Résumé

Seth Babson came to CA as a gold seeker from his native ME. He established himself as a carpenter in Sacramento by 1850, and as an architect there by 1860, if not earlier. He worked in Sacramento until 1876, when he relocated his practice to San Francisco. Lesley Emmington wrote in the Berkeley Independent and Gazette in 1980 of Babson's career: "Babson who had come to California in 1849 became a prominent 19th century architect, designing some of Northern California's grandest Victorian houses. He is best known for designing the Crocker Mansion in Sacramento." (See Lesley Emmington, "Berkeley Architectural Heritage: A School Teacher's cottage," Berkeley Independent and Gazette, 09/10/1980, p. 2.)

Joiner, Newburyport, MA, 1848. (See Newburyport, Massachusetts, City Directory, 1848, p. 6.)

Carpenter, Sacramento, CA, 1850. (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: Sacramento, Sacramento, California; Roll: 35; Page: 169b, accessed 02/08/2024.) Babson worked in carpentry for a few years in Sacramento, but had become a self-styled architect by 1860.

Principal, Seth Babson, Architect, Sacramento, CA, 1860-1875. Babson had office space in Garwood's Building, 147-151 J Street, in Sacramento. (See Sacramento, California, City Directory, 1861, p. 4.) His office was located at 189 J Street from at least 1866 until 1869. (See Sacramento, California, City Directory, 1866, p. 164 and Sacramento, California, City Directory, 1869, p. 206.) His office was at 167 J Street as per the Sacramento, California, City Directory, 1870, (p. 208). He rented office space at 137 J Street in 1873, on the northwest corner of J and 7th Streets. (See The H.S. Crocker and Company Sacramento Directory for the Year Commencing January, 1873, [Sacramento, CA: H.S. Crocker and Company, 1873], p. xxxv.) It appears that Babson moved his office periodically on J Street.

In 1870, Babson was one of three architects listed in Sacramento, California, City Directory, 1870, (p. 308). The two others were Gordon P. Cummings (1809-1889), architect of the State Capitol, and M.R. O'Connell.

Babson left Sacramento for San Francisco, CA, in either 1875 or 1876. The prolonged economic stagnation in the US following the Panic of 1873 may have prompted Babson to relocate to the larger and perhaps more resilient San Francisco.

Principal, Seth Babson, Architect, San Francisco, CA, 1876-1887. According to the San Francisco City Directory, 1876, (p. 864), Babson had an office at 320 California Street, and maintained this in 1877 (SeeSan Francisco City Directory, 1877, [p. 465].) Two years later, he occupied Room #47 in the office building at 310 Pine Street in San Francisco. (See San Francisco City Directory, 1878, p. 133.) The San Francisco, California, City Directory, 1883, (p. 1106), had his office at 318 Pine Street, Room #37. He was also listed at 318 Pine in the San Francisco City Directory, 1887, (p. 1278).

Principal, Seth Babson, Architect, Los Angeles, CA, 06/1888. The Los Angeles Business Directory of 1888 (p. 768) indicated that Seth Babson ("formerly of S.F.") operated a Los Angeles office at 75 North Spring Street. It is possible that he also lived at this address.

Principal, Seth Babson, Architect, San Francisco, CA, c. 1891-1903. Babson had an office at 408 California Street between 1891 and 1898. (See San Francisco, California, City Directory, 1891, p. 1498 and Crocker-Langley Directory Company's San Francisco, California, City Directory, 1898, p. 210.) In 1903, the architect maintained an office in the Phelan Building. (See the Crocker-Langley Directory of San Francisco, 1903, p. 2000.)

Professional Activities

Member, American Institute of Architects (AIA), San Francisco Chapter.

President, AIA, San Francisco Chapter, 1899. (See "Architects from Distant Lands Feted by Their Craftsmen at the Cliff House," San Francisco Examiner, 09/13/1899, p. 4.)

