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Male, US, born 1850-05-02, died 1947-11-20
Associated with the firms network
Hardenbergh, Henry Janeway, Architect; Kysor and Mathews; Mathews, J.C., and Son, Architects; Mathews, Walter J., Architect
Résumé
Carpenter, Oakland, CA, 1868-1874. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1870; Census Place: Brooklyn, Alameda, California; Roll: M593_68; Page: 25B, accessed 05/31/2024.)
Draftsman, Architect's office, Oakland, CA, 1874.
Partner, [Ezra Franklin] Kysor and Mathews, Architects, Los Angeles, CA, 03/1875-04/1876. His Who's Who on the Pacific Coast entry (1913) indicated that he worked with Ezra Franklin Kysor between 1875 and 1877. (See "Mathews, Walter J.," Who's Who on the Pacific Coast, [Los Angeles: Harper Publishing Company, 1913], pp. 388-389.)
Partner, J.C. Mathews and Son, Architects, Oakland, CA, 1877-1883. In his Who's Who on the Pacific Coastentry of 1913, Walter indicated that he worked with Julius from 1877 until 1883. He supposedly started his own practice in 1885, but Julius and Walter were listed as having an office at 969 Broadway in Oakland in 1888. (See Oakland, California, City Directory, 1888, p. 961 and "Mathews, Walter J.," Who's Who on the Pacific Coast, [Los Angeles: Harper Publishing Company, 1913], p. 389.)
Principal, Walter J. Mathews, Architect, San Francisco and (later) Oakland, CA, 1885- . Matthews had an office at 969 Broadway in Oakland, CA, in 1903. (See Oakland, California, City Directory, 1903, p. 649.) Mathews had an office in the Athens Hotel, 1302 Broadway, in 1908. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation California State Library; Sacramento, California; Great Register of Voters, 1908, accessed 03/29/2023.)
City Architect, City of Oakland, CA, c. 1890s.
Professional Activities
Member, American Institute of Architects (AIA), San Francisco Chapter, San Francisco, CA.
High School / College
Coursework, Public schools, Markesan, WI, 1856-1866.
Graduate, Public high school, Oakland, CA, 1866-1868.
His entry in the Who's Who on the Pacific Coast (1913) indicated that Mathews had had "had "one year of architectural study abroad." (See "Mathews, Walter J.," Who's Who on the Pacific Coast, [Los Angeles: Harper Publishing Company, 1913], pp. 388-389.)
Relocation
Born in Markesan, WI in 1850, Walter J. Mathews was born the eldest son in a family of architects and designers. Although various sources have noted that Walter was born in Markesan, a town about 57 miles northeast of Madison, the family lived in 1850 in the town of Mackford, about four miles to the southeast, as noted by the US Census. Three-month-old infant Walter was the only child at that time of his parents Julius Case Mathews and Pauline McCracken. Julius, who later would become an architect by the mid-1860s, worked as a merchant in Mackford. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation The National Archives in Washington D.C.; Record Group: Records of the Bureau of the Census; Record Group Number: 29; Series Number: M432; Residence Date: 1850; Home in 1850: Mackford, Marquette, Wisconsin; Roll: 1002; Page: 68a, accessed 05/31/2024.)
The 1860s US Census confirmed that Julius Mathews, continued to make his living as a merchant, this time, however, in the town of Markesan. The household consisted of Julius, Pauline and their children, Walter, Caroline, Elizabeth, Belle and Arthur. In addition, they had enough money to pay a household worker, listed on the census form as "Adeline Minella" (likely an incorrect surname spelling, born c. 1839 in Germany). (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation The National Archives in Washington D.C.; Record Group: Records of the Bureau of the Census; Record Group Number: 29; Series Number: M653; Residence Date: 1860; Home in 1860: Markesan, Green Lake, Wisconsin; Roll: M653_1410; Page: 1053; Family History Library Film: 805410, accessed 05/31/2024.)
Julius moved the family from Markesan to the rapidly growing San Francisco Bay Area by the mid-1860s. The family first settled in the City of San Francisco, where Walter's younger brother Edgar was born in 1866. The Mathews family moved across the bay to the Brooklyn neighborhood of Oakland by 1870. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1870; Census Place: Brooklyn, Alameda, California; Roll: M593_68; Page: 25B, accessed 05/31/2024.)
Walter began work as a carpenter between 1868 and 1874 in Oakland before transitioning to architecture. He lived at home with his parents and four siblings in the Brooklyn neighborhood of the city as per the 1870 US Census. The family was not well-to-do, reporting assets of only $400 at that time. Interestingly, the Mathews family lived nearby to Louis Newsom (born c. 1811 in Ireland), a nurseryman, his wife Jessie (born c. 1820 in Scotland) and their five children. Two of the Newsom children were Samuel Newsom (1852-1908) and Joseph Cather Newsom (1857-1930). In 1870, Samuel was working as an apprentice architect and Joseph was a student and both would go on to have long careers in the Bay Area. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1870; Census Place: Brooklyn, Alameda, California; Roll: M593_68; Page: 25B, accessed 03/29/2023.)
