Ayers, William David (1869-1929) (1 of 2)
/Ross & Ormsby’s Portrait Photograph of William david ayers
THE PHOTOGRAPHER/ PHOTOGRAPHIC STUDIO:
ROSS & ORMSBY was a Petaluma photography studio operated by George Colvaine Ross (born February 12, 1832, Edinburgh, Scotland; died 1893, Petaluma, California) and Elon D. Ormsby (died March 6, 1895, Oakland, California). The Ross & Ormsby studio was located, “At Ross’ old gallery, Main Street, two doors above the Wickersham + Co’s bank”. Ross, already an established portrait photographer in Petaluma, renamed his studio, placing his new partner’s name after his own. The Ross & Ormsby studio was first advertised in the Petaluma Weekly Argus on May 20, 1869, and the final advertisement for the studio appeared on June 11, 1870. (For additional information on this photography studio and to view all portraits in this archive with its imprint, click on its name in blue above.)
THE SITTER:
Name: William David Ayers
Description: In this portrait, William David Ayers appears as a baby of 1 or 2 years old. He sits on a fabric-covered studio prop, and behind him is a drape. He is attired in a dark dress and holds what appears to be an adult’s cap with both his hands. The baby appears calm but apprehensive. His dark hair has been parted on both his left and right sides, a style typical of the time.
Biographical Note: William David Ayers was born at his family’s ranch in Stony Point, and when he was eleven years old, they moved to Petaluma. For many years, he worked at the Petaluma branch of the Wells Fargo Company and earned additional income by investing in Petaluma real estate. Although William was living in San Francisco at the time of his death, he was buried in Petaluma’s Cypress Hill Memorial Park.
Family Affiliation: William David Ayers was the youngest child of early Petaluma pioneers William Ayers (1829-1899) and Martha Wade Ayers (1829 or 30 - 1890). In 1892, William married Ada Mae Carlisle Ayers (1875-1931). Together, they had at least three children: William D. Ayers III, Mervyn W. Ayers, and Harry W. Ayers. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/125529520/william_david_ayers. There are numerous additional portraits of the Ayers family members on this website.
Bibliography: Petaluma Argus-Courier, Jan. 4, 1929, p. 8.
THE PHOTOGRAPH:
Format / Size: carte de visite, approximately 6 x 10 cm
Medium: albumen photographic print mounted on cardstock
Description, front: This carte de visite portrait is framed within a vertical oval, and handwritten in script in pencil along the bottom edge of the card is: “William David Ayers”.
Description, back: Ross & Ormsby’s imprint appears in the center, and handwritten in script in black marker along the bottom is: “William David Ayers”.
Date: May 1869 - June 1870
Condition: Both the front and the back side of this carte de visite are soiled, and there is extensive spotting throughout.
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.