Cokler Brothers

Cokler Brothers
Photographers
Binghamton, New York


The brothers Cokler, William B. (1853 - ) and Walter J., have only been found in two public records, both in Binghamton, New York in 1892. Williams' Binghamton Directory for that year lists Cokler Bros. (W. L and W. J. ), photographers at 254 Chenango Street, corresponding to the address shown above which was the former Daniel A. Lauder Studio. ¹ Walter J. Cokler is also listed with home at 6 Court Street. No address is given for William J. Cokler, however he is found in the New York State Census also for 1892 with his family: wife Mary (35), and children, John (16), Mary (10), Willie (9), Albert (7), and Jennie (1), all born in the United States. No entry for Walter is found in that census and no other record has been found anywhere for any of them, although the numerous instances of the surname name occur in online records for various locations. To date only the photo of the unidentified lady shown below has been found from this studio.

Acknowledgements

Notes

1. The address is four long blocks north of the downtown commercial district of Binghamton and the Broome County court house at the town center, and literally on the other side of the tracks. The former occupant, photographer Daniel Lauder, was only in business there for a few years and the Cokler Bros. studio is only found in one year. At the time competition was very high with at least sixteen other photographers doing business at the same time. The relatively remote location made it very difficult for a new studio attract customers against well-established competitors.

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References

New York, State Census, 1892

Williams, J.E., Williams' Binghamton City Directory for 1892, The Herald Publishing Co., Binghamton, N.Y, 1892