Smith, Hannah M. Ward Stewart (1845 -1932)
/Bryan R. Johnson’s Portrait Photograph of Hannah M. Ward Steward Smith
THE PHOTOGRAPHER/ PHOTOGRAPHIC STUDIO:
BRYAN R. JOHNSON was born c. 1834 in New York State, and his death date is unidentified. After working as a photographer in several California cities, Johnson moved to Petaluma and, beginning in December of 1862, co-partnered with Edward P. Butler at the Ambrotype and Photographic Gallery on Petaluma’s Phoenix Block. In April of 1863 Johnson took sole possession of the gallery and renamed it “Johnson’s Premier Pioneer Photographic Gallery”. In 1864 he moved his studio twice within the community and continued working in Petaluma at least until 1867. (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: Hannah M. Ward Steward Smith. At the time this portrait was taken, she would have been known as Hannah Ward Stewart.
Description: This portrait was taken of Hannah when she was between 18 and 22 years old. She sits sedately with her hands placed upon the skirt of her volumious, dark dress. Her large, gigot sleeves drop from her shoulders and are gathered tightly at her wrists beneath stiff white cuffs. Her dress is tightly cinched with a dark waist belt which has a large, rectangular buckle. She wears a brooch attached to her white collar, drop earrings, and a wedding ring. Her dark hair is center-parted, carefully combed to the back of her head, and secured in a snood.
Biographical Note: Hannah M.Ward Stewart Smith was born in Missouri in 1845 and traveled with her family to California by wagon train. (Later in her life, her memories of this overland journey were recorded by her grandaughter, Minna Allegro and preserved by her descendant, Lee Torliatt. See the bibliography section below.) The Ward family settled on a 950-acre dairy ranch on San Antonio Creek in Marin County just south of Petaluma. After her marriage to businessman, James W. Stewart, in 1863, Hannah and her husband moved to Petaluma and resided at 10 6th Street. Hannah inherited the home upon her husband’s death in 1874, and continued to live in the house with her second husband, Rufus Richards Smith. In 1911, Hannah rented out the house and moved to San Francisco to live with her son, Percy, and daughter, Dora. The local newspapers reported that Hannah often returned to Petaluma to visit friends, and she was buried in Petaluma’s Cypress Hill Memorial Park.
Family Affiliation: Hannah was the daughter of early Petaluma pioneers, Abraham Ward (1817-1899) and Naomi Porter Ward (1818-1883). Hannah married James W. Stewart (1837-1874) on December 31, 1863 at her parents’ home on San Antonio Creek. Together James and Hannah had three children: William A. Stewart (b.1866), Franklin Lester Stewart (b.1868), and Robert H. Stewart (b.1870). In 1876, Hannah married Rufus Richards Smith (1833-1903). Together they had Isadora Naomi “Dora” Smith (1879-1919) and Percy Alfred Smith (1886-1964). https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/51087336/hannah_mary_smith
Bibliography: Torliatt, Lee, A History of the Torliatt Family of Petaluma, From Mid-19th Century to Circa 1950, pp. 20 - 22, 31-43. This booklet is available in the Hoppy Hopkins Library at the Petaluma Historical Library & Museum. A copy of Hannah Ward Stewart Smith’s memoir of her overland journey from St. Louis, Missouri to Petaluma is available in the Hoppy Hopkins Library at the Petaluma Historical Library & Museum, call number 920 Griswold/Stewart.
THE PHOTOGRAPH:
Format / Size: carte de visite
Medium: albumen photographic print mounted on cardstock
Description, front: Hannah sits in a large, tufted, balloon chair with an elaborately carved back. In the background, on the left, is a dark drape and a large drapery tassel.
Description, back: In the center of the back of the card surrounded by an undulating line is the photographer’s imprint: “From B. R. Johnson’s Photographic Establishment, Doyle’s Building, Main Street, Petaluma.” Above this has been placed a two cent revenue stamp. Along the bottom wedge is written, “Negatives preserved from which extra copies can be had at less than regular prices.”. Handwritten in black ink at the bottom is: Hannah Ward (from Bible).
Date: 1863-1867
Condition: This carte de visite is in good condition.
Owner: The Lee Torliatte Family Album, 2017-92-01, 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.