Résumé

Timekeeper, Van Camp Seafood Company, San Pedro, Los Angeles, CA, 1918. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Registration State: California; Registration County: Los Angeles Source Information: U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005. Original data: United States, Selective Service System. World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration. M1509, 4,582 rolls. Imaged from Family History Library microfilm, accessed 06/10/2025.)

Draftsman, Security Housing Corporation, Los Angeles, CA, 1923. (See Los Angeles, California, City Directory, 1923, p. 2493.)

Carpenter, San Pedro, CA, c. 1924. (See San Pedro, California, City Directory, 1924, p. 342.)

Principal, C. Waldo Powers, Architect, Los Angeles, CA.

Relocation

Charles Waldo Powers was born in Los Angeles, CA, possibly in the Wilmington neighborhood, as that was where his parents dwelled when the 1900 US Census was taken on 06/18/1900. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1900; Census Place: Wilmington, Los Angeles, California; Roll: 92; Page: 14; Enumeration District: 0137, accessed 06/10/2025.)

As noted in the 1910 US Census, Waldo Powers lived with his parents Charles and Mercy on Smith Avenue in Los Angeles. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1910; Census Place: Los Angeles Assembly District 70, Los Angeles, California; Roll: T624_81; Page: 14b; Enumeration District: 0272; FHL microfilm: 1374094, accessed 06/10/2025.)

In 1918, Powers resided at 90 Kerckhoff Canyon Avenue in the San Pedro neighborhood of Los Angeles, CA. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Registration State: California; Registration County: Los Angeles Source Information: U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005. Original data: United States, Selective Service System. World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration. M1509, 4,582 rolls. Imaged from Family History Library microfilm, accessed 06/10/2025.) Powers joined the US military on 12/17/1918. (See Ancestry.com, Source Information Ancestry.com. U.S., Veterans Administration Master Index, 1917-1940 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT. USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2019, accessed 06/10/2025.)

Waldo resided with his parents at 652 West 14th Street in San Pedro, Los Angeles, CA, in 1923 and 1924. (See See Los Angeles, California, City Directory, 1923, p. 2493 and San Pedro, California, City Directory, 1924, p. 342.) By 1930, the family remained at 652 West 14th Street, although Waldo did not live at home by this time with his parents and younger sister. They owned their own house that had risen in value to $10,000, about double the value of immediate neighbors' houses.

In 04/1930, he lived with his wife and daughter at 4245 Garthwaite Avenue in Los Angeles, CA. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1930; Census Place: Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California; Page: 32A; Enumeration District: 0440; FHL microfilm: 2339884, accessed 06/10/2025.)

He died at age 32 in Los Angeles, and was buried at Evergreen Cemetery, Los Angeles, CA.

Parents

His father was Charles Powers (born c. 09/1863 in Sweden), who worked as a foreman in Charles Kerckhoff's large lumber yard, the Kerckhoff-Cuzner Mill and Lumber Company, in San Pedro, CA, between at least 1910 and 1924. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1910; Census Place: Los Angeles Assembly District 70, Los Angeles, California; Roll: T624_81; Page: 14b; Enumeration District: 0272; FHL microfilm: 1374094, accessed 06/10/2025 andSan Pedro, California, City Directory, 1924, p. 342.) He immigrated to the US from Sweden in about 1880, as noted by the 1900 US Census and 1889 as per the 1910 US Census. It is more likely that he came to the US in 1880, if he was naturalized by 1890. According to an 1892 Los Angeles County voter roll, Charles Powers was naturalized in Los Angeles on 10/25/1890. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation California State Library; Sacramento, California; Great Registers, 1866-1898; Collection Number: 4-2A; CSL Roll Number: 20; FHL Roll Number: 976929, accessed 06/10/2025.)

Charles married Mercy Jane Crocker (born 11/01/1876 in CA-d. 10/31/1960 in Los Angeles County, CA), thirteen years his junior, on 05/07/1893 in Los Angeles County, CA. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation California Department of Public Health, courtesy of www.vitalsearch-worldwide.com. Digital Images, accessed 06/10/2025.) The 1900 US Census indicated that Mercy had had two children by that time, only one of whom, Charles Waldo, was still alive.

Charles had a sister thirteen years younger than he, Mercy Loretta Powers (born 11/26/1913 in Los Angeles County, CA).

Biographical Notes

According to this 1918 World War I draft registration form, Powers was Causasian, with blue eyes and light hair. He was described as being of medium height and build.

In 1926, Powers registered as a Republican voter. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation California State Library; Sacramento, California; Great Register of Voters, 1926, accessd 06/10/2025.)