Abraham Lincoln photograph taken by Samuel G. Alschuler April 25, 1858 Urbana, Illinois

The photographer was Samuel G. Alschuler, a German-Jewish immigrant , who came to America in the 1840’s. He  lent Lincoln his velvet collared coat to wear in the April 25, 1858 photograph. He took a second photograph of Lincoln in Chicago on November 25, 1860.  This photograph was the first one taken with Lincoln growing a beard.Alschuler also took a photograph of Lincoln’s Funeral procession when it passed through Chicago in 1865.

Samuel G. Alschuler is the great grandfather of Jean Powers Soman.