved west and briefly owned a studio in San Jose, California. In November 1878, seeking a better climate for his asthma, Mealey relocated to Pueblo, Colorado. He set up a studio at the corner of Santa Fe Avenue and Sixth Street, and according to the local press had “one of the best lighted operating rooms in the United States.” He could produce views as large as 17 x 24”. He also sold pianos and organs. Mealey had a large trade in portrait photography. When he wasn’t in the studio, he photographed events and scenes in the community. In April 1880, Mealey began a project to document views of Pueblo and its surroundings, resulting in a large inventory of photographs. The following month, a strong windstorm broke windows in his studio.
In June 1882, Mealey opened a new five-room studio on the second floor of the Smith & Furguson block on West Fourth Street. The following year, he exhibited his photographs at the National Mining and Industrial Exposition in Denver. His exhibit was described as “a very attractive collection of photographs, which clearly proves that the southern metropolis is not behind in this art.” He attended to all sittings. His successes established him as the leading photographer in Pueblo.
In January 1885, Mealey advertised for a young man to learn photography. In May, a hailstorm destroyed the north skylight. Mealey estimated that replacing the 80 broken window panes would cost $100, and the studio also sustained water damage. In June, another unexpected storm battered Pueblo when the Arkansas River overflowed its banks—the biggest flood in 13 years. Mealey arrived on the scene to document the aftermath.
On August 7, 1885, Mealey’s youngest child, Ada Elizabeth, died at the age of seven after a long illness from heart disease.
In September 1885, Mealey participated in a large bazaar at DeRemer’s skating rink in Pueblo. Mealey’s booth displayed photographs of all sizes, many of local citizens. The booth also featured large life-sized crayon portraits. Originally scheduled for one week, the fair was extended by an additional week. During the bazaar, Mealey updated the booth with new photographs, including group portraits of the champion Pastimes baseball team, which won the Colorado state pennant in 1884 and 1885, as well as a large group portrait of the Knights of Pythias.
Later that year, DeRemer’s skating rink hosted a masquerade carnival to kick off the winter skating season. Mealey won a prize for the most original costume.
In February 1887, Mealey’s studio was completely remodeled at a cost of $500. A new reception room, measuring 50 by 20 feet, was furnished with new furniture acquired from Chicago, Brussels carpets, and curtains. The operating room, where portraits were made, was enlarged and included a large skylight and new backgrounds from New York City.
In May 1887, Mealey sold his photograph gallery for $3,000 in cash to Michigan photographer H. D. P. Reeve. Mealey planned to remain in Pueblo and manage his real estate investments. He could not stay away from his artistic pursuits for long, and by November of that year Mealey and Reeve formed a partnership, with Reeve in charge. They planned to refit and refurnish the gallery, even though it had been remodeled six months earlier.
By the following month, the partners sold the business to D. C. Desmond & Company. Mealey & Reeves stayed with the gallery in December to ensure a smooth transition. Yet again, Mealey was back in the studio in June 1888. Mealey attended to all sittings and finished all of the work.
In February 1889, Pueblo hosted its first Mardi Gras celebration. Mealey photographed the floats, the street scenes decorated for the event, and the royal family. The following year, Mealey concentrated his efforts on his real estate business. In 1893, along with his son, William Preston Mealey, he purchased Charles H. Mills’s studio. The studio was located on the south side of town above the Central National Bank. They hired Professor Larson from Denver to help finish all orders.
In December 1896, Mealey and his son moved to Phoenix, Arizona, seeking a better climate for the elder Mealey. Mrs. Mealey stayed in Pueblo, but made visits to Phoenix. There the men opened the New York Photo Studio, devoted solely to portrait photography. The Arizona weather seems to have agreed with Mealey, and in 1903 he was able to travel to Los Angeles, and then east to attend a photographic meeting in Indiana.
In 1908, Mealey purchased the long-standing Phoenix studio run by F. A. Hartwell. Madam Jettie, a hairdresser from Kansas City, was associated with the studio.
Mealey died unexpectedly on May 12, 1913, of heart disease, at his home in Phoenix. He was survived by his wife and son, William. He was interred at Greenwood Memory Lawn Cemetery in Phoenix.
Thank you to John Van Keuren and Oliver Lesniak at the Huerfano Heritage Center for sharing their collections with me and providing scans.
