Résumé

Draftsman, Pasadena, CA, c. 1892.

Partner, Blick, Moore and Price, Architects, Los Angeles, CA, 1896. In 1896, Blick, Moore and Price occupied Rooms #302-304 of the Byrne Building, 253 South Broadway. (See Los Angeles, California, City Directory, 1896, p. 275.)

Partner, Blick and Moore, Architects, Los Angeles, CA, 1899. This firm had its office in Room #302 of the Byrne Building. (See Los Angeles, California, City Directory, 1899, p. 1000)

Principal, James Joseph Blick, Architect, Pasadena, CA, c. 1905-1930. In 1902, Blcik leased two rooms, #413 and #414 in the Dodworth Block. (See Pasadena City Directory, 1902, p. 207.) In that year, Blick was one of five architects listed in the Pasadena city directory; they included Blick, Charles Wesley Buchanan, C.F. Driscoll, William B. Edwards, and the luminaries Greene and Greene. Seven years later, he rented only one space the Dodworth Building, Room #414; he remained here in 1912. (See Thurston's Pasadena City Directory, 1909, p. 61 and Thurston's Pasadena City Directory, 1909, p. 430.)

In 1924, Blick maintained his office at 17 South Fair Oaks Avenue, Room #314. (See Pasadena City Directory, 1924, p. 120.)

Relocation

Born in Clinton, IA, Joseph Blick spent his early years in that town, where his father worked as a carpenter. In 1870, the Blick Family resided in a house on 7th Avenue between 5th and 6th Streets. (See Clinton-Lyons City Directory, 1870-1871, p. 41.) A decade later, he and his family had moved to Prescott, IA, according to the 1880 US Census.

On 03/02/1884, his elder sister, Blanche, married the scout and adventurer Frederick Russell Burnham (1861-1947) in Prescott, IA. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation, Iowa State Archives; Des Moines, Iowa; Volume: 319 (Adair - Butler),accessed 08/10/2016.) This marriage would become decisive for the Blick Family, as Blanche and her remarkable, larger-than-life husband would relocate from the Midwest to CA, where he had been living since he was a young boy. Born on a reservation for Lakota Sioux in MN, Frederick Russell Burnham grew up with Sioux Indian boys who introduced him to their ways of life lived close to nature. Burnham's family moved to CA by 1870, but his father died in 1872, forcing his mother to return to IA to live with her parents. Frederick, only 12, remained in CA to pay off family debts, and made a living hunting, scouting and doing odd jobs. After their marriage, Blanche and Frederick returned to live in CA, and the Blicks soon after packed up and moved to Los Angeles. James Shannon Blick, Joseph's father, registered to vote in Los Angeles, on 06/25/1888. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation California State Library, California History Section; Great Registers, 1866-1898; Collection Number: 4 - 2A; CSL Roll Number: 20; FHL Roll Number: 977994,accessed 08/10/2016.)

He had moved to Pasadena, CA, by at least 08/15/1892, when he registered to vote in the State of CA. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation California State Library, California History Section; Great Registers, 1866-1898; Collection Number: 4 - 2A; CSL Roll Number: 20; FHL Roll Number: 976929,accessed 08/10/2016.) In 1900, he, his wife and two children lived at 475 Ellis Street in Pasadena. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1900; Census Place: Pasadena Precinct 5, Los Angeles, California; Roll: 91; Page: 11B; Enumeration District: 0117; FHL microfilm: 1240091,accessed 08/10/2016.)

J.J. Blick resided at 275 Madeline Drive in Pasadena, CA, from at least 1909 until 1943. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation, Year: 1920; Census Place: Pasadena, Los Angeles, California; Roll: T625_117; Page: 18A; Enumeration District: 532; Image: 1170,accessed 08/10/2016; see also Pasadena City Directory, 1943, p. 74.)

Blick died in Los Angeles County, CA, at the age of 79, and was buried in Mountain View Cemetery and Mausoleum, Altadena, CA.

Parents

His father was James Shannon Blick (1833-1916), a carpenter, and Phoebe Eleanor Dunning Blick (1840-1923), a homemaker. His father's profession most likely helped to determine Joseph's career inclinations.

James and Phoebe had eight children together: Madge Blick Ford (1860-1940), Blanche Blick Burnham (1862-1939), Homer Ephraim (1865-1946), Grace P. Blick Ingram (1870-1951), Judd Dunning (1873-1951), John C. (1875-1960), and Kate F. Blick Wells (1878-1961).

Spouse

Joseph J. Blick married Daisy Russell Blick (born 06/12/1870 in Fort Barron, IL- died 01/03/1963 in Pasadena, CA) c. 1892.

Children

Daisy Russell and Joseph J. Blick had four children, Elizabeth E. (born 08/1892 in CA), Donald R. (born 07/1896 in CA), Marie Josephine Thornbury (born c. 1900 in CA) and Alice D. Blick (born c. 1902 in CA).

Biographical Notes

At age 25, the California Voter's Registry indicated Blick to stand 5-feet 10-and-1/2-inches tall, with a dark complexion, brown eyes and black hair.

In 1928, Joseph, Daisy and Marie Blick traveled from Southampton, UK, to New York, NY, (from 06/09/1928-06/18/1928) aboard the S.S. Lapland, following a European excursion.