((SEE THE LINK LISTED BELOW "IN BLACK" THAT I FOUND THAT CAN HELP IDENTIFY EACH OF THESE MEN))SOME EXAMPLES CAN BE SEEN AT BOTTOM OF PAGE..
Album cover embossed "Sir Knight Chas. C. Giers Nashville Commandery No. 1 at KT " (Note: Giers was listed in some early documents as "Charles" and "Carl" alternately). The vast majority of the images bear the backstamp of Giers, one of Nashville's most important early photographers.
Nearly all CDVs have a pencil inscription beneath identifying them.
This Reconstruction era album contains likenesses of some of Middle Tennessee's most prominent citizens including Civil War veterans and politicians. Most recognizable is Andrew Johnson, who joined the Nashville Commandery in 1859 and was elected President of the United States in 1865. Among those pictured are, George Dickel (of the whiskey business), Dr. Henry Sheffield, John Frizzell, George N. Wells, Robert Bransford, Dr. George Blackie, Sumner Kirkpatrick, W. F. Foster, Capt. William Stockell, John B. Norris, R.H. Howell, C.W. Peden, H.L. Blanton, Thompson Anderson, Frank Stiener (2 identical images), J. M. Anderson, Dr. W.H. Morgan, H.L. Claiborne, J. B. Clemmons, Capt. Geo. Dashiel, Maj. E.F. Falconet, Ed Hicks II, Edwin Fields, Morton B. Howell, Dan Hillman, Jonathan Huntingdon, J.B. Hamblin, Daniel Hillman, George Jenkins, J.C. Warner, etc. Carl C. (C.C.) Giers himself is pictured. Circa 1869.
HERE IS A LINK THAT WILL HELP IDENITIFY MOST OF THE MEN AND OTHER INTERESTING INFO ABOUT THEIR LIFE.. http://nashvillehistory.blogspot.com/2010/10/
INFO ON THE FIRST 4 MEN PICTURED IN ALBUM IS LISTED BELOW..
1ST VIEW IN ALBUM IS LISTED AS "DR. SEARS" BUT MOST LIKELY SHOULD HAVE BEEN..
SEARCY, ROBERT THOMAS..
Physician.Born Bedford County, January 1, 1824.
Created a Knight Templar in Nashville Commandery I, July 23, 1860.
POLK, LUCIUS JUNIUS..
Planter.Master Mason, Columbia; Royal Arch Mason, same place; Knight Templar, Nashville
Commandery I, December 6, 1849; was Grand Commander of Tennessee in 1860.
Died October 3, 1870.
SHEFFIELD, HENRY..
Physician.Born in Stonington, Connecticut, January 22, 1828. Married.
Master Mason, Phoenix Lodge 131, April 5, 1857; Royal Arch Mason, Cumberland
Chapter I, March 18, 1858; Knight Templar, Nashville Commandery I, March 20,
1859. Graduated in medicine at Cleveland, Ohio, February, 1852. Removed to
Nashville, March, 1855. Been Prelate and Eminent Commander of Commandery, and
Grand Captain General of Grand Commandery. Dimitted May 20, 1879.
Address—Nashville.
FRIZZELL, JOHN..Lawyer. [Entry includes engraved portrait] Born Bedford County, September 9, 1829. Married.
Master Mason, Cumberland Lodge 8, December 21, 1850; Royal Arch Mason,
Cumberland Chapter I, April 27, 1852; Knight Templar, Nashville Commandery I,
December 17, 1852; been Master of Lodge, Grand lecturer, Junior Grand Warden,
Deputy Grand Master and Grand Master of Masons; Grand Secretary and Grand
Recorder of Grand Lodge, Chapter and Commandery many years; Grand High Priest
of Grand Chapter, Grand Commander of Grand Commandery, General Grand High
Priest of the General Grand Chapter of the United States, Grand President Order of
High Priesthood. 33rd degree ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite.
Address—Nashville.
HERE ARE A FEW MORE MEN...
PRESIDENT TO BE..ANDREW JOHNSON PHOTOGRAPHED IN APRIL 1869 IN NASHVILLE WHILE CAMPAIGNING
MORTON B. HOWELL..SERVED AS MAYOR OF NASHVILLE FROM 1874-1875
DICKEL, GEORGE A..WHISKEY Merchant.. Member of Nashville Commandery I.
BLACKIE, GEORGE STODART..A.M., M.D., Ph.D. (CSA SURGEON) Born in Aberdeen, Scotland, April 10, 1834.
Knight Templar, Edinburgh, Scotland, April, 1857; affiliated with Nashville
Commandery I, 1860; created Knight Commander of Grand Priory of Scotland, 1870;
Grand Commander 1871; Assistant Grand Recorder of all Grand Bodies; Chairman of
Committee on Foreign Correspondence; been Master of Lodge, High Priest of
Chapter, President of Masonic Board of Relief, Nashville; honorary member of Grand
Lodges of England, Scotland, Ireland, Portugal, Brazil, Canada, Three Globes Prussia,
Friendship, Prussia, New Brunswick, Georgia, South Carolina, Grand Chapter of
Georgia, Illinois, Canada, Maryland, and of St. Louis Commandery, Mo.
Died June 19, 1881.
STOCKELL, WILLIAM..
Chief of Fire Department.Born Malton, Yorkshire, England, October 17, 1815. Married.
Created a Knight Templar in Nashville Commandery I, March 30, 1868. Charter
member of King Cyrus Chapter 107, and Treasurer of same from organization to date.
Has received the 32d degree of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite.
Address—Nashville.
ANDREWS, MARK L. Born Fayette County, Kentucky, December 2, 1796.
Was created a Knight Templar in Nashville Commandery I, 1848. Was Clerk of the
County Court of Williamson County for thirty-four years to September 1, 1874.
Became a minister of the Gospel in 1822, M. E. Church. In 1874 this aged Knight
wrote: "I yet love Masonry, and love to mingle with the members of the order.”
THE LAST VIEW IS OF:
O’CONNOR, MATTHEW..Locomotive Engineer.