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Male, US, born 1850-05-02, died 1947-11-20

Associated with the firms network

Hardenbergh, Henry Janeway, Architect; Kysor and Mathews; Mathews, Walter J., Architect


Professional History

Résumé

Carpenter, Oakland, CA, 1868-1874.

Draftsman, Architect's office, Oakland, CA, 1874.

Partner, Kysor and Mathews, Architects, Los Angeles, CA, 03/1875-04/1876.

Partner, J.C. Mathews and Son, Architects, Oakland, CA, 1877-1883. Mathews and Son had an office at 969 Broadway in Oakland in 1888. (See Oakland, California, City Directory, 1888, p. 961.)

Principal, Walter J. Mathews, Architect, San Francisco and (later) Oakland, CA, 1885- . Matthews had an office at 969 Broadway in Oakland, CA, in 1903. (See Oakland, California, City Directory, 1903, p. 649.) Mathews had an office in the Athens Hotel, 1302 Broadway, in 1908. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation California State Library; Sacramento, California; Great Register of Voters, 1908, accessed 03/29/2023.)

City Architect, City of Oakland, CA.

Professional Activities

Member, American Institute of Architects (AIA), San Francisco Chapter, San Francisco, CA.

Education

High School / College

Coursework, Public Schools, Markesan, WI, 1856-1866.

His entry in the Who's Who on the Pacific Coast (1913) indicated that Mathews had had "had "one year of architectural study abroad." (See "Mathews, Walter J.," Who's Who on the Pacific Coast, [Los Angeles: Harper Publishing Company, 1913], pp. 388-389.)

Personal

Relocation

Born in Markesan, WI in 1850, Walter J.Mathews was born the eldest son in a family of architects and designers. His father, Julius Case Mathews, moved the family from Markesan, a town about 57 miles northeast of Madison, to the rapidly expanding city of Oakland, CA, by the mid-1860s.

Walter began work as a carpenter between 1868 and 1874 in Oakland before transitioning to architecture. He lived at home with his parents and four siblings in the Brooklyn neighborhood of the city as per the 1870 US Census. The family was not well-to-do, reporting assets of only $400 at that time. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1870; Census Place: Brooklyn, Alameda, California; Roll: M593_68; Page: 25B, accessed 03/29/2023.)

He set up a practice in San Francisco first before switching to an office location in Oakland, CA. He practiced briefly in Los Angeles with the noted architect Ezra F. Kysor (1834-1907) during 1875 and 1876.

The architect resided at 1159 Alice Street in Oakland in 1896. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation California State Library; Sacramento, California; Great Registers, 1866-1898; Collection Number: 4-2A; CSL Roll Number: 4; FHL Roll Number: 976450, accessed 11/08/2021.)

Between 1908 and 1910, Mathews resided with his wife Viola and daughter Josphine at the Hotel Athens in Oakland, CA. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation California State Library; Sacramento, California; Great Register of Voters, 1900-1968, accessed 11/08/2021 and Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1910; Census Place: Oakland Ward 5, Alameda, California; Roll: T624_70; Page: 19B; Enumeration District: 0122; FHL microfilm: 1374083, accessed 11/08/2021.) The Hotel Athens stood at 1304 Broadway in 1910.

Mathews lived with his daugher Pauline, son-in-law Carl Henley (born c. 1885 in IN), grandson Earle B, Henley (born c. 1915 in CA) and granddaughter Mary Jane Henley (born c. 1920 in CA) at 715 Arimo Avenue in Oakland's comfortable Lakeshore neighborhood, as per the 1930 US Census. The Henley House had an estimated value of $10,000 in that year. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1930; Census Place: Oakland, Alameda, California; Page: 1A; Enumeration District: 0120; FHL microfilm: 2339839, accessed 11/08/2021.)

He died in Oakland, Alameda County, CA, at the age of 97. He was buried in Mountain View Cemetery, Oakland.

Parents

His father was the architect Julius Case Mathews (1822 in NY-1910), with whom he worked in an architectural partnership, J.C. Mathews and Son, Architects, in 1888. (See Oakland, California, City Directory, 1888, p. 961.)

His mother was Pauline Hope McCracken (born 04/01/1831 in Troy, NY-d. 03/18/1914 in Oakland, CA).

His entry in Who's Who on the Pacific Coast(1913), said of his family's descendants: "Descendant of Col. Hollister of Colonial fame, also of French Huguenots, who settled in Conn." (See "Mathews, Walter J.," Who's Who on the Pacific Coast, [Los Angeles: Harper Publishing Company, 1913], pp. 388-389.)

Pauline and Julius had the following children: Walter J. Mathews, Caroline H. Mathews (born c. 1852-d. 09/15/1920 in Alameda County, CA); Arthur Francis Mathews (born 10/01/1860 in Markesan, WI-d. 02/19/1945); Edgar Aschael Mathews (born 09/08/1866 in Oakland, CA-d. 12/31/1948 in San Francisco, CA); Edwin Mathews (born 03/17/1870 in Oakland, CA-d. 04/26/1884 in Oakland, CA).

Caroline lived with her parents for much of her life, and worked as a dressmaker in 1910. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1910; Census Place: Oakland Ward 7, Alameda, California; Roll: T624_71; Page: 9B; Enumeration District: 0150; FHL microfilm: 1374084, accessed 03/29/2023.) His brother Edwin died early in life at age 14.

Spouse

He wed Viola Gates Strawbridge on 12/24/1879 in Oakland, CA.

Biographical Notes

At age 45, Mathews stood 5-feet, 6-and-1/2-inches tall, and had blue eyes and gray hair. Caucasian, he had a light complexion according to Alameda County voter rolls of 1896. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation California State Library; Sacramento, California; Great Registers, 1866-1898; Collection Number: 4-2A; CSL Roll Number: 4; FHL Roll Number: 976450, accessed 11/08/2021.)

Mathews was a registered Democrat according to Alameda County voting records of 1908. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation California State Library; Sacramento, California; Great Register of Voters, 1900-1968, accessed 11/08/2021.)

Member, Nile Shriners Temple, Oakland, CA.

Member, Claremont Country Club, Oakland, CA.

Member, Home Club, Oakland, CA.



Associated Locations

  • Oakland, CA (Architect's Death)
    Oakland, CA

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  • Markesan, WI (Architect's Birth)
    Markesan, WI 53946


PCAD id: 1714