Rendall, Steven Arnold (see Sutterly & Rendall)→

JAMES KIMBALL SUTTERLEY (b. c. 1834, New Jersey) & STEVEN ARNOLD RENDALL (dates unknown)Sutterley & Rendall (active in Petaluma September 24, 1870 – 1871) Sutterley worked as a daguerreian with his brother, Clement Sutterley, in Chicago from 1857 to 1860. By 1862 they had moved West working as itinerant photographers throughout Nevada, Idaho, Utah and California. Taking over the Petaluma studio of Bryan R. Johnson on September 24, 1870, J. K. Sutterley partnered with Stephen A. Rendall to establish, “Sutterley & Rendall, Photographers, Main Street, Petaluma, Cal.” They worked together until 1871 when the studio was sold to Richard Reece Percival. Palmquist, pgs. 454, 533-537; Mautz, pgs. 135 & 146.

Bibliography: Carl Mautz, Biographies of Western Photographers, A Reference Guide to Photographers Working in the 19th Century American West, Expanded and Revised Edition, 2018, p.173.

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Ormsby, Elon D. (see Ross & Ormsby)→

ROSS & ORMSBY was a Petaluma photography studio operated by George Colvaine Ross (born February 12, 1832, Edinburgh, Scotland; died 1893, Petaluma, California) and Elon D. Ormsby (died March 6, 1895, Oakland, California). For information on George Ross, see his separate entry on this website: George Colvaine Ross. According to his obituary, Elon D. Ormsby arrived in San Francisco in 1866, moved to Petaluma and then Stockton, finally settling in Oakland in 1877 establishing his studio at 1055 Broadway. In Ross & Ormsby’s first Petaluma advertisement published May 20, 1869, Ormsby was touted as a former employee of the celebrated gallery of Bradley & Rulofson in San Francisco. An Oakland Tribune announcement referring to Ormsby and repeatedly published in January and February 1883, stated, “Oakland can boast of possessing the finest portrait photographer in America, as is proven by the Committee in the National competition recently held in Philadelphia.”

Petaluma Photography Studio: The Ross & Ormsby studio was located, “At Ross’ old gallery, Main Street, two doors above the Wickersham + Co’s bank”. Ross, already an established portrait photographer in Petaluma, renamed his studio, placing his new partner’s name after his own.

Active in Petaluma: The Ross & Ormsby studio was first advertised in the Petaluma Weekly Argus on May 20, 1869. Exactly when Ross & Ormsby was terminated has not been determined. The last advertisement for the studio in a Petaluma paper appeared on June 11, 1870, and the Stockton Daily Evening Herald reported on August 2, 1870 that Ormsby had set up a gallery on El Dorado Street. It is notable that the Ross & Ormsby carte de visite portrait of Charles Austin Eastman in this collection has a date of 1871 on its back side. This may be misleading; it may simply have been the result of Ross exhausting previously printed card inventory.

Bibliography: Carl Mautz, Biographies of Western Photographers, A Reference Guide to Photographers Working in the 19th Century American West, Expanded and Revised Edition, 2018, p. 163; Peter E. Palmquist and Thomas R. Kailbourn, Pioneer Photographers of the Far West, Stanford University Press, 2000, pp. 461 column 2; https://digital.sonomalibrary.org/about/photographers; Petaluma Weekly Argus, May 20, 1869, p.2; Sonoma Democrat, June 12, 1869, p.5, column 3; Petaluma Weekly Argus, June 11, 1870, p. 3; Daily Evening Herald (Stockton, CA), August 2, 1870, p. 3; Oakland Tribune, Jan. 16, 1883, p. 1; Oakland Tribune, March 6, 1895, p.3.

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Ross, George Colvaine

GEORGE COLVAINE ROSS was born February 12, 1832 in Edinburgh, Scotland and died in 1893 at the age of 60 in Petaluma, California. Prior to his arrival in Petaluma, Ross was a dance instructor in Napa, California teaching classes at the Napa Gymnasium between November 1862 and January 1863. Unlike the other nineteenth century Petaluma photographers, Ross lived in Petaluma for many years. Arriving in Petaluma in 1855 at age 23, he established a house painting business and later taught dancing lessons as a side business. In 1862 he began his profession as a photographer, moving his studio within the city several times as noted on his various carte de visite and cabinet card imprints. In 1869 he was also part of a short-lived, photographic studio partnership with E. D. Ormsby on Main Street in Petaluma, (see Ross and Ormsby). Ross was among the most prolific Petaluma portrait photographers, and his work was of exceptionally high quality. Ross was buried in Petaluma’s Cypress Hill Memorial Park. It is notable that in his will, Ross bequeathed $500 to his fellow Petaluma photographer and competitor, John Quincy Reed, (Petaluma Daily Morning Courier, January 31, 1893, p.1).

