Williams, Mehitable (Mehetabel) Lilly (1807-1899) (1 of 3)

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BRADLEY & RULOFSON’s STUDIO portrait of MEHITABLE LILLY WILLIAMS

THE PHOTOGRAPHER/ PHOTOGRAPHIC STUDIO:

Bradley & Rulofson, 429 Montgomery Street, San Francisco, California. Henry William Bradley (1813-1891) opened a photographic studio in San Francisco in 1850 and in 1860 took on his partner William Rulofson (1826-1876). Their studio was considered by many to be the best in California. Bradley retired in 1878.



THE SITTER:

Name: Mehitable Lilly Williams

Description:

Biographical Note: George and Mehetabel Williams were stellar examples of the pioneer spirit of hard work and determination. After testing his luck searching for gold, George sailed up the Petaluma River in 1851 in search for a location to build a family home, and in 1855 he convinced his wife and children to join him. In a strange twist of fate, Mehetabel and the children journeyed west while George was journeying east to fetch them. They eventually rendezvoused in Petaluma in August of 1855.

George was an enterprising developer and community builder. He constructed two of Petaluma’s earliest hotels, the American Hotel in 1852 and the Washington Hotel in 1856, and he was instrumental in constructing one of Petaluma’s first public schools and many of its private homes.

The full story of the adventures of George and Mehetabel is long and intriguing. Portions of their story are recounted in the memoirs of their son, George Roscoe Williams, and a thorough discussion is provided in Adair Lara’s definitive History of Petaluma, A California River Town. Adair Lara succinctly summed up George Williams’ legacy when she wrote, “It is ironic that Williams is remembered most in Petaluma history not for his ambitious hotel schemes, his land dealings, or his civic contributions, but for that idle moment early in 1856 when, out of longing to see his daughter again, or perhaps simply on impulse, he drew a rough sketch of Petaluma Creek and sent it off to John A. McNear, a young cousin who had married his daughter, Clara… In that moment, he changed Petaluma forever.”

George and Mehitable celebrated their 63rd wedding anniversary in November of 1898. They both died in 1899 and were buried in Petaluma’s Cypress Hill Memorial Park.

Family Affiliation: George Bailey Williams’ mother was Elizabeth “Betsy” Bailey Williams (1792-1882). His wife was Mehitable (Mehetabel)Lilly Williams (1807-1899), and his children were: Clarinda Damsen Williams McNear (1837-1866), George Roscoe Williams (1839-1934), Rosetta Lilly Williams Weeks (1842-1899), and Laura J. Williams Barstow (1842-1904).

Bibliography:


THE PHOTOGRAPH:

Format / Size:  carte de visite

Medium: albumen photographic print mounted on cardstock

Description, front:

Description, back: Hugh Anderson’s imprint is on the center of the back of this carte de visite. Anderson created several versions of his Petaluma imprint. An expanded, possibly later, version appears here. It is printed in red ink and includes four lines of text, each in a different font. The text is embellished above and below with a horizontally flipped, elaborate flourish.

Date:

Condition:

Owner:  The James Allen Family 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. 

Williams, Mehitable (Mehetabel) Lilly (1807-1899)(3 of 3)

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E. R. HEALY GROUND FLOOR GALLERY’S Photograph of MEHITABLE LILLY WILLIAMS

THE PHOTOGRAPHER/ PHOTOGRAPHIC STUDIO:

EDWIN RUTHVEN HEALY (1856-1923) and ADA “ADDIE” GOSSAGE HEALY (1860-1923)  Edwin and Ada Healy were a married couple, and both were listed in California directories as a photographer. It has been assumed they worked together; however, ascertaining their division of labor is problematic. The “E. R. Healy Gound Floor Gallery” was opened in 1896 at 816 Main Street, Petaluma, California. It was later relocated to 818 Main Street and sold in June, 1905. In 1906 the Healys moved to Berkeley, California. (To view all portraits in this collection taken at the E. R. Healy Ground Floor Gallery and for additional information on Edwin and Ada Healy, click on their names in blue above.)



THE SITTER:

Name: Mehitable Lilly Williams

Description:

Biographical Note: George and Mehetabel Williams were stellar examples of the pioneer spirit of hard work and determination. After testing his luck searching for gold, George sailed up the Petaluma River in 1851 in search for a location to build a family home, and in 1855 he convinced his wife and children to join him. In a strange twist of fate, Mehetabel and the children journeyed west while George was journeying east to fetch them. They eventually rendezvoused in Petaluma in August of 1855.

George was an enterprising developer and community builder. He constructed two of Petaluma’s earliest hotels, the American Hotel in 1852 and the Washington Hotel in 1856, and he was instrumental in constructing one of Petaluma’s first public schools and many of its private homes.

