Résumé

Carpenter, Red Wing, MN, c. 1895. The Minnesota State Census of 1895 listed a "John Kreutzer," a carpenter, as living in Red Wing, MN, a town about 55 miles southeast of Minneapolis, on the Mississippi River.

Carpenter, Spokane, WA, 1901-1904. His marriage license of 11/03/1903 indicated that Creutzer worked as a carpenter in Spokane as did Spokane city directories. He was listed as a "contractor" in R.L. Polk and Company's Spokane, Washington, City Directory, 1902, (p. 261), 1903, (p. 342), and 1904, (p. 251). In 1904, he had an office in Room #420 of the Fernwell Buidling.

Principal, John A. Creutzer, Architect, Spokane, WA, 1905-1906. For his last two years in Spokane, Creutzer changed his occupation from building contractor to architect. Business must have been good, as he expanded his office into two rooms in the Fernwell Building, Rooms #419 and 420. (See R.L. Polk and Company's Spokane, Washington, City Directory, 1905, p. 266 and R.L. Polk and Company's Spokane, Washington, City Directory, 1906, p. 257.)

Creutzer may have migrated west to Seattle because of a commission that he obtained for the Swedish Tabernacle Church, erected during 1906 and 1907. He found work with two other architect-contractors--Alexander Pearson and Henderson Ryan--before opening his own architectural practice in Seattle, which was brimming with architectural development during the 1900-1910 decade.

Architectural and Construction Superintendent, Alexander Pearson, Seattle, WA. Pearson, (1866-1932), and Creutzer had much in common, as both were Swedish-born immigrants with backgrounds in the construction trade and both men had resided recently in Minnesota. It is possible that Creutzer had made acquaintance with Pearson while he resided there.

Architectural and Construction Superintendent, Henderson Ryan, Seattle, WA. Information that Creutzer had worked with Pearson and Ryan came from a City of Seattle Historical Sites Summary for 1736 Belmont Avenue. It stated: "Architect John Creutzer designed many apartment buildings in this vicinity. He arrived in Seattle in 1906 after practicing in Minneapolis and Spokane. He worked for contractor Alexander Pearson and architect-contractor Henderson Ryan." (See City of Seattle.gov., Department of Neighbords, "Historical Sites Summary for 1736 Belmont Avenue," accessed 10/16/2020.)

Principal, John A. Creutzer, Architect, Seattle, WA, 1908-1910, 1913-1929. Creutzer worked at #1261 in the Empire Building, (1909-1910), #534 in the New York Building (1913-1914), #630 New York Building (1915-1916), #625 Leary Building (1917-1924), #200 Medical-Dental Building (1925-1928) and #507 Lloyd Building (1929). Just after the completion of his design for the Medical Dental Building in 1925, Creutzer relocated his office there.

Partner, Quandt and Creutzer, Architects, Seattle, WA, 1911-1912. Quandt and Creutzer occupied Office #300 in the Haight Building during the firm's short existence.

Relocation

Johan (Anglicized to "John") Alfred Creutzer was born in either Berga or Gunnarskog, Sweden, on 09/22/1873, migrating to the US in 1893. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation: Roll/Fiche Number: GV-232; Volume Number: AI:27; Page Number: 539, accessed 10/15/2020.) Berga was an agricultural area in the west central part of the country, on the Norwegian border, in the Värmland Lanscap. Some sources listed his birthplace as Berga, others list Gunnarskog, but both towns were located in Värmland.

In 1888, Creutzer lived in Gunnarskog in a "Nattvardsungdom," a religious community for young men. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation: Roll/Fiche Number: GV-232; Volume Number: AI:27; Page Number: 539, Source Information: Sweden, Selected Indexed Household Clerical Surveys, 1880-1893 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014, accessed 10/16/2020.)

Creutzer was listed as leaving Gunnarskog, Värmland, on 03/17/1893. His departure record had the label, "Barn Oäkta," or illegitimate children, and his destination listed as "Nordamerika." He traveled on his own and was unmarried. (See Ancestry.com, Source Information: Ancestry.com. Sweden, Emigrants Registered in Church Books, 1783-1991 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2016. Original data: Emigrants Registered in Swedish Church Books. EmiWeb, Karlstad, Sweden, accessed 10/16/2020.) The 1910 US Census listed his departure date as 1892, which, although inaccurate, is close to this 1893 record.

Like a lot of Scandinavian immigrants, he spent some time in the State of MN (amongst a transplanted Swedish community there) before heading West. He first worked in Minneapolis, MN, before relocating to the rapidly expanding Spokane, WA, by 1901. He resided at 233 Xenia Street (corner of John Street) in Spokane between 1901 and 1902. (See R.L. Polk and Company's Spokane, Washington, City Directory, 1901, p. 270 and R.L. Polk and Company's Spokane, Washington, City Directory, 1902, p. 261.) Creutzer switched lodgings in 1903, living in the Eagle Block on the northwest corner of North Stevens Street and West Riverside Avenue. (See R.L. Polk and Company's Spokane, Washington, City Directory, 1903, p. 342.) Just married, Creutzer and his wife found a dwelling at 2320 Ide Avenue by 1904, where they remained while they lived in Spokane. (See R.L. Polk and Company's Spokane, Washington, City Directory, 1904, p. 251 and R.L. Polk and Company's Spokane, Washington, City Directory, 1906, p. 257.)

