Bellsmith, R.

Randolph "Ralph" P. Bellsmith was a professional photographer who took photographs of Norwood's residents, homes, and surroundings, Randolph P. Bellsmith, photographer, 1901

Randolph P. Bellsmith, photographer, 1901

as well as portraits of other Greater Cincinnati citizens. Many of his Norwood photographs were converted to half-tone engravings by H. W. Weisbrodt and published in Mulford and Betty's 1894 book, NORWOOD, HER HOMES AND HER PEOPLE.

Bellsmith was president of The Photographers' Association of Ohio. He won a blue ribbon, first prize, for his exhibit at the Chicago's World Fair. In 1894, his studio was located at 148 W. 4th St. (later, at 124 West Fourth Street) in Cincinnati. The Williams 1890 and 1891 Cincinnati Directories listed R. P. Bellsmith as being associated with "Marceau & Bellsmith." At that time his residence was Norwood. The 1891 directory gave his name as "Ralph P. Bellsmith."

Bellsmith lived in a large house, built by real estate developer Bofinger & Hopkins, at the west corner of the intersection of Smith Road and Forest Avenue in South Norwood. According to the 1902 Norwood Directory the address was 4325 Forest Avenue, and Mr. Bellsmith, his wife Mary, their daughter Georgina and an Elizabeth Smith (who may have been related to Mrs. Bellsmith) were listed as residing there. The Sharpsburg primary school is located there now. (The land may have been owned by the Brichetto family when it was condemned by the Norwood School District in 1955 or 1956.)

The 1900 Census had the following information about the Bellsmith family:

Randolph Bellsmith was born in February 1857, in England. Both his parents were also born in England. Randolph immigrated to the United States in 1867. He was a photographer and owned his home free of mortgage. He had been married for 16 years to Mary D., who was born in Indiana in June 1855. Her parents were born in Ireland. The Bellsmith children - Randolph Ormsby, 7, and Georgina L., 8.

The Bellsmith children - Randolph Ormsby, 7, and Georgina L., 8.

They had two children — Georgina L., who was born in Ohio in May 1885, and Randolph O., who was born in Ohio in December 1886. They were attending school in 1900. A boarder, Elizabeth C. Smith, was living with the Bellsmith's during the census. She was born on May 1820, in Ireland. Her parents were from Ireland, also. In 1848, at the age of 52, she immigrated to the U.S.A. All the people in the household were marked as able to read, write and speak English.