Babson was elected to the State of California Board of Architecture in 04/1907, a few months before his death in 08/1907.

Professional Awards

Fellow, American Institute of Architects (FAIA), 1881.

Relocation

The dates of Seth Babson's birth do not always agree in historical documents. A 1945 request for a birth certificate by his son, Walter in Portland, OR, listed it as 09/20/1830. The genealogy website, Geneanet Community Trees Index, listed his birthday as 09/30/1826.

Regardless of the exact date, Seth Paris Babson was born ME, although the exact city is not clear. His son's 1945 document listed his place of birth as Oakland, ME. Geneanet listed it as Sedgwick, ME.

The name of a "Seth Babson" appeared on militia rolls for the town of Newburyport, MA, in 1846. At least one source indicated that Babson had been born in MA, although this is unlikely. He may have first resided in ME, then moved to MA as a youth. (See Ancestry.com, Source Information Ancestry.com. Massachusetts, U.S., Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011, accessed 02/09/2024.) In 1848, this Seth Babson, a joiner, lived "near the bottom of Broad Street." Another man, Abraham Babson, perhaps a brother, also lived here. (See Newburyport, Massachusetts, City Directory, 1848, p. 6.)

Babson left the East Coast during the early days of the Gold Rush, arriving in CA in 1849. He arrived in Sacramento, CA, as indicated by the 1850 US Census, and worked as a carpenter. On the census form, his name was associated with that of another carpenter, William Sul (probably misspelled, perhaps "Soule," born c. 1829 in MA). A few of Babson's immediate neighbors worked as miners during the Gold Rush, but most others performed jobs--waiters,cooks, barkeepers, hotel proprietors and clerks--that supported the mining economy. (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: Sacramento, Sacramento, California; Roll: 35; Page: 169b, accessed 02/08/2024.)

The 1860 US Census noted that Babson lived in Sacramento with Lanny Reynolds (born c. 1820 in Ireland), a servant, and Martha French and two children, William French (born c. 1853 in CA) and Sarah Harkins (born c. 1861 in NY). The census indicated that Babson owned about $2,200 worth of real estate in that year. (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: Sacramento Ward 3, Sacramento, California; Roll: M653_63; Page: 422; Family History Library Film: 803063, accessed 02/08/2024.)

Babson was also reported living in Sacramento in 1861. (See Sacramento, California, City Directory, 1861, p. 4.) A note in the Sacramento Great Register of 1872, listed his date of registration (presumably for voting) as 12/27/1866. He was 38 years old in that year. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation California State Library; California History Section; Sacramento, California; California Biological Collection: Sacramento County Great Register; Year: 1866; Reel: 25; California History Room: Microfilm 734, accessed 12/11/2018.) He is recorded as living at 187 J Street in 1867. (See Ancestry.com, Source Information Ancestry.com. Pacific Coast Directory, 1867 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2000, accessed 02/07/2024.) Sacramento voter rolls indicated that a 39-year-old Babson lived on J Street between 6th and 7th Streets in 1868. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation California State Library; Sacramento, California; Great Registers, 1866-1898; Collection Number: 4-2A; CSL Roll Number: 34; FHL Roll Number: 977088, accessed 02/09/2024.)

Babson married in 1874 and he and his young family had a residence in the 1st voting precinct of Sacramento, where he registered in April of that year. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation California State Library; Sacramento, California; Great Registers, 1874; Collection Number: 4-2A; CSL Roll Number: 34; FHL Roll Number: 977088, accessed 02/09/2024.) During his last year in Sacramento in 1875, Babson lived on the northwest corner of 7th Street and O Street. (See Sacramento, California, City Directory, 1875, p. 147.)

