Résumé

William Bliesner changed his working associations frequently during his lifetime, and seems to have had a small amount of stability in his personal life, as well. He worked as a carpenter, architect and engineer with several different partnerships, and regressed from being an co-owner of a professional partnership to becoming a draftsman working for a firm at age 46.

Carpenter, Saint Louis, MO, 1890.

Designer, R.B. Young, Architect, Los Angeles, prior to 1894.

Partner, Bliesner and [W.O.] Merithew, Architects, Los Angeles, CA, 10/1894-1895. This firm was sometimes referred to as "Merithew and Bliesner." In 1895, they occupied Room #248 of the Wilson Building. This office also accommodated R.E. Moore in 1895. (See Los Angeles, California, City Directory, 1895, p. 1508.) William O. Merithew, who went bankrupt in 1895, went on to partner with A.L. Haley by 1897.

Bliesner's name did not appear in the architect's classified directory in the Los Angeles, California, City Directory, 1896,(p. 1670), nor in the directory of 1899, (p. 1000).

Partner, Bliesner, Heinlein and Kronnick, Architects, Los Angeles, CA, 1897. This firm leased space in Room #302 of the Wilson Building. (See Maxwell's Los Angeles, California, City Directory, 1897, p. 1026.)

Partner, Bliesner and [J.H.] Bradbeer, Architects, Los Angeles, CA, 1900. This firm had its office in Room #309 of the Wilcox Building. (See Los Angeles, California, City Directory, 1900, p. 401.)

Partner, Burnham and Bliesner, Architects, Los Angeles, CA, 1902-1904. In 1902-1903, Burnham and Bliesner maintained an office in Room #303 of the Douglas Building in Downtown Los Angeles. (SeeLos Angeles, California, City Directory, 1902, p. 1528 andLos Angeles, California, City Directory, 1903, p. 1705.)

Principal, William J. Bliesner, Architect, Los Angeles, CA, c. 1907-1912. In 1907, Bliesner had his office at 211 West 1st Street. (See Los Angeles, California, City Directory, 1907, p. 1651.) He had an office at 315 South Broadway in Los Angeles, Room #527. (See Los Angeles, California, City Directory, 1912, p. 246.)

Draftsman, Joseph Musto and Sons-Koenan Company, Los Angeles, CA, 1918. (See Los Angeles, California, City Directory, 1918, p. 380.)

Engineer, Seal Beach, CA, 1924.(See Ancestry, Source Citation California State Library; Sacramento, California; Great Register of Voters, 1900-1968, accessed 12/13/2019.)

Relocation

William John Bliesner was born in Missouri, and spending his childhood and young adultohood in Saint Louis. The 1880 US Census listed a seven-year-old "Wilhelm Bliesner" living with his parents in a residence at 205 South 5th Street in that city. In 1890, Bliesner lived at 2013 Geyer Avenue in Saint Louis, MO and worked as a carpenter. He was not listed in the Los Angeles, California, City Directory, 1896, in either the alphabetical name listing or the architect's classified directory, suggesting that he worked elsewhere at this date. Marriage records of 1897 showed that Bliesner at age 24 lived in the City of Los Angeles. (See Ancestry, Source Citation: California Department of Public Health, accessed 12/13/2019.)

The 1900 US Census listed a "Ralph" and Mary Bliesner living at 231 East 24th Street in Los Angeles. This couple had married in 1897 and their birth locations corresponded with those of William Bliesner and Anna M. Johnson, MO and KS, respectively. Ralph was also listed as an architect. They had no children at the time. (See Ancestry, Source Citation: Year: 1900; Census Place: Los Angeles Ward 6, Los Angeles, California; Page: 15; Enumeration District: 0052; FHL microfilm: 1240090, accessed 12/13/2019.) The Los Angeles, California, City Directory, 1900, p. 153, confirmed that William J. Bliesner, the architect, did live at 231 East 24the Street in 1900.

