Eugene E. Flack, photographer in New York state circa 1898 – 1915.

Above, an ad from the Watertown, New York city directory in 1902.

Some brief information regarding E. E. Flack, the photographer who took the photo in our prior post:

Eugene Edward Flack was born November 18, 1872 or 1873 in Ogdensburg, New York to Elbert Homer Flack and Josephine Frances Pearce. He may have started in the photography business in his home town; the earliest city directory found online is for that city in 1898, where he is listed as boarding at 65 Morris.

By at least 1902 he had moved his photography business to Watertown, NY, residing there with his wife Harriet (Lockwood) whom he had married in April 24, 1895, and daughter, Mary who was born in 1896. The 1902 directory shows business and residence as 15 Washington. The 1905 State Census only lists his home address (though business and home could have been the same) that of 75 Franklin St.

In 1909 Eugene, Harriet and Mary moved about thirty miles north from Watertown to the small village of Alexandria Bay, on the St. Lawrence River. The Federal 1910 census shows the family living at 192 Walton St.

According to Ancestry.com family trees Eugene and Harriet appear to have divorced, and he later remarried (Mary McAfee).  The 1915 New York State Census shows he is boarding at the St. Lawrence Hotel, Alexandria Bay, and his 1918 WWI Draft Registration shows he is living in Norristown, Pennsylvania with nearest relative given as his mother, Mrs. Josephine Flack of Montgomery St., Ogdensburg, New York. Occupation for Eugene on the draft registration is clerk. The 1920 Federal Census was not found, however there is a 1930 census showing a Eugene E. Flack, photographer, and wife Mary living in Orange, New Jersey that’s a possible fit.

Eugene died in Watertown, New York, May 17, 1948.

Sources:  C. A. Williams’ 1898-1899 Ogdensburg City Directory, p. 169. Ancestry.com. U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995.

Kimball’s Watertown City Directory for 1902, pp. 106-107. Ancestry.com. U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995.

Kimball Directory Publishing Co.’s Watertown City Directory for 1909, p. 136. Ancestry.com. U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995.

New York State Department of Health; Albany, NY, USA; New York State Marriage Index. (Ancestry.com).

Year: 1910; Census Place: Alexandria Bay, Jefferson, New York; Roll: T624_953; Page: 9B; Enumeration District: 0004; FHL microfilm: 1374966. (Ancestry.com).

New York State Archives; Albany, New York; State Population Census Schedules, 1915; Election District: 04; Assembly District: 02; City: Alexandria; County: Jefferson; Page: 03. (Ancestry.com).

Registration State: Pennsylvania; Registration County: Montgomery; Roll: 1907347; Draft Board: 1. (Ancestry.com).

Year: 1930; Census Place: Orange, Essex, New Jersey; Page: 6B; Enumeration District: 0570; FHL microfilm: 2341078. (Ancestry.com).

Ancestry.com trees. Accessed December 7, 2019.

New York Department of Health; Albany, NY; NY State Death Index. (Ancestry.com).