Ayers, Martha Wade (1829 or 1830 - 1890)(1 of 2)
/Hugh S. Anderson’s Portrait Photograph of martha Ayers
THE PHOTOGRAPHER/ PHOTOGRAPHIC STUDIO:
HUGH S. ANDERSON was born in 1826 in Scotland and died in 1900 in San Francisco, California. He was active in Petaluma as early as January 1872, and he departed Petaluma in December 1873. His Sunbeam Gallery was located, “At the Old Stand, Opposite H. C. Taft & Co.’s”. (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: Martha Ayers
Description: In this portrait, Martha Wade Ayers is between 42 and 44 years old. She wears a dark, front-buttoned blouse and a matching skirt cinched tightly at her waist with a buckled, vertically striped, cloth belt. A large white, scalloped, lace collar with long, pointed ends surrounds her neck. Her dark hair is center-parted, combed to the back of her head, and secured in a netted snood.
Biographical Note: Martha Wade Ayers was a native of Tennessee. She married William Ayers in 1849, and in 1851 or 1857, they traveled to California and settled on a ranch reported to be at Stony Point. The 1860 census documents them living in Analy, Sonoma County, and the 1870 census documents them living in Petaluma, where Martha lived until she died in 1890.
Family Affiliation: Martha married William Wade in 1849. Together they had at least six children: Miss Gussie Ayers, Mrs. Eugene Wilson, Mrs. Amelia Vestal, Mrs. Edith Chapman, William David Ayer, and Rosalie “Rosa” Ayers Blakely. There are numerous additional portraits of Ayers family members on this website.
Bibliography: The Petaluma Courier, Oct. 9, 1890, p.5.
THE PHOTOGRAPH:
Format / Size: carte de visite, approximately 6.25 x 10.5 cm
Medium: albumen photographic print mounted on cardstock
Description, front: Handwritten in script in pencil along the bottom of the card is: “Martha Ayers”.
Description, back: Huge Anderson’s imprint appears in red ink in the center of the card. Along the top edge of the card is written: “Mrs. T. M. Blakeley”, “1551 Myrtle st”. This undoubtedly refers to the owner of the portrait, Martha’s daughter, Rosalie Ayers Blakely also known as Mrs. Theron M. Blakely. The handwritten script across the photographer’s imprint has not been determined. Below the imprint is additional text which includes, “1 Crayon” and “16 X 20”. Given that crayon portraits were traditionally 16” by 20”, this may be a note referring to the possibility of ordering a crayon portrait which could be created from the carte de visite. Along the right side of the card written in bold black marker is: “Martha Ayers”.
Date: January 1872 - December 1873
Condition: This carte de visite is heavily soiled and there is extensive foxing on both sides.
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.