Résumé

Draftsman, Kenitzer and [David] Farquharson, Architects, San Francisco, CA, 1869-1872. (See San Francisco, California, City Directory, 1869, p. 351.)

Draftsman / Architect, Kenitzer and [Edward T.] Raun, San Francisco, CA, 1873-1877. C.W. Kenitzer was listed as draftsman with Kenitzer and Raun in 1873, 1876 and 1877 and as an architect with them in 1874 and 1875, but was not listed as a partner. (See San Francisco Directory, 1873, p. 346, San Francisco Directory, 1874, p. 371 and San Francisco, California, City Directory, 1875, p. 420, San Francisco Directory, 1876, p. 458, and San Francisco, California, City Directory, 1877, p. 487.) This firm operated at 601 Ellis Street between 1875 and 1883.

Partner, Kenitzer and Raun, Architects, San Francisco, CA, 1878-01/1886.

Principal, Charles W. Kenitzer, Architect, San Francisco, CA, c. 03/1885-10/1887; c. 03/1893-06/1893.

Partner, Kenitzer and Kollofrath, Architects, San Francisco, CA, c. 03/1888-12/1892; in 1889, the Kenitzer and Kollofrath office was located at 601 California Street.

Partner, Kenitzer and [Emil] Barth, Architects, San Francisco, CA, c. 09/1893-09/1897. Emil Barth (1854-1926) was his brother-in-law.

Relocation

Born in Saxony, Germany, Charles William Kenitzer came to the US early in life. His name first appeared in the San Francisco city directories in 1869, the architect living at 323 Jessie Street. (See San Francisco, California, City Directory, 1869, p. 351.)

The 1870 US Census found "Karl Kenitzer" in Census Ward #10 in San Francisco, where he lived alone in either a boarding or apartment house run by the Fisher (or Fischer) Family, also German immigrants. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1870; Census Place: San Francisco Ward 10, San Francisco, California; Roll: M593_83; Page: 281B, accessed 05/27/2022.) The architect lived at 1209 Polk Street in 1873, (See San Francisco Directory, 1873, p. 346.) The San Francisco Directory, 1876, (p. 458) listed him as dwelling at 108 Ellis Street with his brother Henry, who had just moved back from living in Oakland.

After one year of living with his older brother, C.W. moved back to 1209 Polk Street. (See San Francisco, California, City Directory, 1877, p. 487.)

In 1883, Charles lived at 2015 Webster Street in San Francisco, while his father who lived at Lick House. (See the San Francisco, California, City Directory, 1883, p. 616.)

California voter registration records for San Francisco County's 12th Precinct of the 40th Assembly District in 1892 stated that C.W. Kenitzer resided at 2802 Bush Street. Voter records for 1896 confirmed his place of habitation as 2802 Bush, next door to his brother, Henry, at 2804. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation California State Library; Sacramento, California; Great Registers, 1896; Collection Number: 4-2A; CSL Roll Number: 101; FHL Roll Number: 977258, accessed 05/28/2022The US Census of 1900 also noted that Charles William Kenitzer lived with his wife, Mathilde, brother, Henry, and a servant, Minnie Weiss (born c. 12/1873 in Germany), at 2802 Bush Street in San Francisco. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1900; Census Place: San Francisco, San Francisco, California; Roll: 105; Page: 9B; Enumeration District: 0217; FHL microfilm: 1240105, accessed 10/05/2016.)

By 1910, Kenitzer and his wife resided in the Marin county town of San Rafael, CA at 4 Ross Street. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1910; Census Place: San Rafael, Marin, California; Roll: T624_88; Page: 26B; Enumeration District: 0047; FHL microfilm: 1374101, accessed 10/05/2016.) In 11/1916, the architect lived as a retiree at 12 Ross Street in San Rafael.

C.W. Kenitzer died in San Rafael, CA, on 03/25/1919. (See Ancestry.com, Source Information Ancestry.com. California, Death Index, 1905-1939 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013, accessed 10/05/2016.) He was laid to rest in Cypress Lawn Memorial Park in Colma, CA, beside his wife. There is a discrepancy in his death date; his tombstone read 03/23/1919, while the CA Death Index indicated it to have been on 03/25/1919.

