McNear, Jennie Otis (1857- May 27, 1883)(2 of 2)
/John Quincy Reed’s Portrait Photograph of Jennie Otis McNear
THE PHOTOGRAPHER/ PHOTOGRAPHIC STUDIO:
JOHN QUINCY REED was born in 1841 in Abington, Massachusetts and died in 1902 in Petaluma. He worked as a photographer in Petaluma for over 25 years, moving his studio within the community to several different locations. He arrived into Petaluma from Stockton in 1870 and continued to work as a photographer in Petaluma until at least 1898. Many of his portraits of Petaluma’s citizens are of exceptionally fine quality. (For additional information on this photographer and to view all portraits by him in the collection, click on his name in blue above.)
THE SITTER:
Name: Jennie Otis McNear
Description: In this carte de visite, Jennie Otis McNear rests her arms on a studio prop and looks forlornly into the distance, striking a somber poise which foreshadows her early and tragic death. This portrait was taken when she was between 23 and 26 years old. Her hairstyle is that of a young woman. Parted in the center, most of her dark, wavy, locks fall freely. The top front portion of her hair has been pulled to the back, and, as a crown, she wears a heavy braided hairpiece. Her simple dress is complemented by a white lace ruff, white lace cuffs, and four streaming ribbons which gather at her neck. She wears two dark neck chains, attached to the shorter one appears to be a locket. At her throat is what appears to be a brooch and a dark bead. If you look closely, you can see she is also wearing a wedding ring. This allows us to date this photo between May 13, 1880 (the date of her marriage to George Plummer McNear, 1857-1947) and May 27, 1883 (the date of her death).
Biographical Note: Jennie Otis McNear was born in 1857 in Cannon Falls, Minnesota. At the age of seven, she moved to Petaluma with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Charles W. Otis. After graduating from Petaluma High School in 1875, she taught school in Salinas, San Leandro and San Diego. On May 13, 1880, she married prominent Petaluma businessman, George Plummer McNear (1857-1947), and together they had one child, Clara McNear (married name, Leppo). Jennie’s early, tragic death on May 27, 1883 resulted from the disastrous explosion of the steamship, Pilot, and was recounted in this excerpt from the Marin Journal, published May 31, 1883:
“No story could be more sad than that which tells of the early and sudden death of Mrs. George P. McNear. She was the idolized daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles W. Otis—their only child—and great as was their parental pride and love for her, their affection was returned with all the ardor of her strong and affectionate nature. Jennie had been a little more than three years the wife of Mr. George P. McNear, and the day of her burial, last Sunday, was the second anniversary of the birth of their little daughter. She was the very personification of rosy health; in form and feature a model of beauty; the rosy pathway of her life was reflected in her cheerful spirits, and as daughter, wife, and mother, her character seemed perfection. This was the tender daughter, the bride-wife, the clinging mother, her good-bye kiss fresh on the lips of her husband-lover and child, and her feet led by filial affection toward a suffering mother, who was met by the appalling catastrophe to the steamer Pilot last Friday.” Marin Journal, volume 23, number 12, May 31, 1883.
Family Affiliation: Jennie Otis was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs Charles W. Otis. A man named C. W. Otis was an early librarian in Petaluma, and may have been her father. Jennie was the first wife of prominent Petaluma businessman, George Plummer McNear (m. May 13, 1880). Their only child was Clara McNear Leppo (1881-1979). https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/105784417/jennie-mcnear.
THE PHOTOGRAPH:
Format / Size: carte de visite, approximately 6.25 x 10.5 cm
Medium: albumen photographic print mounted on cardstock
Description, front:
Description, back: Along the top edge of this card handwritten in cursive in pencil is, “Jennie Otis”, “1893”, “Geo McNears 1st wife”, “killed in explosion of”, “Str. Gold”. Jennie died in 1883; this portrait could not have been taken in 1893. Jennie was killed by the explosion of the steamboat Pilot not the steamboat Gold.
Date: May 13, 1880 - May 27, 1883
Condition: Both sides of this card are soiled, and the front is extensively stained.
Owner: Petaluma Historical Library & Museum, 1981-835-04
Reproduction rights: The Petaluma Museum Association makes no assertions as to ownership of any original copyrights to the digitized images here reproduced. These images are intended for personal or research use only. Any other kind of use, including, but not limited to commercial or scholarly publication in any medium or format, public exhibition, or use online or in a web site, may be subject to additional restrictions including but not limited to the copyrights held by parties other than the Association. USERS ARE SOLELY RESPONSIBLE for determining the existence of such rights and for obtaining any permissions and/or paying associated fees necessary for the proposed use.