Résumé

Like many architects of the nineteenth century, Joseph Falkenhan started as a carpenter, learning the building trade by putting buildings together with his own hands. Perhaps his most significant period of work came when he partnered with the renowned architect Irving J. Gill (1870-1936) in San Diego, CA, between 1894 and 1895.

Carpenter, Cincinnati, OH, c. 1871-1874. (See Cincinnati, Ohio, City Directory, 1871, p. 242.) The Cincinnati, Ohio, City Directory, 1874, (p. 314), indicated that Falkenhan "wks. 531 W. 5th."

Carpenter, Denver, CO, c. 1880-1885.

Principal, "Joseph Falkenhan," Architect and Building Superintendent, San Diego, CA, 1887-1893. In 07/1887, Falkenham had an office in Room #7 of the Hamilton Building in San Diego. An advertisement for his architectural services wrote his name as "Falkenhan." (See Joseph Falkenhan advertisement, Coronado Evening Mercury, 07/08/1887, p. 3.) He made the switch from carpenter to architect by about 1887. One of Falkenhan's highest profile commissions was for the Soldiers' Home in Santa Monica.)

Member, City of San Diego, Board of Public Works, San Diego, CA, 1890. A note in the Los Angeles Evening Express said, "Joseph Falkenhan, a member of the San Diego Board of Public Works, is in the city a guest of the Nadeau." (See Los Angeles Evening Express, 03/19/1890, p. 8.)

Partner, Falkenhan and Gill, Architects, San Diego, CA, 1894-1895. In 1895, Falkenhan and Gill maintained their offices in Rooms #10 and 11 of the Choate-Peterson Building. (See San Diego, California, City Directory, 1895, p. 93.) Irving J. Gill split with Falkenhan and partnered with William Hebbard by 1896.

A "Joseph Falkenham" was listed as a cabinetmaker for Dellar Barbers Supply Company and as a building contractor in R.L. Polk and Company's Seattle City Directory, 1910, (p. 568). The 1910 US Census listed him as an "architect and builder."

Relocation

Archival records are somewhat difficult to find for Joseph Falkenham due to misspellings of his last name. Spelling variations included "Falkenham," "Felkenham" and "Falkenheim."

Falkenhan was born in OH, likely in Cincinnati, c. 08/1855, to a German-born father and an American mother. (The birthdate of 08/1855 came from the 1900 US Census.) In 1860, the US Census reported a four-year-old child living in Cincinnati, OH, by the name of "Joseph Felkenham." (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1860; Census Place: Cincinnati Ward 9, Hamilton, Ohio; Roll: M653_973; Page: 447; Family History Library Film: 803973, accessed 12/19/2017.) Their neighborhood was heavily composed of German immigrants, with many coming from Prussia, Hanover, and Oldenburg.

In 1863, the Falkenhans lived at 485 Main Street in Cincinnati. (See Cincinnati, Ohio, City Directory, 1863, p. 158.) The Falkenhans moved again by 1866, dwelling at 53 Dudley Street. (See Cincinnati, Ohio, City Directory, 1867, p. 156 and Cincinnati, Ohio, City Directory, 1867, p. 181.)

He worked as a carpenter in Cincinnati, OH between 1871 and 1874, at least. His work address in 1872 was 118 Baker Street. (See Cincinnati, Ohio, City Directory, 1872, p. 305.) If Joseph still lived at home in 1872, his father resided in Covington, KY, across the Ohio River from Cincinnati. (See Cincinnati, Ohio, City Directory, 1872, p. 305.)

It appears that Joseph left Cincinnati by the mid-1870s, landing in Denver, CO, by the end of the decade. Denver's population soared from 4,759 inhabitants in 1870 to more than 35,000 by 1880, and construction workers were needed to house the newcomers. Joseph lived in the city first, and encouraged his siblings and mother to resettle there during the 1880s. His brother William George, who worked as a machinist, lived in the city by 1885. (See Denver, Colorado, City Directory, 1885, p. 258.)

