Ayers, Martha Wade (1829 or 30 - 1890) (2 of 2)
/John Quincy Reed’s Portrait Photograph of martha ayers
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:
Names: Martha Wade Ayers
Description: In this head-and-shoulders portrait, Martha Wade Ayers appears as a middle-aged matron. She wears a dark, front-buttoned jacket with a white ruff collar. Her dark hair is center-parted and combed to the back of her head. Her only ornament is a bar brooch pinned at her neck.
Biographical Note: Martha Wade Ayers was a native of Tennessee. She married William Ayers in 1849, and in 1851 or 1857, they traveled to California and settled on a ranch reported to be at Stony Point. The 1860 census documents them living in Annally, Sonoma County, and the 1870 census documents them living in Petaluma where Martha lived until her death in 1890.
Family Affiliation: Martha married William Wade in 1849. Together they had at least six children: Miss Gussie Ayers, Mrs. Eugene Wilson, Mrs. Amelia Vestal, Mrs. Edith Chapman, William David Ayer, and Rosalie “Rosa” Ayers Blakely. There are numerous additional portraits of Ayers family members on this website.
Bibliography: The Petaluma Courier, Oct. 9, 1890, p.5.
THE PHOTOGRAPH:
Format / Size: cabinet card, approximately 10.75 x 16.5 cm
Medium: Gelatin or collodion photographic print mounted on cardstock
Description, front: John Quincy Reed’s imprint appears along the bottom of the card, and handwritten in script in black ink along the bottom of the photographic print is “Martha Ayers”.
Description, back: Handwritten in black marker along the bottom is: “Martha Ayers”.
Date: 1870 to 1890
Condition: With the exception of a few small spots in the top of the front, this cabinet card is in good condition.
Owner: The Cyndi Logan Collection, digital copy by permission.
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.