Petaluma Photographic Studio: George Ross moved his studio within Petaluma several times. His first studio was advertised beginning in July of 1863 as located on Main Street in the Old Post Office opposite the Phoenix Block. Beginning in June of 1864, his studio was advertised as located over Snow’s Cheap Cash Store in Maynard’s New Building on Main Street. During Ross’ brief partnership with *** Ormsby, their studio was advertised beginning in May of 1869 as located on Main Street two doors above Wickersham & Company Bank. Ross studio located above Chapman’s Furniture Store opposite the American Hotel opened in September, 1870. What appears to have been Ross’ last studio location was opened by 1880 on 36 Main Street Opposite the American Hotel, and Ross continued at that location until his retirement in****.

Active in Petaluma: July 1862 - sometime after 1892. George Ross arrived in Petaluma in 1855, but did not begin his professional career as a portraitist until July 19, 1862 when he opened his first photographic studio. He continued to serve the community of Petaluma as a portrait photographer until, “the illness which resulted in his death compelled him to retire.” According to his obituary, Ross became disabled in 1888, 5 years before his death, but he continued to produce portraits at least until 1892.

Bibliography: Carl Mautz, Biographies of Western Photographers, A Reference Guide to Photographers Working in the 19th Century American West, Expanded and Revised Edition, 2018, p. 163; Peter E. Palmquist and Thomas R. Kailbourn, Pioneer Photographers of the Far West, Stanford University Press, 2000, pp. 461-463; https://digital.sonomalibrary.org/about/photographers; Jean Rosenbloom, “George Ross - Petaluma Photographer,” The Photographist, no. 38 (Fall 1977), p.14; Napa County Reporter, Nov. 29, 1862, p. 3, column 2; Petaluma Daily Morning Courier, January 31, 1893, p.1; Sonoma Democrat,Vol. XXXVI, No. 16, January 28,1893, p. 6, column 3. ; The Daily Courier, Petaluma, January 31, 1893, p.1.

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Reed, John Quincy

JOHN QUINCY REED was born in 1841 in Abington, Plymouth County, Massachusetts, and died on April 14, 1902, in Petaluma. Before arriving in Petaluma he worked as a photographer in Virginia City, Nevada, and Stockton, California. The first mention of a Petaluma photographic studio run by Reed appears in the Petaluma newspapers beginning in February 1872. Unlike most of Petaluma’s other pioneer photographers, who were essentially itinerant, Reed worked consistently in Petaluma as a photographer for at least 25 years. Many of the portraits Reed created of the citizens of Petaluma are of exceptionally fine quality, and appropriately, Reed’s imprint stamped on the back of his carte de visite portraits proclaim him to be, in elaborate script surrounded by ornate flourishes, a “Photographic Artist”. His obituary candidly stated, “He was a true Bohemian, and although peculiar in some respects, had many warm friends, and in his early days was one of the best known of our local citizens. He never married.” In his final years, Reed lived at the Cosmopolitan Hotel, a boarding house for working men, and was employed by Achille Kahn, a Petaluma grocer. According to his obituary, in his final illness, Reed was attended to by Petaluma physician George Ivancovich (1850-1924), and Kahn made his funeral arrangements. The funeral was held in Petaluma at the J. S. Blackburn parlor, and Reed’s body was cremated at the Odd Fellow’s crematory in San Francisco. His ashes were returned to the city of his birth, Abington, Massachusetts, where they were laid to rest in Mount Vernon Cemetery. (According to the scholar, Peter Palmquist, Reed was charged with arson in September of 1887 for setting fire to property in Petaluma at the corner of Cleveland and College Avenues. The present researcher cannot substantiate that claim and suggests further research is necessary.)

Petaluma Photographic Studio:   An announcement in the Petaluma Weekly Argus proclaimed that J. Q. Reed, in February 1872, took possession of the photography gallery formerly operated by Johnson. Bryan R. Johnson’s “Johnson’s Premium Pioneer Photography Gallery” was located on Main Street, on Doyle’s block over the Morris Cigar Store. Subsequently, Reed moved his studio to several different locations within Petaluma. By 1874 his studio was in the “American Hall, Main Street”. After that, his locations included “Over Wells, Fargo & Co’s Ex. Office, Main St.” and “Brick Block, opposite McGuire’s Drug Store, Main St.”.

Active in Petaluma: 1872 to at least 1898

Bibliography: Carl Mautz, Biographies of Western Photographers, A Reference Guide to Photographers Working in the 19th Century American West, Expanded and Revised Edition, 2018, p. 161; Peter E. Palmquist and Thomas R. Kailbourn, Pioneer Photographers of the Far West, Stanford University Press, 2000, pp. 452-453; https://digital.sonomalibrary.org/about/photographers; https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/125465566/john-quincy-reed (a portrait of Reed can be viewed at this URL); Petaluma Weekly Argus: Feb. 24, 1872, p.3; Petaluma Courier: Jan. 15, 1896, p. 1; Petaluma Daily Morning Courier: March 26, 1895, p.1; April 14, 1902, p.1; April 15, 1902, p.2 .

