IN THE LITTLE VILLAGE OF BIG HORN, WYOMING, ON SEPTEMBER 11, 1886, Jessamine Spear was born to pioneer parents Willis and Belle Spear. Her love of photography began in 1897, when her mother, Belle, bought a glass-plate Kodak camera. When Belle put that camera in Jessamine’s 11-year-old hands, her life changed focus forever. Jessamine assisted her mother throughout her childhood in taking and developing photographs.
Jessamine went to grade school in Big Horn and high school in Sheridan, then married cattle and sheep rancher Will Johnson in 1906. For Jessamine to find time to work with her photos often required great determination. Her love of creating images necessitated different priorities from the usual housewife and mother. During her lifetime she raised seven children, assisted her husband in running three different ranches, and finally, from 1930 until retirement in 1943, with
