Cavanaugh, John (1824-1899)
/Lafayette F. Sheppard’s Portrait Photograph of John Cavanaugh
THE PHOTOGRAPHER/ PHOTOGRAPHIC STUDIO:
LAFAYETTE F. SHEPPARD was born in 1852 in Ohio and died in 1940 in Inglewood, California. He established his photographic gallery in Petaluma in February of 1886, “in the rooms formerly occupied by Lewis Dowe”. It was located at 59 1/2 Main Street next door to the First National Bank Building. Sheppard continued to work as a photographer in Petaluma at least through June of 1891. (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: John Cavanaugh (also spelled Cavanagh)
Description: In this portrait, John Cavanaugh gazes off into the distance with pride and confidence. Groomed with fashionable muttonchops and dressed in businessman attire, he is crowned with a magnificent top hat. A fashionable mark of distinction, the top hat was meant to bestow an air of power and dignity to its wearer.
Biographical Note: John Cavanaugh was one of Petaluma’s earliest pioneers. Enticed by the gold rush, he immigrated to California from Ireland in 1849 and arrived in Petaluma in 1857. He was a very successful businessman and was best known as the founder of Cavanaugh Lumber which supplied the raw materials for many of Sonoma County’s early construction projects. Cavanaugh was civic-minded and served in many positions in Petaluma including city marshal, city recorder and justice of the peace. He was active in many Petaluma fraternal organizations, including the Masons, Knights Templar and the Mutual Relief Association. During the Civil War he and Captain Thomas Baylis organized Petaluma’s Union Militia, known as the Emmett Rifles, which was composed of citizens of Irish descent. In early 1862 the group was mustered into the National Guard of California, with Bayliss serving as Captain and Cavanaugh as Lieutenant. John Cavanaugh PDF
Family Affiliation: Cavanaugh’s wife was Delia Corrigan Cavanaugh (1839-1908).
Bibliography:
THE PHOTOGRAPH:
Format / Size: cabinet card, approximately 10.5 x 16 cm
Medium: albumen photographic print mounted on cardstock
Description, front: Sheppard’s imprint appears along the bottom edge of this card.
Description, back: Handwritten in cursive in black ink along the top edge of the back of this cabinet card is: “Judge John Cavanagh Petaluma”.
Date: February 1886 - 1891
Condition: There is foxing throughout both sides of this card. The front bottom right edged is stained. Long, dark lines appear on both vertical edges of the back side which are most probably remnants of removed tape.
Owner: Private 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.