The Sacramento, California, City Directory, 1876, (p. 99) indicated that while Babson practiced in San Francisco, although he still had a residence in Sacramento on the northwest corner of 7th and O Streets. He moved from Sacramento to San Francisco later in 1876. The San Francisco Directory, 1876, (p. 108) recorded that Babson resided at 132 McAllister Street. Voting records from 1876 also note that he dwelled at 2203 Fillmore Street in San Francisco, CA. He registered to vote in this city on 10/23/1876. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation California State Library, California History Section; Great Registers, 1866-1898; Collection Number: 4 - 2A; CSL Roll Number: 44; FHL Roll Number: 977099,accessed 08/16/2016.)

He lived in San Francisco for about two years, 1876 and 1877, before moving to Alameda, CA, in 1878. It is possible that the Babsons wanted to cut their costs by living in the East Bay.

By 01/21/1878, Babson had moved to Alameda's 3rd Ward, but continued to commute to San Francisco to work. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation, California State Library, California History Section; Great Registers, 1866-1898; Collection Number: 4 - 2A; CSL Roll Number: 1; FHL Roll Number: 976447,accessed 08/16/2016.)

In 1888, Babson had relocated to Los Angeles, likely for work. He registered to vote there on 06/19/1888 and lived at 75 North Spring Street in Downtown Los Angeles. Babson did not remain here for more than one year. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation California State Library; Sacramento, California; Great Registers, 1888; Collection Number: 4-2A; CSL Roll Number: 20; FHL Roll Number: 97799, accessed 02/09/2024.)

Babson returned from Southern CA by 1890, at least, and his family dwelled at 1869 Railroad Avenue, the southeast corner of Railroad Avenue (later renamed Lincoln Avenue) and Walnut Street, in Alameda in 1890-1891. He worked at the time in San Francisco. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation California State Library; Sacramento, California; Great Registers, 1890; Collection Number: 4-2A; CSL Roll Number: 2; FHL Roll Number: 976448, accessed 02/09/2024 and Oakland, California, City Directory, 1891, p. 936.) By 1892, the Babcocks had moved again, this time to a residence on the west side of of Stanford Street between Eagle and Clement Avenues. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation California State Library; Sacramento, California; Great Registers, 1892; Collection Number: 4-2A; CSL Roll Number: 3; FHL Roll Number: 976448, accessed 02/09/2024.)

In 1897, Babson resided with his wife and sons at 2033 Eagle Avenue in Alameda, CA, and the architect continued to commute to his office in San Francsico. (See Oakland, California, City Directory, 1897, p. 512.)

At age 59 in 1898, Babson resided on the southeast corner of Railroad and Walnut Streets in Alameda. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation California State Library, California History Section; Great Registers, 1866-1898; Collection Number: 4 - 2A; CSL Roll Number: 2; FHL Roll Number: 976448, accessed 08/16/2016.) He continued to reside in Alameda in 1898. (See The Crocker-Langley Directory Company's San Francisco, California, City Directory, 1898, p. 210.)

Babson dwelled at 2019 Pacific Avenue in Alameda, as documented in the 1900 US Census. He lived here with his wife Juanita and son Walter S. Babson. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1900; Census Place: Alameda Precinct 7, Alameda, California; Roll: 81; Page: 9; Enumeration District: 0315, accessed 02/08/2024.)

Voting records from 1900 and 1904 showed that Seth, Walter (and presumably Juanita, although she could not yet vote) lived at 2227 San Jose Avenue, in Alameda's 5th census precinct. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation California State Library; Sacramento, California; Great Register of Voters, 1904, accessed 02/09/2024 and Ancestry.com, Source Citation California State Library; Sacramento, California; Great Register of Voters, 1900-1902, accessed 02/09/2024.) The Babsons remained here in 1906. (See Oakland, California, City Directory, 1906, p. 530.)

Although a resident of Alameda, Babson passed away in Modesto, CA, on 07/10/1907.

Parents

According to the 1900 US Census, Babson's father came from ME, his mother from MA. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1900; Census Place: Alameda Precinct 7, Alameda, California; Roll: 81; Page: 9; Enumeration District: 0315, accessed 02/04/2024.)

