Résumé

The 1870 US Census indicated that Samuel Newsom was apprenticed to an architect. This may have been an apprenticeship with his brother John Newsom.

Draftsman, John J. Newsom, Architect, Oakland, CA, 1873. (See Oakland, California, City Directory, 1873, p. 190.)John J. Newsom's office was located on the southeast corner of Broadway and Twelfth Street in Oakland, and he may have also had an office in San Francisco in 1873.

Partner, [John Cather] Newsom and Newsom, Architects, San Francsico, CA, 1877-1887. In 1877 and 1878, the Newsom Brothers maintained their architectural office at 321 California Street. The pioneering San Francisco architect Seth Babson had his office located across the street in 1877 at 320 California Street. (See San Francisco, California, City Directory, 1877, p. 465and San Francisco, California, City Directory, 1878, p. 909.) Joseph and Samuel had an office at 320 Sansome Street in 1879 and 1880, (See Crocker-Langley Directory Company's San Francisco Directory, 1879, p. 936 and Crocker-Langley Directory Company's San Francisco Directory, 1880, p. 970.) In 1881, the pair had an office at 410 Montgomery Street. (See Crocker-Langley Directory Company's San Francisco Directory, 1881, p. 1042.) Between 1882 and 1887, Newsom and Newsom practiced at 504 Kearny Street in San Francisco. (See Crocker-Langley Directory Company's San Francisco Directory, 1882, p. 1052 and Crocker-Langley Directory Company's San Francisco Directory, 1887, p. 1278.)

Joseph Cather Newsom was listed as practicing in Los Angeles, CA, in 1888. (See Los Angeles City Directory, 1888, p. 768.)

Principal, Samuel Newsom, Architect, San Francisco, CA, c. 1891-1897. Newsom leased Room #301 of the Phelan Building in 1891. (See Crocker-Langley Directory Company's San Francisco Directory, 1891, p. 1498.) In 1897, Samuel Newsom had an office in Room #16 on the eighth floor of the Mills Building. (See the Crocker-Langley San Francisco City Directory, 1897, p. 1856.)

Partner, Newsom and Meyer, Architects, San Francisco, CA, 1898-1900. This partnership continued to work in the Mills Building. Sidney B. Newsom also worked for Newsom and Meyer in 1899. (See Crocker-Langley Directory Company's San Francisco, California, City Directory, 1899, p. 1297.)

Partner, Newsom and [Sidney B.] Newsom, San Francisco, CA, c. 1906. In that year, the firm had an office at 526 Larkin Street, near Eddy Street, (See Bakersfield, California, City Directory, 1906, p. 157.) The firm was called "Newsom and Newsom" c. 1906-1907. Its principal architects included Samuel and Sidney Newsom and John D. Hatch. (SeeSan Francisco, California, City Directory, 1907, p. 1744.)

Senior Partner, Newsom and Sons, Architects, San Francisco, CA, c. 1908. He worked in a partnership with his sons, Sidney and Noble. In 1908, they had an office in the Humboldt Building in San Francisco.

Professional Activties

Member, Board of Architects, California Midwinter Fair, San Francisco, CA, 1893-1894.

Relocation

Born in Canada, Newsom may have settled in Oakland, CA, in about 1868. It appears that the first member of the Newsom Family to migrate to California was Samuel's eldest brother, John J. Newsom. Elder brother John J. Newsom had his US naturalization in San Francisco on 08/02/1867. It may have been that Levins brought his family to the Oakland area about a year later. Levins was naturalized on 10/29/1868 in San Francisco. Their initial dates of voter registration were 08/05/1867 and 10/05/1868, respectively. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation California State Library, California History Section; Great Registers, 1866-1898; Collection Number: 4 - 2A; CSL Roll Number: 1; FHL Roll Number: 976447, accessed 04/03/2019.)

The Newsom Family resided in the town of Brooklyn in 1870, a settlement that would become annexed by the city of Oakland, CA, in 1872. The 1870 US Census indicated that Samuel's parents, Levens and Jessie resided here, as did Samuel, Alexander, Thomas, Joseph and Jessie. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1870; Census Place: Brooklyn, Alameda, California; Roll: M593_68; Page: 25B; Family History Library Film: 545567, accessed 04/02/2019.)

Samuel lived with his wife and son in an Oakland house near Lake and Western Avenues in 1880. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1880; Census Place: Oakland, Alameda, California; Roll: 62; Page: 328C; Enumeration District: 017, accessed 04/02/2019.)