The US Census of 1880 indicated that "Joseph Falkenham" and his wife, Josie, lived in Denver, CO, where he worked as a carpenter. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1880; Census Place: Denver, Arapahoe, Colorado; Roll: 88; Family History Film: 1254088; Page: 292D; Enumeration District: 014, accessed 12/19/2017.) He changed habitations in 1881, living at 55 Lawrence Street in Denver. (See Denver, Colorado, City Directory, 1881, p. 209.) He continued to live in Denver in 1885, at which time he had a place at 82 Jay Street. (See Denver, Colorado, City Directory, 1885, p. 258.)

He left Denver by 1886 or so, switching his operations to San Diego, CA.

In 1890, a "James Falkenham," an architect born in OH, lived in Coronado, CA, according to San Diego County voting records. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation California State Library, California History Section; Great Registers, 1866-1898; Collection Number: 4 - 2A; CSL Roll Number: 39; FHL Roll Number: 977094, accessed 09/14/2018.)

A note in the Los Angeles Times of 09/16/1892 indicated that Falkenhan was seeking to find work in Los Angeles. It stated: "Joseph Falkenhan, formerly of San Diego, has come to Los Angeles to permanently reside. Mr. Falkenhan was for some time a member of the Board of Public Works of San Diego, and will engage in business here." (See "Personals," Los Angeles Times, 09/16/1892, p. 2.) It doesn't appear that he abandoned San Diego after all in 1892, and stayed there for at least three more years.

Joseph Falkenhan was listed as living in San Diego working as an architect in 1893. He resided at 1440 9th Street at that time. (See San Diego, California, City Directory, 1892-1893, p. 85.) His voter registration of 1894 listed a post office address at the corner of 6th and F Streets.(See Ancestry.com, Source Citation California State Library, California History Section; Great Registers, 1866-1898; Collection Number: 4 - 2A; CSL Roll Number: 40; FHL Roll Number: 977095, accessed 09/14/2018.)

He resided in San Diego, CA, in 1894-1895, where he worked in a partnership with the noted architect Irving J. Gill (1870-1936). Falkenhan resided in the Express Building in 1895. The San Diego YMCA leased space in this building in that year. (See San Diego, California, City Directory, 1895, p. 93 and p. 250) Falkenhan was not listed in the San Diego, California, City Directory, 1897.

Joseph Falkenhan lived in Lewiston, ID, in 1900, where he worked as an architect. He, his wife and adopted daughter resided at 294 Newell Street, where Joseph worked as an architect.

In 1900, a "Joseph Falkenham" lived at 1712 Paru Street in Alameda, CA. (See Oakland, California, City Directory, 1900, p. 514.)

By 1910, Falkenhan had found his way to Seattle, WA, where he lived at 3609 East Denny Way. He lived at this address with his wife Josephine and adopted daughter Antonia. They owned their own house which was mortgaged.(See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1910; Census Place: Seattle Ward 3, King, Washington; Roll: T624_1658; Page: 5A; Enumeration District: 0090; FHL microfilm: 1375671, accessed 01/19/2021.)

He died accidentally in Seattle on 06/23/1911 at the age of 54. The Spokane Spokesman-Review said this of the accident: “Joseph Falkenhan, a well-known contractor and builder, was killed yesterday noon by a streetcar which he was leaving in front of his house on Denny way. The accident was not reported until today.” (See “Streetcar Kills Contractor,” Spokane Spokesman-Review, 06/25/1911, p. 19.)

Parents

According to the US Census of 1860, Joseph "Felkenham" was the son of Adam Felkenham (born c. 1827 in Hesse, Germany), who worked as a porter in that year. and had a personal savings of $400. By 1872, Adam had become a clerk, working at 115 West 3rd Street in Cincinnati. (See Cincinnati, Ohio, City Directory, 1872, p. 305.) Thereafter, the directories identified him as a porter.

