Résumé

Principal, Henry Osterman, Architect, Walla Walla, WA, c. 1902-1911. Osterman originally maintained his practice in his residence at 508 Lincoln Street in Walla Walla. (See R.L. Polk and Company's Walla Walla City and County Directory, 1902, p. 169.) In 1908, Osterman leased Rooms #7-8 of the Baker-Boyer Bank Building as his offices. According to the R.L. Polk and Company Walla Walla City Directory for 1908, Walla Walla had only four architects practicing there at that time. (See R.L. Polk and Company's Walla Walla City Directory, 1908, p. 332.) By 1910, he rented Rooms #216-217 of the Drumheller Building in Walla Walla. (See R.L. Polk and Company's Walla Walla City Directory, 1910, p. 216.)

Partner, Ostermean and [Victor E.] Siebert, Architects, Walla Walla, WA, 1912-1923. Osterman and Siebert began their partnership either in late 1911 or early 1912. Between 1918 and 1923, Osterman worked with architect V.E. Siebert in the Drumheller Building in Walla Walla, in Room #216 and 217 between 1912 and 1921. (See R.L.Polk and Company's City Directory for Walla Walla, WA, 1912,p. 210 and R.L.Polk and Company's City Directory for Walla Walla, WA, 1923-1924, p. 164.)

Relocation

Born in Germany near the North Rhine-Westphalian city of Essen in 1862, Henry Osterman migrated to the US in 1889. In 1892, a Washington State Census reported that Henry worked as a carpenter, as did his relatives in town, Wilhelm (his father), August (age 27), and Frank (age 25). (See Ancestry.com, Source Information, Ancestry.com. Washington State and Territorial Censuses, 1857-1892 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006, accessed 10/19/2015.) The US Census of 1910, indicated that Osterman had migrated to the US in 1890. (See

The US Census of 1910 indicated that Osterman had been naturalized in 1890, although this is not likely. The same census reported that Osterman and his wife and four children resided at 508 Lincoln Street in Walla Walla, where they stayed from at least 1908 until 1923. In 1910, they had enough money to afford a live-in servant, 19-year-old, Hazel Richardson. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation, Year: 1910; Census Place: Walla Walla Ward 1, Walla Walla, Washington; Roll: T624_1673; Page: 4B; Enumeration District: 0256; FHL microfilm: 1375686,accessed 10/19/2015.) In 1920-1921, Herbert and Ginevra Osterman continued to dwell at 508 Lincoln. (See R.L. Polk and Company's Walla Walla, Washington, City Directory, 1920, p. 225 and R.L. Polk and Company's Walla Walla, Washington, City Directory, 1921, p. 219.)

He and his wife had moved to Seattle by 1929, where they lived at 5517 16th Avenue NE in the University District.

Parents

His German-born father, Wilhelm (William), worked as a carpenter in 1892. His mother was Maria Wustoff. They wed in (See Ancestry.com, Source Information Ancestry.com. Iowa, U.S., Select Marriages Index, 1758-1996 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014, accessed 10/15/2024.)

Spouse

He married Lavina Genevra Cooney Jack (born 08/22/1872 in Scranton, IA-d. 06/10/1960 in Los Angeles, CA) at Coon Rapids, Carroll County, IA, on 06/10/1902. (See Ancestry.com, Source Information Ancestry.com. Iowa, U.S., Select Marriages Index, 1758-1996 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014, accessed 10/15/2024.) Lavina previously married Osbert Wesley Jack (1854-1895).

Children

According to the 1910 US Census, he and Lavina had three children together and raised one step-child: Henrietta Osterman Brotherton (born 07/22/1904 in WA-d. 02/01/1999 in Pasadena, CA), Hugo William Osterman (born 07/08/1906-d. 03/30/1996 in Seattle, WA) and Ruth (born c. 1908 in WA). Bernadina Lois Osterman McKee (born 10/22/1894 in Coon Rapids, IA-d. 11/07/1964 in Umatilla County, OR) was a child from Lavina's previous marriage to Osbert Jack.

Biographical Notes

Prior to 10/15/2024, PCAD erroneously listed Henry Osterman's birthdate to have been in 1892, not 1862.