Cady, Emma S. Elder Coggeshall (1857-1933)(6 of 6)
/LEWIS DOWE’S PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPH OF EMMA S. ELDER Coggeshall
THE PHOTOGRAPHER/ PHOTOGRAPHIC STUDIO:
LEWIS DOWE was born in 1838 in Hanover, New Hampshire and died in 1919 in Portland, Oregon. He arrived in Petaluma in September of 1875 and set up his photography studio in the rooms formerly occupied by photographer Hugh Anderson. Dowe worked in Petaluma as both a “view” and portrait photographer until he departed the town in March of 1882. (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: Emma S. Elder Coggeshall Cady. At the time this portrait was taken, the sitter’s name was most probably Emma S. Elder Coggeshall. The surname of her first husband whom she married in 1877 was Coggeshall.
Description: In this cabinet card portrait, Emma S. Elder Coggeshall is standing, wearing a bustled, white, lace dress with full-length sleeves. She wears white gloves and carries a white fan. At her neck is a corsage, and she wears large drop earrings. Curls adorn her forehead and her wavy hair is pulled into a large twisted bun at the crown of her head. She is adorned in bridal fashion, and this portrait quite probably commemorates her wedding to her first husband, whose surname was Coggeshall.
Biographical Note: As a student and young women Emma was mentioned often in Petaluma papers’ society section. She received her certificate to teach in the Petaluma Public School system in 1876. In 1919, she was living at A and Sixth Streets.
Family Affiliation: Emma S. Elder Coggeshall Cady was the daughter of Petaluma pioneers, William Elder (1812-1876) and Sarah C. Elder (1819-1891). The Elders were a prominent family in Petaluma. William Elder, born in Scotland, was Petaluma’s first mayor, the first chairman of the Petaluma Board of Trustees, and one of the founders of the Petaluma Congregational church. William Elder also founded, with George Harris, the general merchandising store in Petaluma, Harris & Elder. In 1877, Emma married a man named Coggeshall and with him had three children. Their daughter, Catherine Coggeshall (1884-1982), married Malcolm Lyman Byce (1890-1919) in 1912. Emma later named a man whose surname was Cady.
Bibliography:
THE PHOTOGRAPH:
Format / Size: cabinet card, approximately 10.5 x 14.5 cm
Medium: albumen photographic print mounted on cardstock
Description, front: The painted backdrop of this portrait depicts an interior room with grand architectural details and was obviously selected to compliment the formal aspect of the portrait.
Description, back: Handwritten in script in black ink along the top edge of the card is: “May, 1877”. Handwritten in script in pencil is: “Em. Cogswell nee Elder”. Handwritten in block lettering in blue ink along the bottom is: “Emma Coggeshall”.
Date: May 1877
Condition: This portrait is in good condition; however, approximately 1/8 of an inch have been hand cut from both the top and bottom edges.
Owner: Petaluma Historical Library & Museum, 1985-X-33
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