Albumen print of Abbott Brothers Brothers Carriage Factory, London, Ontario

Samuel William Abbott (born 1840) and Hodson Gunning Abbott (born 1841) were brothers from Castlebar, Ireland who moved to London, Ontario and began Abbott Brothers Carriage Works at 308-316 Dundas Street. Samuel eventually left the company around 1883 to work as a bookkeeper for McCormick Manufacturing Co. After he left, the company was often known as H.G. Abbott Carriage Company. In 1883, Hodson’s son, Frederick A. Abbott also began to work for the company, mostly as a painter. By 1886, he had stopped working for the family firm in order to attend school. In a complete change of career, he became an elocution professor in 1890! In 1887, another son of Hodson, William, became the new painter for the carriage company. By 1900, he had become manager. After Hodson Gunning Abbott’s death in 1921, William took over. The company ceased operations in 1925, likely because of the rise of motorized vehicles. (Abbot Brothers Carriage fonds, Western Archives). J.H. Griffiths operated a photography studio in London, Ontario from 1862 to 1879.