Résumé

Draftsman, W.R.B. Willcox, Architect, Seattle, WA, 1916. (See R.L. Polk and Company's Seattle, Washington, City Directory, 1916, p. 1079.)

Principal, William G. Mann, Architect, Seattle, WA, 1916-1929. Mann's office in 1917-1918 was in Room #402 of the Boston Block in Pioneer Square, Seattle. (See R.L. Polk and Company's Seattle, Washington, City Directory, 1917, p. 1107 and R.L. Polk and Company's Seattle, Washington, City Directory, 1918, p. 1225.) When his own residence was completed in 1918, he moved his business office there.

Mann claimed exemption from World War I service because he had dependents who relied on his income. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Registration State: Washington; Registration County: King; Roll: 1991888; Draft Board: 02, accessed08/10/2017.)

In 1927, the Seattle City Directory indicated that Mann was an employee of the United States Veterans' Bureau (USVB). (See R.L. Polk and Company's Seattle, Washington, City Directory, 1927, p. 1078.) The directories of the following two years indicated that he still had an independent architectural practice in his residence. (See R.L. Polk and Company's Seattle, Washington, City Directory, 1928, p. 1137 and R.L. Polk and Company's Seattle, Washington, City Directory, 1929,p. 1183.)

A note in the Architect and Engineer in 1930 stated: "William G. Mann, architect of Seattle, has taken leave of absence from his office for a period of two months. He will visit southern California, Arizona and other southern points before returning." (See "Personal," Architect and Engineer, 01/1930, p. 112.) He died early in 01/1930, in Los Angeles, CA, perhaps seeking a cure to an illness there.

Professional Activities

Mann was put in charge of the More Home Bureau operated by the American Institute of Architects, Washington State Chapter, in 1917. The local Seattle newspaper, the University District Herald said in 10/1917: "Because of his experience in small house construction, and knowledge of Seattle realty values, architect William G. Mann, who resides at 6826 Sixteenth Avenue N.E., was selected by the architects of the Washington State Chapter of the American Institute of Architects to take charge of the architectural department of the More Homes Bureau. It is Mann's duty to advise the prospective builder as to the size and type of house to erect on his particular lot, after considering the location and value of the property, and estimating the combined borrowing value of the improved tract. Mr. Mann is well qualified for this branch of the work having had banking experience previous to taking up the study of architecture." (See "University District Home Builder Highly Honored," University District Herald, 10/04/1917, p. 2.) Mann apparently had had some experience working in a bank. This probably happened in Lake Benton, MN, where his father was a bank cashier.

College

B.Arch., University of Pennsylvania (Penn), Philadelphia, PA. William G. Mann edited the Review of the Review of the School of Architecture, University of Pennsylvania in 1914, and served as a the Vice-President of the Penn Architectural Society in that year. (See the Review of the School of Architecture, University of Pennsylvania, 1914, n.p.)

Relocation

Born in Ames, NE, Mann lived with his family in IA c. 1895-1896, and moved to Lake Benton, MN, by at least 1900. The US Census of 1900 recorded that the family lived on Garfield Street, and that of 1910 indicated that it lived on Benton Street in Lake Benton. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1900; Census Place: Lake Benton, Lincoln, Minnesota; Roll: 773; Page: 10A; Enumeration District: 0141; FHL microfilm: 1240773, accessed 08/10/2017 and Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1910; Census Place: Lake Benton, Lincoln, Minnesota; Roll: T624_709; Page: 1A; Enumeration District: 0080; FHL microfilm: 1374722, accessed 08/10/2017.)

He attended the University of Pennsylvania (Penn) in Philadelphia, PA. In 06/1914, he lived at 210 South 36th Street in the University City neighborhood adjacent to the Penn. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Washington D.C.; NARA Series: Passport Applications, January 2, 1906 - March 31, 1925; Roll #: 215; Volume #: Roll 0215 - Certificates: 33344-34293, 08 Jun 1914-13 Jun 1914, accessed 06/22/2017.)

By 1916-1918, Mann and his wife, Edith, resided at 6826 16th Avenue NE, in the growing residential area nearby to the University of Washington. (See R.L. Polk and Company's Seattle, Washington, City Directory, 1916, p. 1079 and R.L. Polk and Company's Seattle, Washington, City Directory, 1918, p. 1225.) In 1920, a nurse, Millie F. Palmer (born c. 1859 in MO) resided with the family to look after their son, William Lemon Mann, born in 1918. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1920; Census Place: Seattle, King, Washington; Roll: T625_1925; Page: 13A; Enumeration District: 67, accessed 08/10/2017.)

