Vestal, William Thomas (1885-1947)
/LAFAYETTE F. SHEPPARD’S PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPH OF William Thomas Vestal and Warren Eugene Vestal
THE PHOTOGRAPHER/ PHOTOGRAPHIC STUDIO:
Photographer: 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:
Names: William Thomas Vestal and Warren Eugene Vestal
Description: The two Vestal brothers appear in this double portrait in front of a staged brick wall behind which is a painted backdrop depicting a gray coastal scene. Will, a toddler, is on the left, and Warren, a child of 4 or 5, is on the right. The boys are dressed in matching outfits. They wear pleated skirts, a front-buttoned vest, and a jacket, all in the same fabric. Topping their jackets is a white lace- bordered collar.
Biographical Note: William Thomas Vestel was born in the Stony Point area and lived in Sonoma County all his life. He and his brother, Warren, managed a large poultry farm at Stony Point which they sold prior to 1911. They then moved to Santa Rosa and established a hatchery. William operated a cigar store on Fourth Street for many years and was a long-time member of the Santa Rosa Aerie No. 210, F.O.E.
Family Affiliation: William Thomas Vestal was the son of early Petaluma pioneers Lemuel Hadley Vestal (1841-1932) and Amelia Nancy Ayers Vestal (1852-1930). Among his siblings were Lena Ester Vestal Hall ((1878-1968) and Warren Eugene Vestal (1883-1973). William was married to Georgia T. Vestal (1891-1963). https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/76940785/william-t-vestal.
Bibliography: Petaluma Argus-Courier, Nov. 18, 1947, p. 6. Santa Rosa Republican, Jan 4, 1911, p.4; Nov. 18, 1947, p. 4.
THE PHOTOGRAPH:
Format / Size: cabinet card, 10.8 x 16.4
Medium: gelatin or collodion photographic print mounted on cardstock
Description, front: Embossed in the left bottom corner is the photographer’s imprint, “L. F. Sheppard”. Directly above the imprint, handwritten in script in pencil is: “Will Vestal”. Opposite this name is: “Warren Vestal married Ethel”. Below this is: Sons of Millie + Lemuel Vestal”.
Description, back: Handwritten in script in black marker along the left side of the bottom edge is: “Will Vestal”. Along the right side of the bottom edge is: “Warren Vestal”. Below these inscriptions is written: “Sons of Millie and Lemuel Vestal”. (Millie was a nickname given to their mother, Amelia.)
Date: 1887
Condition: There is a water stain on the top edge of the front of this cabinet card.
Owner: The Cyndi Logan 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.