Résumé

Orchardist, San Jose, CA, c. 1896. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation California State Library; Sacramento, California; Great Registers, 1896; Collection Number: 4-2A; CSL Roll Number: 126; FHL Roll Number: 977290, accessed 08/02/2023.) The canning of fruit began in the Santa Clara Valley in the 1870s. By 1896, it had become an early paradise for fruit trees, with farmers planting a large number of plum, apricot, cherry and other trees. (See Glenna Mathews, "The Apricot War: A Study of the Changing Fruit Industry during the 1930s," Agricultural History, vol. 59, no. 1, 01/1985, pp. 25-39.)

Partner, Wolfe and McKenzie, Architects, San Jose, CA.

Charles S. McKenzie, Architect, San Jose, CA, 1924. McKenzie operated his practice in Room #511 of the Bank of San Jose Building. (See San Jose, California, City Directory, 1924, architects business directory section, n.p.)

Relocation

Charles Sutherland McKenzie was born in MA on 11/18/1875. (The California Death Index had his date of birth as 11/18/1874. [See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Place: Santa Clara; Date: 9 Jan 1957 Source Information Ancestry.com. California, U.S., Death Index, 1940-1997 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2000. Original data: State of California. California Death Index, 1940-1997. Sacramento, CA, USA: State of California Department of Health Services, Center for Health Statistics, accessed 08/02/2023.] His World War I draft card listed it as 11/18/1875, however. This document contained his own signature and presumably was recorded by a clerk speaking directly to the architect.)

He had relocated to San Jose, CA, by at least 1896, when he lived at 83 South 5fh Street in San Jose.

He and his wife lived at 135 West William Street in San Jose, CA, on 09/12/1918. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Registration State: California; Registration County: Los Angeles Source Information: U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005. Original data: United States, Selective Service System. World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration. M1509, 4,582 rolls. Imaged from Family History Library microfilm, accessed 08/02/2023.)

In 1924, McKenzie resided at 90 South 16th Street in San Jose, CA. (See San Jose, California, City Directory, 1924, n.p.)

Parents

McKenzie's parents were both born in the Province of Nova Scotia, Canada.

Spouse

He wed Edwinna May Birchler (born c. 1887 in IL). Her father's family came from Switzerland, while her mother had also been born in IL.

Children

Charles and Edwinna had the following children: Donald Birchler McKenzie (born 07/01/1907 in San Jose, CA-d. 03/26/1912 in San Jose, CA) and Janice McKenzie Chappell (born 09/27/1912 in CA-d. 09/24/1996 in CA).

Donald died of diptheria as a child.

Biographical Notes

In 1896, voters records in San Jose listed McKenzie as having a "medium" Caucasian complexion and standing 5-feet, 5-and-3/4s-inches tall. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation California State Library; Sacramento, California; Great Registers, 1896; Collection Number: 4-2A; CSL Roll Number: 126; FHL Roll Number: 977290, accessed 08/02/2023.)

His World War I draft registration card listed McKenzie as being Caucasian with blue eyes and gray hair. It noted both his height and weight as "medium." (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Registration State: California; Registration County: Los Angeles Source Information Ancestry.com. U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005. Original data: United States, Selective Service System. World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration. M1509, 4,582 rolls. Imaged from Family History Library microfilm, accessed 08/02/2023.)