Résumé

Principal, W.H. Bayless, Architect, San Francisco, CA, c.1864-1887. He had an office at 11 3rd Street in 1864. (See San Francisco, California, City Directory, Business Directory, 1864, p. 441.)

Partner, W.H. and Joseph Bayless, Architects, San Francisco, 1865.(See San Francisco, California, City Directory, Business Directory, 1865, p. 485.)

In 1867, Bayless maintained his place of business on the east side of Geneva Street near Brannan Street. (See San Francisco, California, City Directory, Business Directory, 1867, p. 532.)

In 1869, Bayless operated his office at 33 Kearny Street. (SeeSan Francisco California City Directory, 1869, p. 676.) From at least 1877 until 1887, Bayless had his office at 106 Leidesdorff Street. (SeeSan Francisco California City Directory, 1877, p. 465 and San Francisco, California, City Directory, 1887, p. 211.)

Relocation

The architect was born in OH, c. 1819. Judging from the various places his children were born, Bayless moved a great deal before settling down in San Francisco, CA, by about 1870. Unfortunately the US Censuses between 1860 and 1880 do not agree as to his children's birthplaces. The 1860 US Census had Charles born in OH; Sarah in LA; Joseph in England; and Stella in IL; the 1870 listed Charles born in OH; Sarah in IL; Joseph in LA; and Stella in IL; The 1880 recorded them as Charles born in OH; Sarah in England; Joseph in New Orleans, LA; and Stella in IL. From these records, one can safely conclude that William was born in OH, resided in the New York, NY, area by about 1848 (when he married Emma Quarrier) , dwelled in OH c. 1858 and in IL c. 1862.

He had been born in OH, likely lived in the New York City area (where he married Emma Quarrier) during the 1840s, in Louisiana before 1850, in England by about 1855, in IL by about 1858, in Memphis, TN, by about 1860 and back in IL by 1869.

In 1860, Bayless resided in Memphis, TN, with his wife Emma, and their four children. He had modest assets as noted by the 1860 US Census, of $150. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation The National Archives in Washington D.C.; Record Group: Records of the Bureau of the Census; Record Group Number: 29; Series Number: M653; Residence Date: 1860; Home in 1860: Memphis Ward 8, Shelby, Tennessee; Roll: M653_1273; Page: 233; Family History Library Film: 805273, accessed 04/28/2026.)

By 1870, Bayless and his family lived in San Francisco's Ward #9, where he worked as an architect. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1870; Census Place: San Francisco Ward 9, San Francisco, California; Roll: M593_83; Page: 14B, accessed 03/04/2022.) Between 1872 and 1875, Bayless resided at 8 Geneva Street (near Brannan Street) in San Francisco, CA. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation California State Library; Sacramento, California; Great Registers, 1872-1873; Collection Number: 4-2A; CSL Roll Number: 41; FHL Roll Number: 977097, accessed 03/05/2022 and San Francisco, California, City Directory, Business Directory, 1875, p. 117.)

In 1883, William Bayless lived with his family at 2216 Mission Street in San Francisco, CA. According to voter records, he remained at 2216 1/2 Mission in 1890, residing with his son Joseph Albert Bayless, who worked as a draftsman at the time. W.H. Bayless and his family remained at this address in 1900 (although it was numbered 2216 and ½ in the 1900 US Census.) In 1900, William lived here with his children Charles, Sarah and Stella. Charles worked as a draftsman at the time, while William's occupation was listed as "artist." (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1900; Census Place: San Francisco, San Francisco, California; Page: 3; Enumeration District: 0103; FHL microfilm: 1240102, accessed 03/04/2022.)

Bayless passed away at age 86 in San Francisco, CA. (See Ancestry.com, Source Information Ancestry.com. California, U.S., Death Index, 1905-1939 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013, accessed 04/28/2026.)

Parents

According to the 1880 US Census, both of William Henry Bayless's parents had been born in OH.

Spouse

William H. Bayless married Mary Emma Quarrier (possibly Currier, born c. 1835 in NY) on 01/30/1848 at Saint Matthews Mission Church in New York, NY. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation The Episcopal Diocese of New York; New York, New York Source Information Ancestry.com. New York, U.S., Episcopal Diocese of New York Church Records, 1767-1970 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2017, accessed 03/05/2022.) The 1880 US Census listed her parents as having both been born in NY. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1880; Census Place: San Francisco, San Francisco, California; Roll: 77; Page: 342a; Enumeration District: 173, accessed 04/28/2026.)

The 1900 US Census indicated that Mary Emma had died by 1900. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1900; Census Place: San Francisco, San Francisco, California; Page: 3; Enumeration District: 0103; FHL microfilm: 1240102, accessed 03/04/2022.)

Children

William and Mary Emma had four children: Joseph Albert Bayless (born c. 1853 in New Orleans, LA), Sarah E. Bayless (born c. 1854 in IL), Charles H. Bayless (born c. 1858 in OH) and Stella F. Bayless (born c. 1862 in IL).

Between 1880 and 1883, at least, two of William Bayless's sons, Charles H. and Joseph A., worked as draftsmen in San Francisco. Charles worked for his father, and Joseph for Dewey and Company, a concern at 252 Market Street that worked both as patent agents and as publishers of magazines. (See the San Francisco, California, City Directory, 1883, p. 219.) In 1891, Charles worked as a clerk for Cobb and Company, and lived with his parents and Joseph worked as a draftsman for Dewey ad Company and lived at home. (See the Crocker-Langley San Francisco Directory, 1891, p. 224.)

In 1909, the Crocker-Langley San Francisco Directory (p. 788) indicated that Sarah Bayless worked as a dressmaker in San Francisco, with a home and business address of 116A San Jose Avenue. She and Charle, both unmarried, lived in the same building at 116 San Jose Avenue in 1920.