Weyler, Rena Church (1890 or 1891-1918)(1 of 2)
/Harry Fowler ROBERTS’ Portrait Photograph of Rena Church (Weyler) and Lorin Jasper Church
THE PHOTOGRAPHER/ PHOTOGRAPHIC STUDIO:
HARRY FOWLER ROBERTS was born in 1869 in Mankato, Minnesota, and died in February 1907 in Colfax, California, at age 38. As early as 1892 he opened a photographic studio on Petaluma’s Main Street across from the American Hotel. The exact date Roberts closed his studio in Petaluma has not been determined; however, it may have been as late as 1895. (For additional information on this photographer and to view all portraits by him in the collection, click on his name in blue above.)
THE SITTERS:
Names: Rena Church (Weyler)and Lorin Jasper Church
Description: In this cabinet card, Rena Church (Weyler) and her older brother, Lorin Jasper Church, appear as miniature adults. Rena is attired in a full-length dark dress with a scalloped lace collar. She sits attentively beside her older brother, placing her left arm behind him. Lorin stands stiffly with his right thumb in his jacket pocket. He is attired in a matching jacket and knickers.
Biographical Note: Rena was born and raised at her family’s ranch in Two Rock. She attended Walker School in Two Rock and Petaluma High School. The Petaluma Daily Morning Courier reported on August 5, 1907, that Rena was to marry Custer Ward of Cotati. Either the wedding did not take place, or the two were divorced. By 1908, Rena was, once again, referred to in the local papers as “Miss Rena Church”. Beginning in this year, Rena became active in the Two Rock Grange, often attending meetings with her parents. In 1908 Rena was elected to the position of Protector for the Petaluma Temple, No.104, Pythian Sisters, and in 1909 to the position of Manager. In February 1912, Rena and William J. Wesley were the prize winners of a whist tournament held by the Pythian Sisters, and the two married on August 4, 1912. They settled in Petaluma, and William was an employee of the Camp & Hedges Company. Rena died October 17, 1918, at the sanitarium in Redwood City, “where she had been receiving treatment and was recovering when she was taken ill with Spanish influenza and later developed pneumonia which was the immediate cause of death.” Rena died at the age of 28, only three months after brother, Lorin, died on the battlefield in France during World War I. Rena’s ashes were placed in the family plot in the Two Rock Cemetery, and Lorin’s body was buried at the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery and Memorial, Belleau, Department de L’Aisne, Picardie, France.
Family Affiliation: Rena Church Weyler was the second daughter of Walter A. Church and Minnie B. Warders Church, of Two Rock Valley. She was the sister of Lorin Jasper Church, Linnie Church Mack, Flora Church, Ralph Church, Amy Church, Earl Church, and Roy Church. Rena’s husband was William J. Wesley, and together they had two sons, Jack Wesley, and Noel Wesley. Click here to be directed to a list of the other portraits of Church family members in this archive.
Bibliography: Petaluma Daily Morning Courier, August 5, 1907, p.1; Dec. 12, 1908, p.3; June 12, 1909, p.2; October 21, 1909, p.3; February 24, 1912, p.2; June 26, 1912, p.1; October 18, 1918, p.4. Petaluma Argus-Courier, July 22, 1909, p.2; October 18, 1918, p.8.
THE PHOTOGRAPH:
Format / Size: cabinet card
Medium: albumen photographic print mounted on cardstock
Description, front: The backdrop of this portrait is a roughly stuccoed wall, and a similarly stuccoed U shape object serves as a bench. The edges of this portrait’s card are scalloped. Handwritten in cursive in pencil along the bottom edge is, “Loren [sic] + Rena Church”.
Description, back: Handwritten in cursive in pencil along the top edge is, “Rena & Lorin Church 1883 about-”
Date: This portrait dates no earlier than 1892 and no later than 1895. On the back of this portrait is handwritten, “1883 about”; however, Lorin Jasper Church was not born until 1889. Additionally, the earliest possible date the photographer opened his studio in Petaluma was 1892. It is possible the writer of the inscription meant 1893.
Condition: The back of this portrait is heavily soiled and remnants of tape appear along the top edge.
Owner: Petaluma Historical Library & Museum, 1979-425-02-p2-p1
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