The full story of the adventures of George and Mehetabel is long and intriguing. Portions of their story are recounted in the memoirs of their son, George Roscoe Williams, and a thorough discussion is provided in Adair Lara’s definitive History of Petaluma, A California River Town. Adair Lara succinctly summed up George Williams’ legacy when she wrote, “It is ironic that Williams is remembered most in Petaluma history not for his ambitious hotel schemes, his land dealings, or his civic contributions, but for that idle moment early in 1856 when, out of longing to see his daughter again, or perhaps simply on impulse, he drew a rough sketch of Petaluma Creek and sent it off to John A. McNear, a young cousin who had married his daughter, Clara… In that moment, he changed Petaluma forever.”

George and Mehitable celebrated their 63rd wedding anniversary in November of 1898. They both died in 1899 and were buried in Petaluma’s Cypress Hill Memorial Park.

Family Affiliation: George Bailey Williams’ mother was Elizabeth “Betsy” Bailey Williams (1792-1882). His wife was Mehitable (Mehetabel)Lilly Williams (1807-1899), and his children were: Clarinda Damsen Williams McNear (1837-1866), George Roscoe Williams (1839-1934), Rosetta Lilly Williams Weeks (1842-1899), and Laura J. Williams Barstow (1842-1904).

Bibliography:


THE PHOTOGRAPH:

Format / Size: 

Medium: gelatin or collodion photographic print mounted on cardstock

Description, front:

Description, back: Hugh Anderson’s imprint is on the center of the back of this carte de visite. Anderson created several versions of his Petaluma imprint. An expanded, possibly later, version appears here. It is printed in red ink and includes four lines of text, each in a different font. The text is embellished above and below with a horizontally flipped, elaborate flourish.

Date:

Condition:

Owner:  The James Allen Family 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. 

Williams, Mehitable (Mehetabel) Lilly (1807-1899)(2of 3)

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George Daniels Morse’s Portrait Photograph of Mehitable Lilly Williams

THE PHOTOGRAPHER/ PHOTOGRAPHIC STUDIO:

Photographer:  George Daniels Morse (born c. 1835)

Photographic Studio: Palace of Art, 315 Montgomery Street, San Francisco, California

THE SITTER:

Name: Mehitable (also spelled Mehetabel) Lilly Williams

Description: In this head-and-shoulders portrait, Mehitable Lilly Williams looks directly at the viewer. She is dressed and groomed simply. Her dark hair is center-parted and combed down over her ears and pulled to the back of her head. She wears a simple blouse with a center placket and a white collar. At her throat is her only adornment, a large, vertical, oval brooch.

Biographical Note: George and Mehitable Williams were stellar examples of the pioneer spirit of hard work and determination. After testing his luck searching for gold, George sailed up the Petaluma River in 1851 in search for a location to build a family home, and in 1855 he convinced his wife and children to join him. In a strange twist of fate, Mehetabel and the children journeyed west while George was journeying east to fetch them. They eventually rendezvoused in Petaluma in August of 1855.

In his memoir, My First Fifty Years, George Roscoe Williams described his mother, Mehitable Lilly Williams: “Many pictures of my mother, Mehitable Lilly Williams, come to mind, among them, her cooking in the large open fireplace with crane and copper kettles, baking biscuits in the front of it, and spinning and weaving. Mother was older than most women of those days when she married, having taught school until her twenty-eighth year, and was a quiet, gentle, and capable housewife.”

George and Mehitable celebrated their 63rd wedding anniversary in November of 1898. They both died in 1899 and were buried in Petaluma’s Cypress Hill Memorial Park.

Family Affiliation: Mehitable Williams’ mother-in-law was Elizabeth “Betsy” Bailey Williams (1792-1882). Her husband was George Bailey Williams (1809-1899), and her children were: Clarinda “Clara” Damsen Williams McNear (1837-1866), George Roscoe Williams (1839-1934), Rosetta Lilly Williams Weeks (1842-1899), and Laura J. Williams Barstow (1842-1904).

Bibliography:

THE PHOTOGRAPH:

Format / Size: carte de visite

Medium: albumen photographic print mounted on cardstock

Description, front:

Description, back: The back of this carte de visite is unusual. The photographer’s information is printed horizontally, and it includes a reference number for the portrait’s negative, under which is written, “Duplicates of this picture can be had at any time.”. Additionally, along the bottom is written, “Pictures Copied, Enlarged and Finished in Oil, Ink, or Water Colors.”.

Date: According to Peter Palmquist, George Daniels Morse operated his studio at 315 Montgomery Street between April of 1867 and 1872. Peter E. Palmquist and Thomas R. Kailbourn, Pioneer Photographers of the Far West, Stanford University Press, 2000, pp. 407-408.

Condition: This carte de visite is significantly faded.

Owner:  Private Collector, 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.