Résumé

Partner, [Victor] Hoffman and Mooser, Architects, San Francisco, CA, 1861-1863. In 1861, Victor Hoffman, Sr., and Mooser had their office in the building on the northwest corner of Montgomery and Washington Streets. (See San Francisco California City Directory, 1861, p. 371.)

Principal, William Mooser, Architect, San Francisco, CA, 1867. In 1867, Mooser had an office In Room #28 of the Exchange Building in San Francisco. (See San Francisco, California, City Directory, 1867, p. 355.)

Partner, [Thomas J.] Johnston and Mooser, Architects, San Francisco, CA, c. 1869-1872. In 1869, Johnston and Mooser had an office at 9 Post Street in San Francisco. (See San Francisco, California, City Directory, 1869, p. 676.)

Principal, William S. Mooser, Architect, San Francisco, CA, fl. 1877-1883. From at least 1877 until 1883, William Sebastien Mooser operated his solo architectural office at 302 Montgomery Street in San Francisco. This building also housed the architectural practices of Vitruvius Frazee, Jules Godart, Wiliam Schrof and Thomas J. Welsh in 1877. (See San Francisco, California, City Directory, 1877, p. 465, and San Francisco, California, City Directory, 1883, p. 1106.)

Professional Activities

Mooser, Sr., co-founded the San Francisco Architectural Society in 1861.

College

Coursework, College of Geneva, Art School, Geneva, Switzerland, c. 1854.

Relocation

Born in Geneva, Switzerland, Mooser, Sr., was educated there. He came to San Francisco during the second week of 04/1854 via the route through Panama, and became a pioneering architect in the city. Information supplied by his son, Charles, in 1951, indicated that during his lifetime, William had lived in other CA cities, "...many for short duration, [with] San Francisco only as permanent." (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation California State Library; Sacramento, California; Sacramento County, California, Pioneer Index File (1906-1934), A-Z; California History Room: MICROFILM 734; Roll Number: 46,accessed 11/23/2017.)David Parry, in his essay on Mooser, indicated that he had arrived in San Francisco on 10/10/1854. (See David Parry,"Pacific Heights Architects #28 - William Mooser," published 07/2005, accessed 11/23/2017.)

He worked in partnership with the Prussian-born practitioner, Victor Hoffman (born c. 1832), who, according to AskArt.com (based on information drawn from Edan Milton Hughes, Artists in California 1786-1940), arrived in San Francisco in 1853, and worked as an illustrator for the printers, Britton and Rey, by 1856. The US Census of 1860 indicated that Mooser and Hoffman, two years apart in age, lived either with each other or next to each other in an apartment or boarding house in San Francisco. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1860; Census Place: San Francisco District 3, San Francisco, California; Roll: M653_67; Page: 18; Family History Library Film: 803067,accessed 11/23/2017.)

In 1861, the city directory of that year indicated that Mooser worked and dwelled in the same place, on the northwest corner of Montgomery and Washington Streets. (See San Francisco California City Directory, 1861, p. 249.) He had lodgings at 629 Clay Street in 1867. (See San Francisco, California, City Directory, 1867, p. 355.)

By 1871, Mooser maintained his residence at 509 Lombard Street in San Francisco's Telegraph Hill neighborhood. (See The San Francisco directory for the year commencing April, 1871, p. 473.)

In 1880, the Mooser Family resided in Alameda, CA. The household included William S. Mooser, Sr., Louise, and siblings Louis, Alice and Albert. His maternal grandmother lived with the family, listed as Sophie Moinet (born c. 1820 in France), as did a domestic servant, Louisa Borla (born c. 1853 in Switzerland). (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1880; Census Place: Alameda, Alameda, California; Roll: 62; Page: 631A; Enumeration District: 029, accessed 12/13/2018.)

Mooser passed away on 11/06/1896 in San Francisco. He was interred at the San Francisco Columbarium San Francisco, CA.

Parents

His father was Joseph Mooser, his mother, Jeanne Marie Repingon.

Spouse

He married Louise Michel (born c. 08/1849 in NY- d. 05/30/1921 in San Francisco, CA) in the autumn of 1861. They married in Oakland, CA, at the resort of Jean B. Pellisier. (The date of birth for Louise Michel was gained from the 1900 US Census. It may be inaccurate, and the actual birthdate may have been closer to 1845. See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1900; Census Place: San Francisco, San Francisco, California; Page: 1; Enumeration District: 0237; FHL microfilm: 1240106, accessed 12/13/2018.)

In 1916, Louise lived in a multi-family residential building at 1269 O'Farrell Street in San Francisco. She was a registered Democrat in 1916. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation California State Library; Sacramento, California; Great Register of Voters, 1900-1968, accessed 12/13/2018.)

Children

William Sebastien and Louisa Mooser had four children: Louis (born c. 1867 in CA), William (1868-1962), Alice (born c. 1870 in CA) and Albert (born c. 1876 in CA) Son, William Mooser, Sr., also became an architect of some renown in San Francisco, CA.

Biographical Notes

Varying dates for his death have been listed. His Pioneer Record Card filed at the California State Library, (dated 07/1951) indicated that he passed away on 11/06/1896. This information was supplied by his son, Charles E. Mooser, of Oakland. (According to Charles, William also did not become a US citizen despite living in the US for 42 years.) (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation California State Library; Sacramento, California; Sacramento County, California, Pioneer Index File (1906-1934), A-Z; California History Room: MICROFILM 734; Roll Number: 46,accessed 11/23/2017.)

David Parry, in his "Pacific Heights Architects #28 - William Mooser," essay written 07/2005, indicated that Mooser "...died of kidney failure on November 17, 1896." (See David Parry,"Pacific Heights Architects #28 - William Mooser," published 07/2005, accessed 11/23/2017.)

• Geneva, Geneva Switzerland (Architect's Birth)
  Geneva, Geneva Switzerland

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