I am not really sure why I thought this fellow’s name was Conner Colter because looking at the handwriting now, it looks nothing like Conner Colter! Are those letters S or F or L or what? Fullner Falter? Saucener Salter? I really can’t make heads or tails of the handwriting.
The photographer of this mystery man was J. L. Lovell of Amherst, MA.
Who Were They? 
I thought it looked like Sumner Salter or Salten. I found a John Edward Sumner Salter born in 1856 who attended Amherst College in 1875. Maybe he is the sitter? He was born in Burlington, Iowa. He was a professor of music. There is a photo of him on his find a grave memorial. I think the ears look like a match, but the face is hard to tell because of all his facial hair. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/100242815/sumner-salter What do you think?
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Very interesting – I agree it’s not possible to tell based on the photos, but perhaps a family member will contact me. It does look like Sumner Salter to me. Interesting coincidence, my uncle specialized in Handel and played the Messiah many times for the symphony.
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