This portrait is thought to be Isabella Knowles, wife of William Wallace Knowles. Isabella Black married William Knowles in Montreal on January 25, 1877 in Montreal. In the late 1880s, the family moved to Chicago.

Isabella was born November 30, 1853 in the Province of Quebec, Canada. She is the mother of Margaret Jane Knowles, Muriel Eulalie Knowles, and Wilfred Washington Knowles. Isabella passed away in Chicago at the age of 38 on September 1, 1892 of cholera.

The portrait was taken at Finley and Lieberherr Unique Studio at 151 22nd Street in Chicago. There was no writing on the back of the photo. However, a comparison to Isabella Black’s Wedding Portraits - Jan 1877 show a strong resemblance suggesting they are the same person ten years or so on.

Daughter Muriel was born in Montreal on Mar 20, 1886. And son Wilfred was born in Chicago on Mar 14, 1888. It appears husband William Wallace Knowles was back and forth between Montreal and Chicago as early as 1884.

Given Isabella passed away in Sep 1892 and only arrived in Chicago between Mar 14, 1888 and after Mar 1886, there is a short range for the date of this portrait. To narrow the range, I checked a listing of Chicago Photographers. In 1889, S.S. Finley was listed at 151 22nd Street. In 1890, Finley & Lieberherr were at 151 22nd Street and but they were not listed in 1891. Thus the Isabella Knowles’ Chicago portrait appears to have been taken on or about the year 1890. A possible date might be Nov 30, 1890 for her 37th Birthday.

The Leonhardt family lent the original of this Studio portrait to Dave Jordan in 1991 who photographed it. The Leonhardt connection to the Jordans is Margaret Jane Jordan and Muriel Leonhardt were Knowles sisters.

If you would like to add information about this picture, please contact Dave Jordan, a 2x g-grandson of William and Isabella Knowles. The Picture Reference Numbers are: Digitized Negatives: 173-07 and 173-23.