Spouse

He married Juanita Josefa Smith (perhaps spelled "Josepha," born 02/02/1855 in Bodega, CA-d. 02/17/1940 in Alameda County, CA) in Sacramento County, CA, in 1874. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation California Department of Public Health, courtesy of www.vitalsearch-worldwide.com. Digital Images, accessed 02/09/2024.) The 1900 US Census indicated that Juanita's mother Mary Edwards (born c. 05/1829) originated in Wales, while her father Stephen Smith (born c. 02/1828) came from MA. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1900; Census Place: Alameda Precinct 7, Alameda, California; Roll: 81; Page: 9; Enumeration District: 0315, accessed 02/04/2024.)

In 1891, Juanita worked as a teacher at the Haight School in Alameda, CA. (See Oakland, California, City Directory, 1891, p. 936.) She may have had a period of time where she did not teach, but she went back to it. Between 1906 and 1914, Juanita held a teaching position at Alameda's Porter Elementary School. In 1914, she lived on her own at 1226 Park Avenue in Alameda. (See Oakland, California, City Directory, 1914, p. 1275.)

A younger sister Mary Eleanor Smith (born 1857 in Bodega, CA), who went by by her middle name to differentiate herself from her mother, also worked as a teacher for much of her adult life in various Berkeley secondary schools. Lesley Emmington's 1980 article in the Berkeley Independent and Gazette said of Eleanor and Juanita's family: “Miss Smith was born in 1854 [sic] in Bodega. Her great uncle Captain Stephen Smith, who had owned a merchant vessel that he sailed in the 1830s between New Bedford and South America, had been the recipient of a Mexican land grant in Bodega Bay. Her father, also a Stephen Smith, had followed the elder Captain Smith from New Bedford to California. The extended family then moved from Bodega to Petaluma to Sacramento to Merritt Island in the Delta and finally to Clarksburg, where they raised hops and cattle on 80 acres of land. During her youth Eleanor began teaching in country schools in and around Clarksburg where she was required to teach everything. Then, at the urging of a friend she went to Honolulu to tutor the children of a prominent Hawaiian family. Upon her return from Hawaii she got her state credential in Sacramento and moved to Berkeley where she began teaching English at McKinley Elementary School. Mis Smith taught English at McKinley to sixth graders until she retired in the late 1920s.” (See Lesley Emmington, "Berkeley Architectural Heritage: A School Teacher's cottage," Berkeley Independent and Gazette, 09/10/1980, p. 2.)

This 1980 article posed the question as to whether or not Seth Babcock had designed Eleanor Smith's residence on 2529 Hillegass Avenue, completed in 1902. The article could not state definitively that it was by Babson, but it hypothesized that it could have been.

In 1930, Juanita and her son Stephen, then 48, lived with Eleanor in this house at 2529 Hillegas. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1930; Census Place: Berkeley, Alameda, California; Page: 5B; Enumeration District: 0294; FHL microfilm: 2339846, accessed 02/09/2024.)

Children

According to the 1900 US Census, Seth and Juanita had had three children, Arthur C. Babson (born c. 1875 in CA), Walter Smith Babson (born 11/08/1877 in Oakland, CA-d. 03/24/1968 in Portland, OR) and Stephen Edwards Babson (born 06/12/1881 in Alameda County, CA-d. 08/31/1984 in Alameda County, CA). In 1910, Arthur lived in Central Point, OR, Walter in Los Angeles, CA, and Stephen in Holtville, CA. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1900; Census Place: Alameda Precinct 7, Alameda, California; Roll: 81; Page: 9; Enumeration District: 0315, accessed 02/08/2024 and Ancestry.com, Source Citation Probate Files, 1880-1961; Author: California. Superior Court (Alameda County); Probate Place: Alameda, California, accessed 02/09/2024.)