In 1873, Walter continued to live at home with his parents in Oakland on the north side of of Durant Avenue between Broadway and Franklin Streets. (See Oakland, California, City Directory, 1873, p. 178)
After working as a carpenter, Walter would set up an architectural practice in San Francisco first before switching to an office location in Oakland, CA.
He practiced briefly in Los Angeles with the noted architect Ezra F. Kysor (1834-1907) during 1875 and 1876. (Although he was working in Southern CA, his residence in 1876 was listed as being with his parents, on the north side of Durant Avenue, between Broadway and Franklin Street. See Oakland, California, City Directory, 1876, p. 270.)
He returned to the Bay Area by c. 1877, living in many different houses and at least one hotel during the 1870s through the 1900s. In 1878, he lived at 713 10th Street in Oakland, in 1878. (See Oakland, California, City Directory, 1878, p. 318.)
The next year, following his marriage to Viola Strawbridge, the newlyweds dwelled at 1120 Filbert Street in Oakland. (See Oakland, California, City Directory, 1879, p. 336.) The 1880 US Census that the house at 1120 Filbert was a boarding house run by Lewis Hewlett (born c. 1846 in NY), a merchant, and his wife Jennie McBean Hewlett (born c. 1853 in IL). The census noted that Viola worked as a "hasher," a food service worker, and that a young female teacher and household servant lived here, as well. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1880; Census Place: Oakland, Alameda, California; Roll: 61; Page: 147d; Enumeration District: 008, accessed 05/31/2024.)
Walter lived at 539 Jones Street in Oakland in 1892. (See Oakland, California, City Directory, 1892, p. 351.)
The architect moved to a dwelling at 1159 Alice Street in a neighborhood just to the east of Downtown Oakland between 1895 and 1897. (See Oakland, California, City Directory, 1895, p. 290, Ancestry.com, Source Citation California State Library; Sacramento, California; Great Registers, 1866-1898; Collection Number: 4-2A; CSL Roll Number: 4; FHL Roll Number: 976450, accessed 11/08/2021 and Oakland, California, City Directory, 1897, p. 321.)
According to the 1900 US Census, Walter and Viola Mathews resided with their two children--Pauline and Hope-- at 1661 Webster Street in Oakland. In addition, the Mathews employed a household worker, Maggie Sauton, who migrated from Ireland in 1892, (born c. 12/1873 in Ireland, although the spelling of her last name is not clear). (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1900; Census Place: Oakland Ward 5, Alameda, California; Roll: 82; Page: 1; Enumeration District: 0373, accessed 05/31/2024.)
Between 1908 and 1910, Walter Mathews resided with his wife Viola and daughter Josphine at the Hotel Athens in Oakland, CA. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation California State Library; Sacramento, California; Great Register of Voters, 1900-1968, accessed 11/08/2021 and Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1910; Census Place: Oakland Ward 5, Alameda, California; Roll: T624_70; Page: 19B; Enumeration District: 0122; FHL microfilm: 1374083, accessed 11/08/2021.) The Hotel Athens stood at 1304 Broadway in 1910.
When Walter's wife Viola died in 1920, she resided at 277 Park View Terrace in Oakland. (See "Deaths," Oakland Enquirer, 11/15/1920, p. 15.) After Viola's death, Walter lived with his daughter Pauline and her family.
Mathews lived with his daughter Pauline, son-in-law Earle B. Henley, Sr., grandson Earle B. Henley, Sr., and granddaughter Mary Jane Henley at 715 Arimo Avenue in Oakland's comfortable Lakeshore neighborhood, as per the 1930 US Census. The Henley House had an estimated value of $10,000 in that year. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1930; Census Place: Oakland, Alameda, California; Page: 1A; Enumeration District: 0120; FHL microfilm: 2339839, accessed 11/08/2021.) He continued to live with the Henleys at 715 Arimo in 1940. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1940; Census Place: Oakland, Alameda, California; Roll: m-t0627-00441; Page: 11A; Enumeration District: 61-138, accessed 05/31/2024.)
He died in Oakland, Alameda County, CA, at the age of 97. He was buried in Mountain View Cemetery, Oakland.
Parents
His father was the architect Julius Case Mathews (1822 in NY-1910), with whom he worked in an architectural partnership, J.C. Mathews and Son, Architects, between about 1877 and 1888. (See Oakland, California, City Directory, 1888, p. 961.)
His mother was Pauline Hope McCracken (born 04/01/1831 in Troy, NY-d. 03/18/1914 in Oakland, CA). They married on 06/07/1848 in WI, the year that it became the 30th US state. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Wisconsin Historical Society; Madison, WI, USA; Wisconsin Marriage Records Pre-1907, accessed 05/31/2024.)
