Résumé

Partner, Beezer Brothers, Architects, Pittsburgh, PA, -1907.

Partner, Beezer Brothers, Architects, Seattle, WA, 1907- . In 1917, the Beezer Brothers maintained an office in Room #903 of the Northern Bank and Trust Building. This building was renamed the "Seaboard Building" in either late 1917 or early 1918, where their office remained in Room #903. It continued to be here in 1922.

Relocation

The Beezers lived on a farm near Benner, PA, in 1880. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1880; Census Place: Benner, Centre, Pennsylvania; Roll: 1112; Page: 259A; Enumeration District: 227, accessed 03/07/2019.)

The Beezers lived at 3902 Margaretta Street in Pittsburgh, PA, in 1900. At the time, Michael's brother-in-law, Roger E. Renaut (born c. 05/1878 in PA) lived with them, as did a boarder, Edward J. Poggie (born 01/1878 in PA). Both Renaut and Poggie worked as draftsmen, perhaps in the Beezer Brothers office. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1900; Census Place: Pittsburgh Ward 19, Allegheny, Pennsylvania; Page: 4; Enumeration District: 0214; FHL microfilm: 1241361, accessed 03/07/2019.)

Michael J. Beezer practiced architecture with his twin brother, Louis, first in Pittsburgh, PA, and after 1907, in Seattle, WA.

In 1910, Beezer, his wife, Emma, and their four sons lived at 1711 14th Avenue in Seattle. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1910; Census Place: Seattle Ward 7, King, Washington; Roll: T624_1660; Page: 6B; Enumeration District: 0126; FHL microfilm: 1375673, accessed 03/08/2019.)

The Seattle, Washington, City Directory, 1912, (p. 189), indicated that the Beezers lived at 102 15th Avenue North. (This was likely a missprint, and should have been 103 15th Avenue North.) In 1920, the Beezer Family remained at 103 15th Avenue North. At the time, they had a live-in servant, Anna Hensen (born c. 1879 in Norway). They continued to live here in 1922. (See Seattle, Washington, City Directory, 1922, p. 336.)

Michael's twin, Louis, died three years before Michael, in 1929.

Parents

His father, Joseph Beezer (born c. 1833), was a naturalized US citizen. He migrated to the US from France. His mother, also of French birth, was Catherine Beezer (born c. 1849). In addition to the twins, Michael and Lewis, Joseph and Catherine had a daughter, Catherine Beezer (born c. 1867 in PA). The 1880 US Census listed Joseph as a farmer. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1880; Census Place: Benner, Centre, Pennsylvania; Roll: 1112; Page: 259A; Enumeration District: 227, accessed 03/07/2019.)

Spouse

He wed Emma Renaut (born c. 1868 in York, PA) on 04/26/1892 in York, PA. (See Ancestry.com, Source Information Ancestry.com. Pennsylvania, Marriages, 1852-1968 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2016, , accessed 03/07/2019.)

Her father was Joseph Renaut, a cabinet maker, and her mother, Cecilia, who had had six children (five daughers and a son) by 1870. In 1870, the Renauts owned $4,000 worth of real estate and had saved $1,200, making them not wealthy, but middle class.

In 1940, Emma resided at 1812 East Republican Street in Seattle. (See Seattle, Washington, City Directory, 1940, p. 128.)

Children

The couple had conceived four children between 1892 and 1900, only one of whom survived in the latter year. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1900; Census Place: Pittsburgh Ward 19, Allegheny, Pennsylvania; Page: 4; Enumeration District: 0214; FHL microfilm: 1241361, accessed 03/07/2019.) The 1910 US Census noted that Emma Beezer had had seven children by that year, four of whom survived.

Emma and Michael had the following surviving children: Gerald Renaut Beezer, (born 10/30/1897 in PA-d. 04/14/1959 in Yakima, WA), Arnold Beezer (born c. 1902 in PA), Edward P. Beezer (born c. 1905 in PA) and Roswell "Ross" Joseph Beezer (born c. 1908 in PA).

Gerald became a Catholic priest, who, in 1940, taught at Seattle College. (See Seattle, Washington, City Directory, 1940, p. 128.)

Biographical Notes

Beezer applied for a US Passport on 08/14/1903, to enable him to travel to abroad for about two years. As per this US passport document, at age 34, Beezer stood 5-feet, 11-inches tall, and had a high forehead, oval chin, medium complexion, oval face, and straight nose. He had gray eyes and brown hair and sported a moustache. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Washington D.C.; Roll #: 635; Volume #: Roll 635 - 15 Aug 1903-31 Aug 1903, accessed 03/07/2019.)

His middle name could have been "Joseph" like that of his father, but this has not yet been corroborated.

• Bellefonte, PA (Architect's Birth)
  Bellefonte, PA 16823

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