Church, Lorin Jasper (1889-1918) (2 of 3)
/Harry Fowler ROBERTS’ Portrait Photograph of Rena Church (Weyler) & Lorin JASPER CHURCH
THE PHOTOGRAPHER/ PHOTOGRAPHIC STUDIO:
HARRY FOWLER ROBERTS was born in 1869 in Mankato, Minnesota, and died in February 1907 in Colfax, California, at age 38. As early as 1892 he opened a photographic studio on Petaluma’s Main Street across from the American Hotel. The exact date Roberts closed his studio in Petaluma has not been determined; however, it may have been as late as 1895. (For additional information on this photographer and to view all portraits by him in the collection, click on his name in blue above.)
THE SITTERS:
Names: Rena Church (Weyler) and Lorin Jasper Church
Description: In this cabinet card, Rena Church and her older brother, Lorin Church, appear as miniature adults. Rena is attired in a full-length, dark dress with a scalloped lace collar. She sits attentively beside her older brother placing her left arm behind him. Lorin stands stiffly with his right thumb in his jacket pocket. He is attired in a matching jacket and knickers.
Biographical Note: Lorin Jasper Church was born and raised at the Church family ranch in Two Rock. In 1899, he was listed as a student at Two Rock’s Walker School, and his teacher was listed as Miss Mabel Celeste Black (1874-1966), the future Mabel Black-Putnam and mother-in-law of Petaluma mayor, Helen DuMont Putnam (1909-1984). In 1906, it was reported that Lorin was the Sergeant at Arms of his senior class at Petaluma High School. A member of the Enterprise Yearbook staff, he graduated in May 1907 and soon after enrolled at the University of California. On June 4, 1911, he married Helen M. Storer of Oakland, and initially, they settled in Alaska. By 1915 the couple had returned to Petaluma, and on August 10, 1917, Lorin enlisted in the United States Marine Corps to fight in World War I. He was stationed at Quantico, Virginia, and received distinction as a sharpshooter. In July 1918, he was reported to be in France, working back of the lines as a surveyor. On August 10, 1918, the Petaluma Daily Morning Courier reported that he had been killed on the battlefield in France on June 13. He was the second Petaluma boy to die in World War I. He was buried at the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery and Memorial, Belleau, Departement de L’Aisne, Picardie, France. Lorin’s sister, Rena Church Weyler, with whom he is portrayed in this cabinet card, tragically died only a few months after her brother from complications of the Spanish Flu.
Family Affiliation: Lorin Jasper Church was the second son of Walter A. Church and Minnie B. Warders Church of Two Rock Valley. He was the brother of Linnie Church Mack, Rena Church Weyler, Flora Church, Ralph Church, Amy Church, Earl Church, and Roy Church. He was the husband of Helen M. Storer. Click here to be directed to a list of the other portraits of Church family members in this archive.
THE PHOTOGRAPH:
Format / Size: cabinet card
Medium: albumen photographic print mounted on cardstock
Description, front: The backdrop of this portrait is a roughly stuccoed wall, and a similarly stuccoed U shape object serves as a bench. The edges of this portrait’s card are scalloped. Handwritten in cursive in pencil along the bottom edge is, “Loren [sic] + Rena Church”.
Description, back: “Rena & Lorin Church 1883 about-”
Date: This portrait dates no earlier than 1892 and no later than 1895. On the back of this portrait is handwritten, “1883 about”; however, Lorin Jasper Church was not born until 1889. Additionally, the earliest possible date the photographer opened his studio in Petaluma was 1892. It is possible the writer of the inscription meant 1893.
Condition: The back of this portrait is heavily soiled and remnants of tape appear along the top edge.
Owner: Petaluma Historical Library & Museum, 1979-425-02-p2-p1
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