He moved to practice in Seattle, WA, woking here between c. 1916 and 1929. It appears that his health began to fail in the late 1920s, and by 1930, he had traveled to California to seek some sort of cure, perhaps for tuberculosis. He died in Los Angeles, CA, on 01/05/1930. He was buried in the Evergreen-Washelli Memorial Park, Seattle, WA. After his death, his wife had her sister, Gertrude Lemon Corbin (1902-1993), live with her according to the US Census of 1930. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1930; Census Place: Seattle, King, Washington; Roll: 2492; Page: 11B; Enumeration District: 0021; Image: 817.0; FHL microfilm: 2342226, accessed 08/10/2017.)

Parents

His father was William D.F. Mann (b. 1861 in IA), his mother, Caroline Stoltenberg (born c. 1868 in IA). William and Caroline married in Davenport, IA, on 11/23/1886, and had six children, William G. being the eldest. (One died prior to 1910.) The surviving offspring in 1910 included: Walter S. (born c. 1890 in NE), Myrtle (born c. 1895 in IA), Nina (born c. 1896 in IA), and Winifred (born c. 1905 in MN). Both of his parents descended from German ancestry.

In 1905, the Minnesota State Census recorded that William D.F. Mann worked as a bank cashier in Lake Benton, MN. (See Source Information Ancestry.com. Minnesota, Territorial and State Censuses, 1849-1905 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2007, accessed 08/10/2017.) The US Census of 1910 also stated that William D.F. Mann was a bank cashier, considered a highly responsible position at the time.

Spouse

He married Edith Viola Lemon on 03/31/1915 in Centralia, WA. She continued to reside at 1816 Ravenna Boulevard in 1934, after William's death. (See Seattle, Washington, City Directory, 1934, p. 933.) By 1957, she had moved to Long Beach, CA, where she lived at 1619B East 14th Street. (See Long Beach, California, City Directory, 1957, p. 506.)

Children

He and Edith had one son, William Lemon Mann (b. 09/26/1918 in Seattle, WA-d. 09/09/1998 in Whittier, CA) and a daughter, Betty Marie Mann (b. 04/11/1917-d. 04/20/1917), who died in infancy. (See Ancestry.com, Source Information Ancestry.com. Washington, Select Death Certificates, 1907-1960 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014, accessed 08/10/2017.)

Biographical Notes

Mann belonged to the Acacia Fraternity, "the fraternity for human service." (See "Washington Chapter Is Entertained," Acacia Journal, vol. XII, no. II, 12/1916, p. 219.)

He applied for a US Passport on 06/12/1914, in order to take an architectural tour in Europe. He intended to return by 01/01/1915. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Washington D.C.; NARA Series: Passport Applications, January 2, 1906 - March 31, 1925; Roll #: 215; Volume #: Roll 0215 - Certificates: 33344-34293, 08 Jun 1914-13 Jun 1914, accessed 06/22/2017.) Mann traveled from Naples, Italy, to New York, NY, aboard the S.S. San Guglielmo, arriving on 09/03/1914. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1914; Arrival: New York, New York; Microfilm Serial: T715, 1897-1957; Microfilm Roll: Roll 2366; Line: 13; Page Number: 21, accessed 08/10/2017.) (The S.S. San Guglielmo was torpedoed by German U-boat U-63 off Loano, Italy, on 01/08/1918, and sunk.)

His World War I draft registration card indicated that he was of medium height and build, with blue eyes and light brown hair. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Registration State: Washington; Registration County: King; Roll: 1991888; Draft Board: 02, accessed08/10/2017.) The US Passport application indicated that he stood 5-feet, 10-inches tall.

A US Passport application from 06/11/1914 indicated that Mann intended to take a six-month trip to Europe. At age 26, Mann stood 5-feet, 10-inches tall, and had an oval face, moderately prominent chin, light hair, fair white complexion and blue eyes, according to this application. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Washington D.C.; NARA Series: Passport Applications, January 2, 1906 - March 31, 1925; Roll #: 215; Volume #: Roll 0215 - Certificates: 33344-34293, 08 Jun 1914-13 Jun 1914, accessed 06/22/2017.)

• Los Angeles, CA (Architect's Death)
  Los Angeles, CA

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• Ames, NE (Architect's Birth)
  Ames, NE

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