His entry in Who's Who on the Pacific Coast(1913), said of his family's descendants: "Descendant of Col. Hollister of Colonial fame, also of French Huguenots, who settled in Conn." (See "Mathews, Walter J.," Who's Who on the Pacific Coast, [Los Angeles: Harper Publishing Company, 1913], pp. 388-389.)
Pauline and Julius had the following children: Walter J. Mathews, Caroline H. Mathews (born c. 1852-d. 09/15/1920 in Alameda County, CA); Elizabeth Mathews (born c. 1853 in WI); Belle Mathews (born c. 1857 in WI); Arthur Francis Mathews (born 10/01/1860 in Markesan, WI-d. 02/19/1945); Edgar Aschael Mathews (born 09/08/1866 in Oakland, CA-d. 12/31/1948 in San Francisco, CA); Edwin Mathews (born 03/17/1870 in Oakland, CA-d. 04/26/1884 in Oakland, CA). Elizabeth and Belle may not have reached adulthood.
Caroline lived with her parents for much of her life, and worked as a dressmaker in 1910. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1910; Census Place: Oakland Ward 7, Alameda, California; Roll: T624_71; Page: 9B; Enumeration District: 0150; FHL microfilm: 1374084, accessed 03/29/2023.) His brother Edwin died early in life at age 14.
Spouse
He wed Viola Gates Strawbridge (born c. 1852 in CA-d. 11/11/1920 in Alameda County, CA) on 12/24/1879 in Oakland, CA. Her date of birth was an estimate from her death notice of 11/15/1920, that stated she died at age 68. (See "Deaths," Oakland Enquirer, 11/15/1920, p. 15.) The 1900 US Census listed her birthdate as 03/1860, which does not seem to have been accurate.
Children
Viola and Walter Mathews had the following children: Pauline M. Mathews Henley (born 09/25/1884 in CA-d. 12/25/1944 in Alameda County, CA), named for her paternal grandmother, and Hope Josephine Mathews Johnson (born 06/01/1890 in CA-d. 03/27/1985 in Contra Costa County, CA).
The 1940 US Census indicated that Pauline attended two years of college. She married Earle Burr Henley, Sr., (1879-1961) who in 1940 worked as an assessment adjuster for a real estate company. With Earle, she had a son and a daughter, Earle Burr Henley, Jr., (1915-2006) and Mary Jane Henley Keating Oetinger (1920-1991). (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1940; Census Place: Oakland, Alameda, California; Roll: m-t0627-00441; Page: 11A; Enumeration District: 61-138, accessed 05/31/2024.)
Hope graduated from the University of California, Berkeley (UCB), belonging to the Alpha Phi Sorority. (See University of California, Berkeley, Blue and Gold Yearbook, 1909, p. 276.) She married William Elliot Johnson (born 11/17/1889 in CA-d. 11/07/1957 in Contra Costa County, CA) on 06/09/1914 in Alameda County, CA. (See Ancestry.com, Source Information Ancestry.com. California, U.S., Marriage Records from Select Counties, 1850-1941 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014, accessed 05/31/2024.)
Biographical Notes
It is not clear what the "J." stood for as Walter's middle name. It is possible that he was named "Julius" after his father, or received another name starting with J to honor him.
At age 45, Mathews stood 5-feet, 6-and-1/2-inches tall, and had blue eyes and gray hair. Caucasian, he had a light complexion according to Alameda County voter rolls of 1896. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation California State Library; Sacramento, California; Great Registers, 1866-1898; Collection Number: 4-2A; CSL Roll Number: 4; FHL Roll Number: 976450, accessed 11/08/2021.)
Mathews was a registered Democrat according to Alameda County voting records of 1908. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation California State Library; Sacramento, California; Great Register of Voters, 1900-1968, accessed 11/08/2021.)
Member, Nile Shriners Temple, Oakland, CA.
Member, Claremont Country Club, Oakland, CA.
Member, Home Club, Oakland, CA.
Member, Institute for the Deaf, Dumb and Blind, Board of Directors, Oakland, CA.
PCAD id: 1714
| Name | Date | City | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anaheim Hotel #2, Anaheim, CA | 1875 | Anaheim | CA |
| Belden, C.A., House, San Francisco, CA | San Francisco | CA | |
| Hart, Howard H. and Orpha Spinks, House, Claremont, Berkeley, CA | 1909-1911 | Berkeley | CA |
| Kern, P., Building, Los Angeles, CA | 1875 | Los Angeles | CA |
| Oakland Hotel Corporation, Hotel Oakland, Downtown, Oakland, CA | 1910-1912 | Oakland | CA |
| Orpheum Theatre #1, Downtown, Oakland, CA | 1907 | Oakland | CA |
| United States Government, Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), Immigration Building, Angel Island, San Francisco, CA | San Francisco | CA |
