Waugh, Lorenzo 1808-1900
/George Ross’ Portrait Photograph of Lorenzo Waugh
THE PHOTOGRAPHER/ PHOTOGRAPHIC STUDIO:
GEORGE COLVAINE ROSS was born February 12, 1832 in Edinburgh, Scotland and died in 1893 at the age of 60 in Petaluma, California. Unlike the other 19th century Petaluma photographers, Ross lived and worked in Petaluma for many years. He arrived in Petaluma in 1855, and in 1862 he began his profession as a photographer, moving his studio within the city several times as noted on his various carte de visite and cabinet card imprints. In 1869 he was also part of a short-lived, photographic studio partnership with Elon D. Ormsby on Main Street in Petaluma. It was reported Ross stopped working as a photographer soon after he became an invalid in 1888. Ross was among the most prolific Petaluma portrait photographers, and his work was of exceptionally high quality. Ross was buried in Petaluma’s Cypress Hill Memorial Park. (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: Lorenzo Waugh
Description: Cabinet card of Lorenzo Waugh. Waugh is sitting on a fringed studio chair. He is wearing a three-piece suit, a bow tie, and with a chain hanging from his vest. He has a beard and is slightly balding. The fringed chair and Waugh's fashions date this photo to the late 1870s.
Biographical Note: Lorenzo Waugh was born on August 28, 1808, near Greenbrier River, West Virginia, in what is now Pocahontas County. In his youth he was acquainted with Daniel Webster, John Quincy Adams, and other famous people from the early history of our country. At age 16, he was a teacher in Harrison County. In 1831, he entered the Methodist ministry and taught school in Mason County. Waugh married Clarissa Jane Edsel in 1841. When the health for both of them failed, they traveled over the plains in 1852 to California in an ox teams. Upon their arrival, Waugh experienced some ownership problems with the land upon which he settled. Eventually, General Vallejo presented him with 320 acres of land near Petaluma. (1515 Old Adobe Road) Vallejo has been quoted as saying, “Land is plenty. and it for us, and I have plenty of it yet.” Since no church had been built, their new home was made available for preaching, social and religious gatherings for all in the region.
Father Waugh headed the Petaluma temperance movement for many years. He helped organize the California Youth Association in 1859, and urged people to “shun the degrading, ruinous habits of using tobacco and intoxicating drink.” He built the first Methodist Church in Petaluma. He also published a 32-chapter autobiography, 1883, which had five printings
Rev. Waugh died on September 5, 1900
Family Affiliation:
Bibliography: http://bill-hammerman.blogs.petaluma360.com/13175/lest-we-forget-rev-lorenzo-waugh/
THE PHOTOGRAPH:
Format / Size: cabinet card, approximately 10.75 x 16.5 cm
Medium: albumen photographic print mounted on cardstock
Description, front:
Description, back: Handwritten in cursive in pencil along the bottom left edge is, “Lorenzo Waugh”.
Date: circa 1875 - 1880
Condition:
Owner: Petaluma Historical Library & Museum, 1978-80-05
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