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Male, US, born 1860-10, died 1922-12-12
Associated with the firms network
Kysor, Morgan and Walls, Architects; Morgan and Walls, Architects; Morgan, Walls and Clements, Architects; Morgan, Walls and Morgan, Associated Architects and Engineers; Morgan, Walls, Morgan and Clements, Architects; Walls, John A., Architect
Résumé
Walls probably worked for an architectural firm in Buffalo, NY, c. 1880; Walls probably worked for some time for Kysor and Morgan before becoming elevated to Partner in 1887. Partner, Kysor, Morgan and Walls, Architects, Los Angeles, CA, 1887-1890; Partner, Morgan and Walls, Architects, Los Angeles, CA, 1890-1910; Partner, Morgan, Walls, and Morgan, Architects, Los Angeles, CA, 04/1910-c.1920; Partner, Morgan, Walls, Morgan and Clements, Architects, Los Angeles, CA, c. 1920-c. 1923; Partner, Morgan, Walls and Clements, Architects (although Walls died in late 1923, his name remained part of the firm name until Stiles O. Clements established his own firm in 1937), Los Angeles, CA, c. 1923-1937;
Relocation
John A. Walls was born and raised in Buffalo, NY; in 1870, their real estate in Buffalo's 10th Ward, was worth approximately $5,000. By 1880, Walls was still living at home in Buffalo, and referred to himself as an architect. Walls lived in Los Angeles, CA, by 1887.
He, his wife and daughter, Eleanor, lived at 712 East Adams Street, Los Angeles, CA, in 1900 and 2157 (or 2159) West 20th Street, Los Angeles, CA, in 1910. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation, Year: 1900; Census Place: Los Angeles Ward 6, Los Angeles, California; Roll: 90; Page: 11B; Enumeration District: 0057; FHL microfilm: 1240090, accessed 12/16/2016.) He owned both houses without mortgages. He continued to live at the latter address in 1920.
He passed away on 12/12/1922, and was buried in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale, CA.
Parents
His father. John Walls, born c. 1827, was from the Scotland and probably came to the US between 1840-1850, as he first appeared in the 1850 US Census. His mother, Hannah, born c. 1825, was from New York. She probably died between 1870-1880. It appears that his father married twice, first to Hannah, and then to Marion E. Walls, born c. 1836 in England. (Various census surveys from 1860-1920 indicated different origins for John A. Walls's mother, and they could be referencing his birth or step-mother.) The 1860 US Census indicated that his father was an "ornamental plasterer." In 1860, the estate of John and Hannah Walls amounted to approximately $1,300, a reasonable sum for a working class family of the era. The 1870 US Census stated his profession to be a builder. The 1880 US Census again stated that he was a plasterer. Walls was one of 5 children: Mary F. (born c. 1850 in NY, a school teacher in 1870), Edith F. (born c. 1854 in NY), Frank W. (born c. 1856 in NY) and Walter S. (probably a half-brother, born c. 1873 in NY).
Spouse
John A. Walls married his wife, Jesse Fremont Prescott Walls, 02/09/1892. Jesse had been born 02/1864 in IA according to the 1900 US Census, and in WI, according to the 1910 US Census. Her parents, John Samuel Prescott (1809-1872) and Mary E. Harris Prescott (c.1824 -1888), came from NY and MD. (The 1860 US Census stated that he was from NY, she from DE. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1860; Census Place: Okoboji, Dickinson, Iowa; Roll: M653_319; Page: 0; Image: 514; Family History Library Film: 803319, accessed 12/16/2016.) The US Census for 1920 recorded them having come from OH and WI; this census indicated that she was born in IA. She passed away on 12/03/1942 in Escondido, CA.
According to a US passport application of 07/06/1923, probably the most reliable source, Jessie P. Walls was born in Spirit Lake, IA, on 02/09/1861.
Following Walls's death in 1923, Jessie P. Walls took a world tour with Japan, China, Hong Kong, Straits Settlements, Singapore, India, Ceylon, Burma, Egypt, Italy, Holland, Belgium and the British Isles on the itinerary. She stated her departure date to have been 08/07/1923. In 1938, at the age of 77, she traveled from Buenos Aries, Argentina, to New Orleans, LA, between 04/14/1938 and 05/11/1938. She resided at 2159 West 20th Street, Los Angeles, in 1938. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation, The National Archives at Washington, D.C.; Washington, D.C.; Passenger Lists of Vessels Arriving at New Orleans, Louisiana, 1903-1945; NAI Number: 4492741; Record Group Title: Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service; Record Group Number: 85, accessed 12/16/2016.)
Children
He and his wife had one daughter, Eleanor Walls Morosco (born 02/03/1893 in CA-died 09/1985 in Palo Alto, CA). (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation, Number: 548-32-6646; Issue State: California; Issue Date: Before 1951, accessed 12/16/2016.)
Biographical Notes
There are various dates noted for Walls's birth.
PCAD id: 115
