Bourquin, Jules A., 1877-1964

Jules Alfred Bourquin was born in St. Emir, Switzerland on November 25, 1877. He immigrated with his family consisting of five brothers, his father’s parents and his mother’s sister to Horton, Kansas in 1888. Oline’s brother, Alfred Fete owned a sporting goods, hardware, wallpaper, paints, oils and glass store in Horton. Jules spent the rest of his life in Horton where he made more than 21,000 exposures from 1898 to 1959. The majority of images were taken in and around his hometown, but the collection also includes photographs from Colorado, Missouri and Wyoming.

Jules Bourquin first went into business with his family, Emile (1851-1945) and wife Oline, who owned a jewelry store and watch repair in Horton. Emile and Oline were watchmakers for Longines’ watch factory in Switzerland and saw Horton and the railroad as an economic potential for their talents. When Bourquin became interested in photography, the jewelry store began to carry Kodak cameras, photo supplies and other photographic equipment. Bourquin set up a studio and darkroom and sold his images as postcards in the local drugstore and his father’s store. He made photographs for 62 years. In 1898, Bourquin went to a watch making and optical school in Omaha, Nebraska returning to work as an optometrist from his father’s store. When his father later died in 1945, Bourquin disposed of the jewelry stock and devoted his time to the optical business until his retirement in 1963.

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