A note in the Marin Journalsaid of his death: "Charles W. Kenitzer, aged 82 years, passed away at his home on Ross street Tuesday after an illness of some weeks. Kenitzer for many years was a leading architect in San Francisco, where he resided for half a century. He designed and supervised the construction of the Marin county courthouse in 1872. He is survived by his widow, Mrs. Matilda Kenitzer, and was a native of Germany. The funeral was held yesterday under the direction of Dr. F.E. Sawyer." (See "Architect of Courthouse Called by Death," Marin Journal, vol. LVI, no. 13, 03/27/1919, p. 1.)

Parents

His brother was the San Franisco architect, Henry Kenitzer (1827-1910).

Spouse

Charles W. Kenitzer married Mathilde Barth (born 12/20/1853 in Langensalza, Thüringen, Germany-d. 12/21/1941 in Alameda County, CA) on 08/15/1872 in San Francisco, CA. Mathilde, like Charles had been born in Germany, he in Saxony, she in Langensalza, Thüringen. She seems to have come to the US in 1872, according to the 1910 US Census. (See Ancestry.com, Source Information Ancestry.com. California, Death Index, 1905-1939 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013, accessed 10/05/2016.)

Her first name was spelled in various ways, including "Matilda" and "Mathilda."

Mathilde had five siblings, four brothers and a sister: Emil Barth, Friedrich Alwin Ewald Barth (1857-), Rudolph Barth (1860-1932), Malvina Barth (1862-1947) and Hermann August Barth (1865-1923). Her mother was Sophia F. Alwine A Handmann Barth (1823-1904).

A brother of Mathilde's, Hermann, witnessed Kenitzer's will of 12/02/1917. Hermann Barth lived at 80 6th Avenue in San Francisco. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Marin County Probate Case Files, 1850-1924; Author: California. Superior Court (Marin County); Probate Place: Marin, California, accessed 10/05/2016.)

Mathilde returned to Germany for a visit in 1928, returning to the US aboard the Norddeutscher Lloyd Linie's S.S. Lutzow from Bremen to New York, NY, between 09/29/1928 and 10/11/1928. According to the Lutzow's passenger manifest, she resided at the Hotel Reich in San Francisco. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1928; Arrival: New York, New York, USA; Microfilm Serial: T715, 1897-1957; Line: 19; Page Number: 72, accessed 05/27/2022.)

In 1934, Mathilde Kenitzer resided alone at 860 Sutter Street in San Francisco. (See San Francisco, California, City Directory, 1934, p. 596.)

She died in Alameda County, CA.

Children

According to the 1900 US Census, Charles William Kenitzer and Mathilde Barth had no children.

Biographical Notes

His name was "Karl Wilhelm Kenitzer" in Germany. C.W. Kenitzer was naturalized on 06/07/1881 in San Francisco's Superior Court. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation California State Library, California History Section; Great Registers, 1892; Collection Number: 4 - 2A; CSL Roll Number: 87; FHL Roll Number: 977605, accessed 10/05/2016.)

He applied for a US Passport on 01/13/1888 in San Francisco. His passport application described him at age 51 as standing 5-feet 7 and-½-inches tall, with blue eyes and blond, slightly graying, hair. His features were described as having the following details: a round face, large, rounded nose, straight mouth, peaked chin, and high square forehead.

The US Census of 1900 erroneously indicated that his birthday was in 11/1837, not 1836. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1900; Census Place: San Francisco, San Francisco, California; Roll: 105; Page: 9B; Enumeration District: 0217; FHL microfilm: 1240105, accessed 10/05/2016.)

A note in the Santa Cruz Sentinel in 1892 stated: “C.W. Kenitzer, architect of the Hotaling block, arrived last evening.” (See “Social and Personal,” Santa Cruz Sentinel, 05/27/1892, p. 3.)

Kenitzer and his wife returned from Hamburg, Germany, aboard the Hamburg-Amerika Linie's President Grant, on 09/21/1911. Their itinerary was Cuxhaven, Germany; Boulogne, France, Southampton, UK, and New York, NY. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Staatsarchiv Hamburg; Hamburg, Deutschland; Hamburger Passagierlisten; Microfilm No.: K_1820, accessed 10/05/2016.) They arrived in New York on 10/03/1911. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1911; Arrival: New York, New York; Microfilm Serial: T715, 1897-1957; Microfilm Roll: Roll 1749; Line: 1; Page Number: 36, accessed 10/05/2016.)