Trying to identify this soldier painting (WWI?)

This painting came down through one side of my family which has very few photographs or genealogy to help us trace the identity of the soldier. My grandfather who owned it has since passed and my grandmother (his second wife) has no idea who it could be last time I asked her. We are hoping to do a little "reverse" research starting with what information we can glean from his uniform. So all you military historians...what does this uniform tell you?

Side note, the artist stamp on the back says: Oil and Hand Painting G.J. Davis Salem, W Va.
Thanks in advance!
Jason

 

How dear is that? Love the patriotic frame. He'd be a bit older than the average soldier, I'd think. Would you be kind enough to post a close-up of the artist's stamp?

Debora

 

http://www.doddridgecountyroots.com/tng/familygroup.php?familyID=F13412&tree=dcr

George J. Davis 1790-1868 This is the artist I think...at least gives you a time frame.

 

Above a bit early for World War I.

Debora

 

WW1 was 1914-1918...THAT is not a WW1 uniform....I would doubt it.

 

Appears to be a Doughboy uniform to me.

Debora

 

As I posted this my wife was doing about the 10th hour of her research in this and she just had a breakthrough. Now I feel a bit silly having posted, but who knew the breakthrough would come now?

You, the forum, were already all over the facts.
1. Joseph L. Wintermute was the uncle of my grandfather.
2. That painting was done years after his service in the Spanish-American War. (Hence the older look, and not being a WWI uniform)

Thank you for finding that artist info! You’re right Debora it could not have been him who did the painting, so it must have been an employee or decendent.

 

Very close indeed. It was apparently the uniform in transition between Spanish-American war and WWI. Which made this very hard to narrow down!

 

These are usually painted photographs.

 

He’s an Army or Army National Guard captain.

 

Definitely a solar enlargement, hand colored.

 

Salem was a tiny town in those days. Population less than 2,000. Likely done at the county seat of Clarksburg. The local research librarian could find information about a photographer named Davis there and the years he was operating if you want to try and fine-tune dates. Oh, and there is a local historical society. You might want to post on their web site. Someone may have more information on local military enlistments or even recognize the sitter.

http://www.harrisoncowvhistoricalsociety.org

Debora

 

A card? He was in the hospital corps from what we found. Couldn’t find him listed in any of the S-A war books we found though. Did you find his regimen/company?

 

Dr. in Asylum hospital uniform?
https://www.lib.uwo.ca/archives/virtualexhibits/londonasylum/duringwwi.html

 

1903-1907. The Joseph L. Wintermute I can find was born in 1876 in New Jersey and died in Ohio. Is that he? Served in the Philippines (Zamboango) which was an American colony at the time.

Debora

 

That link is Canadian.

Debora

 

Thanks, good find!

 

Yep that’s him! Where did you see that service?