In 09/1918, Bliesner lived with his wife, Francis, at 219 South Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, CA. (See Ancestry, Source Citation: Registration State: California; Registration County: Los Angeles; Roll: 1530898; Draft Board: 17, accessed 12/12/2019.)

In 1924, CA voter records listed Bliesner as living in Seal Beach, CA, in Orange County, working as an engineer. (See Ancestry, Source Citation California State Library; Sacramento, California; Great Register of Voters, 1900-1968, accessed 12/13/2019.)

Voter rolls for Los Angeles County in 1932 indicated that Bliesner lived at 2109 1/2 East 2nd Street in Los Angeles, CA. (See Ancestry, Source Citation California State Library; Sacramento, California; Great Register of Voters, 1900-1968, accessed 12/12/2019.)

Bliesner passed away at the age of 72 in Los Angeles County, CA, on 03/04/1945.

Parents

William J. Bliesner was adopted by William, Sr., and Clara Krueger Bliesner, according to the 1880 US Census. Williams was a dealer in gasoline stoves at the time, and Clara worked in the home.

Spouse

Bliesner married at least three times. At age 23, he married Anna M. Johnson (born c. 1874 in KS) on 03/19/1897 in Los Angeles, CA. (See Ancestry, Source Citation:California, County Birth, Marriage, and Death Records, 1830-1980. California Department of Public Health, accessed 12/12/2019.) They divorced before 1910. Anna Johnson, listed as single, lived as a roomer in the Watson House at 409 4th Street in Burbank, CA, according to the 1910 US Census. Her father, 65-year-old William Johnson (born c. 07/1844 in IN), a widower, lived in this same house. (See Ancestry, Source Citation Year: 1910; Census Place: Burbank, Los Angeles, California; Roll: T624_79; Page: 9B; Enumeration District: 0348; FHL microfilm: 1374092, accessed 12/13/2019.) Anna was also listed as living with her father in San Luis Rey, CA, in the US Census of 1900. It is possible that William had left Anna by 1900, and lived with another woman named "Mary," or Anna showed up in two US Census reports during 06/1900. In any event, the 1900 census form that showed Anna living with her father, listed her as being single.

Interestingly, the Los Angeles, California, City Directory, 1912, listed Anna M. Bliesner as a "widow" of William Bliesner living at 1368 West Hollywood Boulevard. Because Bliesner was not a common name, William's name appeared a few entries down as alive living at 1841 Monticello Way in Los Angeles. (SeeLos Angeles, California, City Directory, 1912, p. 246.)

Anna M. Johnson may have been married once before Bliesner. Records indicated that an Anna M. Johnson married a L.A. Whipple on 08/12/1890 in Los Angeles. (See Ancestry.com, Source Information: California, Select Marriages, 1850-1945 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc, 2014, accessed 12/13/2019.)

It is possible that Bliesner married another woman named Mary by 1900.

He wed Francis M. Treichler on 08/01/1912 in Los Angeles, CA. (See Ancestry, Source Citation: California Department of Public Health, courtesy of www.vitalsearch-worldwide.com. Digital Images, accessed 12/12/2019.)

The architect married Elizabeth Louise Geskowitz on 09/25/1923 in Santa Ana, CA. (See Ancestry, Source Citation:California, County Birth, Marriage, and Death Records, 1830-1980. California Department of Public Health, accessed 12/12/2019.)

Biographical Notes

According to his World War I draft registration card, Bliesner stood 5-feet, 8-inches tall, possessed a medium build, and had blue eyes and light hair. (See Ancestry, Source Citation: Registration State: California; Registration County: Los Angeles; Roll: 1530898; Draft Board: 17, accessed 12/12/2019.)

Documents do not always agree as to Bliesner's date of birth. The California Death index and the U.S. Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007, noted that Bliesner was born on 07/14/1872. His World War I draft card, apparently filled out in his own hand, had it as 07/14/1875. The 1880 US Census noted that William was seven at the time, making it more likely that he was born in 1872 than 1875.

SSN: 545188016.