In 1945, Walter Babson lived in Portland, OR. During his career, Walter rose to become the Chairman of the Board for the Peerless Pacific Company, a manufacturer of pipes, faucets and plumbing fittings in Portland, OR.

Stephen Babson (born 06/12/1881 in Alameda County, CA-d. 08/31/1984 in Alameda County, CA) lived to be 103 years old.

Biographical Notes

Prior to 02/07/2024, PCAD had indicated that Babson had been born in 1828. The 1900 US Census indicated that he had been born in 09/1830 in ME. Other birthdate information recorded in this census for Juanita and Walter was correct, suggesting that this might have been accurate, too.

Seth Babson made an effort to establish a Sacramento branch of the Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) in 1856. He was one of those that found a YMCA chapter in the city on 02/05/1856. This early effort could not be sustained and it wasn't until 1866 that a Sacramento chapter developed into a self-sustaining organization. (See "Sacramento YMCA Is 88- or 78-Years old as National Group Celebrated Centennial," Sacramento Union, 02/20/1944, p. 11.)

Babson paid $10 for a license tax for being an architect in 1863 to the California Tax Division 1, Collection District #4. In 09/1864, he and someone named "Amos Babson," likely a relation, each paid a $1 tax penalty. The architect had an income of $1,600 in 1865 that was taxed at 10% and $450 of additional income taxed at a rate of 5%, for a total of $32.50.His income was $1828.75 in 1866, that was taxed at 5%, for a total paid of $91.44. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation The National Archives and Records Administration; Washington, D.C.; Internal Revenue Assessment Lists for California, 1862-1866; Series: M756; Roll: 23; Description: District 4; Annual and Special Lists; 1863; Record Group: 58, Records of the Internal Revenue Service, 1791 - 2006, accessed 02/09/2024; Ancestry.com, Source Citation The National Archives and Records Administration; Washington, D.C.; Internal Revenue Assessment Lists for California, 1862-1866; Series: M756; Roll: 27; Description: District 4; Monthly Lists; Apr.-Dec. 1864; Record Group: 58, Records of the Internal Revenue Service, 1791 - 2006, accessed 02/09/2024; Ancestry.com, Source Citation The National Archives and Records Administration; Washington, D.C.; Internal Revenue Assessment Lists for California, 1862-1866; Series: M756; Roll: 24; Description: District 4; Annual Lists; 1864-1865 and Special Lists; 1864; Record Group: 58, Records of the Internal Revenue Service, 1791 - 2006, accessed 02/09/2024; and Ancestry.com, Source Citation The National Archives and Records Administration; Washington, D.C.; Internal Revenue Assessment Lists for California, 1862-1866; Series: M756; Roll: 30; Description: District 4; Monthly Lists; June-Dec. 1866; Record Group: 58, Records of the Internal Revenue Service, 1791 - 2006, accessed 02/09/2024.) If these figures are in any way indicative of his long-term income, Babson did not become wealthy practicing as an architect. It is also unlikely that he was able to save or invest much during his lifetime.

Babson was elected a Deacon of Alameda's 1st Congregational Church in 01/1890. (See "Congregationalists," Alameda Semi-Weekly Argus, 01/01/1890, p. 3.)

The 11/05/1910 probate report indicated Seth Babson died intestate. The probate court found his assets to be: one share of the Hammonton (NJ) Cranberry and Improvement Association, worth $500; 10,000 shares of the Shasta May Blossom Copper Company, Consolidated, worth $2,500; one share of the Sacramento Valley Railroad Company, worth $45; and two, French, engraved architectural books of unknown value. Seth Babson left no cash behind, owned no real estate nor had any debts. The three Babson sons agreed that the small estate should be left to his widow, Juanita, who was the administrator of the estate. This final disposition of the estate was made on 04/24/1911. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Probate Files, 1880-1961; Author: California. Superior Court (Alameda County); Probate Place: Alameda, California, accessed 02/09/2024.)

• Modesto, CA (Architect's Death)
  Modesto, CA

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