He resided at 216 13th Street in Oakland on 10/18/1890. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation California State Library, California History Section; Great Registers, 1866-1898; Collection Number: 4 - 2A; CSL Roll Number: 2; FHL Roll Number: 976448, accessed 04/03/2019.) In 1896, voter records indicated that Newsom's address was listed at 973 5th Avenue in East Oakland. This record indicated that Samuel Newsom had received US citizenship through his father's naturalization. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation California State Library, California History Section; Great Registers, 1866-1898; Collection Number: 4 - 2A; CSL Roll Number: 4; FHL Roll Number: 976450, accessed 04/03/2019.)

In 1900, Samuel Newsom lived with his family at 228 9th Street in Oakland, CA. At this time, he was a widower living with his six children and a niece, Francis Cobbledick, (born 01/1878 in CA), in the house at 228 9th Street. In addition, his brother, Joseph Cather Newsom, (1857-1930), his wife, Nellie, (born c. 12/1863 in CA) and their two children lived in the same house. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1900; Census Place: Oakland Ward 5, Alameda, California; Page: 6; Enumeration District: 0371; FHL microfilm: 1240082, accessed 04/02/2019.)

On 09/01/1908, Newsom died of an apparent heart attack while standing on the deck of the Key Route ferry, S.S. San Francisco, as the ship neared the company's Oakland mole terminal. (See "Architect Dies on Ferry Boat," San Francisco Call, vol. 104, no. 84, 09/02/1908, p. 7.)

Parents

His parents were Levens Mathewson Newsom (or Newsome [1815-1897]) and Jessie Livingstone (1821-1882). Levens had been born in Ireland, Jessie in Scotland. Samuel had at least 11 siblings and they included: John J. Newsom (born 1837 in Canada), Mary Ann Newsom (born 1838 in Canada), Jane Newsom, (born 1840 in Canada), Isabella Newsom, (born 1842 in Canada), James Newsom, (born 1844 in Canada), Jessie Newsom, (b. 1846 in Canada), Levens (or Levins) Mathewson, Newsom, Jr., (born 1848 in Canada), Elizabeth Newsom Hadley, (born 1850 in Canada), Alexander Livingstone Newsom, (b. 1854 in Canada), Thomas Dean Newsom, (b. 1856) and Joseph Cather Newsom, (born 1857 in Canada-1930). Levens Newsom, Sr., worked as a nurseryman in 1870. As per 1870 Census documents, Levens owned real estate worth $5,000 and had a personal estate of $600. Samuel's brother Alexander, worked as a clerk at this time.

The California Voter Register of 1875 for Alamdea County, listed six Newsom men: Joseph Cather Newsom, Alexander Livingston Newsom, John J. Newsom, Levins Mathewson Newsom, Samuel Newsom, and Thomas Dean Newsom. Joseph, John, Samuel and Thomas all listed their occupations as "architect," while Alexander and Levins listed their professions as "carpenter."

He and his brother Samuel practiced together for intervals in Northern and Southern CA.

Spouse

Samuel married a Canadian woman, T.G. Wilcox, who was seven years younger than he. They married in Alameda County, CA, on 12/18/1875. Her name may have been Tillie Gertrude Wilcox. (See Ancestry.com, Source Information Ancestry.com. California, Marriage Records from Select Counties, 1850-1941 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014, accessed 04/03/2019.)

Children

He had the following children: Sidney Newsom, (born 05/1877 in CA-d. 1942), Samuel Newsom, (born 01/1878 in CA), Helen Newsom Tufts, (born 03/1884 in CA), Ruby Newsom Van Sickle, (born 08/13/1885 in Oakland, CA-d. 01/14/1977 in Oakland, CA), Noble Newsom, (born 08/1887 in CA-d. 1945), and Harold Newsom, (born c. 1888 in CA). Sidney and Noble would work as architects in partnership with their father.

Helen married Roy Tufts and lived in Los Angeles, CA, in 1908. Ruby lived with her father at his residence in 1908.

Biographical Notes

At age 44, Samuel Newsom stood 5-feet, 6-and-1/2-inches tall, and had a light complexion, blue eyes and brown hair. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation California State Library, California History Section; Great Registers, 1866-1898; Collection Number: 4 - 2A; CSL Roll Number: 4; FHL Roll Number: 976450, accessed 04/03/2019.)

The architect was a high-ranking Mason.

• Oakland, CA (Architect's Death)
  Oakland, CA

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