Adam wed Joseph's mother Veronica Schwartz (born c. 12/1835 in MO-d. 1920 in CO) on 11/21/1854 in Hamilton County, OH. (See Ancestry.com, Source Information: Ohio, U.S., County Marriage Records, 1774-1993 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2016. Original data: Marriage Records. Ohio Marriages. Various Ohio County Courthouses, accessed 01/19/2021.)

Probably after her husband's death, Veronica moved west to join two of her sons in Denver, CO, Edward and George Falkenhan. She lived here by 1886. (See Denver, Colorado, City Directory, 1886, p. 271.)

He had a sister, Sophia (born c. 1858 in OH). (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1860; Census Place: Cincinnati Ward 9, Hamilton, Ohio; Roll: M653_973; Page: 447; Family History Library Film: 803973, accessed 12/19/2017.) A "John Falkenhan" lived in Cincinnati, OH, in 1878, and also worked as a porter. John may also have been a son of Adam and Veronica. (See Cincinnati, Ohio, City Directory, 1878, p. 312.)

In 1888, several other Falkenhans lived with Veronica in Denver, CO, including Anna Falkenhan, a dressmaker, Louisa Falkenhan, also a dressmaker, John E. Falkenhan, and William George Falkenhan, a machinist at the Colorado Iron Works. They all resided at 2734 Marion Street in Denver. (See Denver, Colorado, City Directory, 1888, p. 333.)

According to the 1900 and 1920 US Censuses, Veronica lived in Denver, CO, with an "Edward M. Falkenhan" (born c. 10/1861 in OH), who was likely to have been another son. He owned a cigar manufacturing business, Falkenhan and Pate, in Denver, c. 1896. (See Denver, Colorado, City Directory, 1896, p. 389, Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1900; Census Place: Denver, Arapahoe, Colorado; Page: 4; Enumeration District: 0058; FHL microfilm: 1240118 and Source Citation Year: 1920; Census Place: Denver, Denver, Colorado; Roll: T625_158; Page: 5B; Enumeration District: 8, accessed 01/19/2021.)

Spouse

He married Josephine "Josie" Falkenhan (born c. 05/1857 in KY) in c. 1877. She had German ancestry on her mother's and father's lines. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1920; Census Place: Seattle, King, Washington; Roll: T625_1929; Page: 7A; Enumeration District: 247, accessed 01/19/2021.)

After Joseph's death, Josephine rented a room in a building at 910 14th Avenue in Seattle in 1920. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1920; Census Place: Seattle, King, Washington; Roll: T625_1929; Page: 7A; Enumeration District: 247, accessed 01/19/2021.)

Children

He and Josephine adopted a daughter, Antonia Falkenhan, (born c. 04/1891 in WA). The 1910 US Census listed her birth parents as "unknown," although the 1900 Census listed them as having been born in MN (father) and WA. She was listed as an artist in the 1910 Census with her own studio. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1910; Census Place: Seattle Ward 3, King, Washington; Roll: T624_1658; Page: 5A; Enumeration District: 0090; FHL microfilm: 1375671, accessed 01/19/2021.)

Biographical Notes

In 1894, Joseph "Falkenhan" was listed in the Great Register of San Diego County as being 39 years of age, standing 6-feet, 1-inch tall, had a light Caucasian complexion, blue eyes and light hair. He was listed as an architect, who lived in San Diego's 6th ward, 2nd precinct. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation California State Library, California History Section; Great Registers, 1866-1898; Collection Number: 4 - 2A; CSL Roll Number: 40; FHL Roll Number: 977095, accessed 09/14/2018.)

There was a family named "Falkenham" living in Pittsburgh, PA, in mid-1800s, with members also having the first names "Adam" and "Joseph." It was likely an off-shoot of the same family. (See Joseph Falkenhan in the 1880s US Census, Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1880; Census Place: Allegheny, Allegheny, Pennsylvania; Roll: 1087; Page: 586A; Enumeration District: 022, accessed 01/19/2021.) This Joseph Falkenhan was also born in Hesse, Germany, c. 1848, and worked as a plasterer.