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Roberts, Dr. Harry Fowler

HARRY FOWLER ROBERTS was born in 1869 in Mankato, Minnesota, and died in February 1907 in Colfax, California, at age 38. After partnering with Ira A. Kautz in 1892 at the Sterling Studio, 912 2nd Street in Seattle, Washington, Roberts moved to Petaluma and opened a studio on Main Street across from the American Hotel. Throughout January, February, and March 1893, the Petaluma Daily Morning Courier ran an advertisement for Roberts’ services. The ad was composed as an interview entitled “A Mystery Solved,” in which Roberts is referred to as the new photographer in town. Roberts is asked, “How is it that you claim to do better any more satisfactory work than the San Francisco artists?” Robert is then quoted as replying, “That is easy enough. I can show my patrons proofs of their photos, and if they are not entirely satisfied I will keep on giving sittings until they are pleased.” The exact date Roberts closed his studio in Petaluma has not been determined; however, it was reported in the Petaluma Daily Morning Courier several times between August 1895 and February 1901 that Dr. Harry Roberts, former Petaluma photographer, was in town visiting friends. According to his obituary, written in the Ventura, California, Morning Courier, Roberts had arrived in Placer County in 1907 and, as a medical professional, had specialized in dentistry.

Petaluma Photographic Studio: Roberts’ studio was on Main Street, across from the American Hotel.

Active in Petaluma: as early as 1892, as late as 1895

Bibliography: Carl Mautz, Biographies of Western Photographers, A Reference Guide to Photographers Working in the 19th Century American West, Expanded and Revised Edition, 2018, p. 162; https://digital.sonomalibrary.org/about/photographers; https://archiveswest.orbiscascade.org/ark:80444/xv52062#idm6679; Morning Free Press (Ventura CA), February 5, 1907, p.1; Petaluma Daily Morning Courier, January 12, 1893, p.2; April 11, 1894, p. 3; August 16, 1895, p.1; February 4, 1901, p. 4.

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Ross & Ormsby

ROSS & ORMSBY was a Petaluma photography studio operated by George Colvaine Ross (born February 12, 1832, Edinburgh, Scotland; died 1893, Petaluma, California) and Elon D. Ormsby (died March 6, 1895, Oakland, California). For information on George Ross, see his separate entry on this website: George Colvaine Ross. According to his obituary, Elon D. Ormsby arrived in San Francisco in 1866, moved to Petaluma and then Stockton, finally settling in Oakland in 1877 establishing his studio at 1055 Broadway. In Ross & Ormsby’s first Petaluma advertisement published May 20, 1869, Ormsby was touted as a former employee of the celebrated gallery of Bradley & Rulofson in San Francisco. An Oakland Tribune announcement referring to Ormsby and repeatedly published in January and February 1883, stated, “Oakland can boast of possessing the finest portrait photographer in America, as is proven by the Committee in the National competition recently held in Philadelphia.”

Petaluma Photography Studio: The Ross & Ormsby studio was located, “At Ross’ old gallery, Main Street, two doors above the Wickersham + Co’s bank”. Ross, already an established portrait photographer in Petaluma, renamed his studio, placing his new partner’s name after his own.

Active in Petaluma: The Ross & Ormsby studio was first advertised in the Petaluma Weekly Argus on May 20, 1869. Exactly when Ross & Ormsby was terminated has not been determined. The last advertisement for the studio in a Petaluma paper appeared on June 11, 1870, and the Stockton Daily Evening Herald reported on August 2, 1870 that Ormsby had set up a gallery on El Dorado Street. It is notable that the Ross & Ormsby carte de visite portrait of Charles Austin Eastman in this collection has a date of 1871 on its back side. This may be misleading; it may simply have been the result of Ross exhausting previously printed card inventory.

Bibliography: Carl Mautz, Biographies of Western Photographers, A Reference Guide to Photographers Working in the 19th Century American West, Expanded and Revised Edition, 2018, p. 163; Peter E. Palmquist and Thomas R. Kailbourn, Pioneer Photographers of the Far West, Stanford University Press, 2000, pp. 461 column 2; https://digital.sonomalibrary.org/about/photographers; Petaluma Weekly Argus, May 20, 1869, p.2; Sonoma Democrat, June 12, 1869, p.5, column 3; Petaluma Weekly Argus, June 11, 1870, p. 3; Daily Evening Herald (Stockton, CA), August 2, 1870, p. 3; Oakland Tribune, Jan. 16, 1883, p. 1; Oakland Tribune, March 6, 1895, p.3.

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