This photo is strangely not in as good of condition as many of the other photos in the Dobb Long Book. I suppose it could be that whomever put together the album gathered up all her cabinet cards to insert & protect, and some of them had become a little worn somehow. This fellow is a fresh faced young man, just on the cusp of manhood. He is not yet married I suppose, because he wears no wedding ring. He does wear a nice chain for his watch.
The photographer was Reed in Clinton, IA. I found a reference to a J. H. Reed as a photographer in Clinton, IA in 1884, and another reference to Reed as a landscape photographer. I’ll date this photo to 1885-1890. I don’t know much about men’s fashions to date it any better.
Who Were They? 
Oddly enough, this guy looks like my neighbor – he runs a landscaping crew.
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His suit looks like it is heavier winter weight…I wish I knew more about mens clothing too:)
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