John and Hilma Creutzer came to Seattle, WA, in either later 1906 or 1907. His name first appeared in R.L. Polk and Company's Seattle City Directory of 1907, (p. 359), boarding at 703 Columbia Street. In 1910, they inhabited a house at 1204 North 45th Street in Seattle. At that time, Hilma's brother, Reuben Johnson, (born c. 1886 in MN), lived with the Creutzers. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation: Year: 1910; Census Place: Seattle Ward 9, King, Washington; Roll: T624_1661; Page: 1B; Enumeration District: 0171; FHL microfilm: 1375674, accessed 10/16/2020.)

Creutzer and his wife resided at 4610 Wallingford Avenue in Seattle by 1916. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation: Registration State: Washington; Registration County: King, Source Information: U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005, accessed 10/16/2020.) They remained at this Wallingoford Avenue address when the 1920 US Census was taken. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation: Year: 1920; Census Place: Seattle, King, Washington; Roll: T625_1926; Page: 6B; Enumeration District: 123, accessed 10/16/2020.) R.L. Polk and Company's Seattle City Directories, between 1922 and 1928, listed their address as 4618 Wallingford Avenue. (See R.L. Polk and Company's Seattle City Directory, 1922, p. 515 and R.L. Polk and Company's Seattle City Directory, 1928, p. 516.)

Creutzer died at age 54 in Seattle, and was buried in the Evergreen-Washelli Memorial Park.

Parents

His mother was Stina Erikson (also recorded as "Eriksdotter"), his father, Alexander Creutzer.

Spouse

Creutzer married Hilma Johnson, (born 07/06/1872 in Värmland, Sweden-d. 04/28/1958 in Seattle, WA), on 11/03/1903. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation: Archives of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America; Elk Grove Village, IL, USA; Swedish American Baptisms, Marriages, Deaths, and Burials; Parish: First Covenant Church ; Salem Covenant Church ; Lundby Covenant Church; ELCA Film Number: M149; SSIRC Film Number: E-149, accessed 10/16/2020.)

The date of their marriage license was 11/03/1903. At the time of her marriage, Hilma worked as a domestic servant. Her parents were Johannes W. Johnson, (in Swedish variously spelled "Jansen,""Jonsson," or "Johansson," born c. 1843 in Sweden), and Maria Stina Nelson, (perhaps spelled "Nelsson," born c. 1843 in Sweden-d. 02/01/1932 in MN). (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation: Washington State Archives; Olympia, Washington; Washington Marriage Records, 1854-2013; Reference Number: easpmr5414, accessed 10/16/2020.) The 1880 US Census had her family residing on a farm near Mamre, Kandiyohi County, MN. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation: Year: 1880; Census Place: Mamre, Kandiyohi, Minnesota; Roll: 624; Page: 50C; Enumeration District: 045, accessed 10/16/2020.)

She came to the US as a young child, c. 1874. John and Hilma probably met in MN, as her family had also settled in that state.

In 1938, nine years after John's death, Hilma resided at 602 North 46th Street in Seattle. (See Seattle, Washington, City Directory, 1938, p. 351.)

Biographical Notes

Creutzer returned by steamship from the Port of Goteborg, Sweden, on 01/03/1908 bound for New York, NY, via Hull, UK.

The architect likely returned to Sweden during 1907-1908. A record exists for a John A. Creutzer travelling on the ship, S.S. Ariosto, originating in Göteborg that landed in Hull, England, and entered New York, NY, on 01/03/1908. (See Ancestry.com, Source Information: Swedish Emigration Records, 1783-1951 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2007, accessed 10/16/2020.)

His World War I Draft Registration Card indicated Creutzer to have been Caucasian, of medium height and build with brown hair and gray eyes in 1918. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation: Registration State: Washington; Registration County: King, Source Information: U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005, accessed 10/16/2020.)

The 1920 US Census recorded that John Creutzer came to the US from Sweden in 1895, and was naturalized in 1900. This may or may not be reliable. It also stated that Hilma Johnson immigrated to the US in 1874 and was naturalized by 1880. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation: Year: 1920; Census Place: Seattle, King, Washington; Roll: T625_1926; Page: 6B; Enumeration District: 123, accessed 10/16/2020.)

• Seattle, WA (Architect's Death)
  Seattle, WA

  ---

  OpenStreetMap (new tab)

  Google Map (new tab)

  

  ---