Résumé

Draftsman, William LeBaron Jenney, Architect, Chicago, IL, c. 1878. Jenney (1832-1907) was one of the leading skyscraper architects of his time in Chicago.

Draftsman, Sherwin and Williams, Architects, Portland, OR, c. 1880.

German Teacher/Civil Engineer, McGregor, IA, School System, c. 1880.

Railroad Construction Engineer, Chicago, IL, c. 1881.

Engineer, Atlantic and Pacific Railroad, New Mexico, c. 1885.

Engineer, California Southern Railway, San Diego-San Bernardino line, c. 1886.

Draftsman, Joseph Sherwin, Architect, Portland, OR, c. 1887; Designer, Warren Haywood Williams, Architect, Portland, OR, c. 1887.

Draftsman/Architectural Foreman, Hermann Steinmann, Architect, Seattle, WA, 1888-1889.

Partner, [James] Stephen and Josenhans, Architects, Seattle, WA, 1894-1897.

Principal, Timotheus Josenhans, Architect, Seattle, WA, 1890-1893, 1913.

Partner, Josenhans and [Norris B.] Allan, Architects, Seattle, WA, 1897-c. 1912.

City of Seattle, Building Inspector, Seattle, WA, c. 1900.

City Building Superintendent, City of Seattle, WA, 02/02/1914-c. 1920; Mayor George F. Cotterill removed R.H. Ober on 02/02/1914 as City Superintendent of Buildings and appointed Josenhans. Josenhans was the City of Seattle's Superintendent of Buildings on 05/20/1918.

Principal, Timotheus Josenhans, Architect, Seattle, WA, 1921-1922.

Professional Activities

Member, American Institute of Architects, Washington Chapter, 1910-1911.

Josenhans and his partner Norris Allan lost an embarrassing court case that made its way through the State of WA's court system in 1913-1915. According to the Seattle Times: "A number of other decisions of greater or less importance were handed down by the court yesterday. The supreme court affirms the judgement of $1,100 in favor of School District No. 172, King County, against Timotheus Josenhans and Norris B. Allen, architects, who designed a two-story schoolhouse at Cedar Falls which collapsed as the result of accumulation of snow upon its roof January 13, 1913." (See "Coroners Remain on County Jobs," Seattle Daily Times, 12/16/1915, p. 12.)

College

Josenhans went to public secondary schools in MI.

B.S., Civil Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 1878; at Michigan, Josenhans was a student of the important Chicago architect (and founder of the UM Architecture Department), William LeBaron Jenney (1832-1907). Jenney was instrumental in the development of the modern skyscraper.

Relocation

Timotheus Anton Christof Josenhans was born in Leonberg, Württemberg, Germany, and immigrated to the US in 1855. Between 06/15/1855-07/06/1855, Josenhans sailed from Le Havre, France to New York, NY. His family settled first in Ann Arbor, MI. Josenhans, then single, worked as a civil engineer in McGregor, IA, in 1880.

He came to Seattle, WA, on 03/01/1888. His name (and that of his wife) showed up on the last Washington Territorial Census of 07/1889, done just before Washington became a State on 11/11/1889. At this time, he worked in Epler Building and lived at 410 Bell Street. A year or two later, c. 1890, he worked in Room #32 of the Phinney Building. In 1900, Timotheus lived in a residence at 1607 3rd Avenue West, with his wife, two daughters and parents-in-law. Ten years later, they resided at 1936 7th Avenue West. In 1913, he listed his residence as 5645 34th Avenue SW, Seattle, WA. Josenhans died at Saint Luke's Hospital in Seattle, on Monday, 03/04/1929.

Parents

His family came from the State of Württemberg, in the southwest corner of Germany. His father was Jonathan Josenhans, his mother, Charlotte Weigle Josenhans.

Spouse

He married Emma Laura Parsons (born c. 05/1859 in the Sivas Province of Turkey) in 1888 or so. Her parents were missionaries in Turkey where she was born. Her father was the minister, Benjamin Parsons, (born 01/1826 in NJ) and her mother, Sarah W. Parsons, (born 12/1831 in MA.) They married c. 1854. The Parsons had had four children, three of whom were alive in 1900.

Children

Timotheus and Emma Josenhans had two daughters: Sarah Charlotte (born 03/31/1890 in Seattle, WA) and Margaret Parsons (born 03/18/1891 in Seattle, WA).

Biographical Notes

Josenhans first applied for naturalization on 01/08/1908, and it was formalized on 01/09/1913.

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

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• Wurttemberg Germany (Architect's Birth)
  Wurttemberg Germany

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  Now known as Baden-Wurttemberg;

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