Résumé

Architectural draftsman, Oakland, CA, 1900.

Partner, Ward and Blohme, Architects, San Francisco, CA, c. 1910-c. 1933. Ward and Blohme established their partnership in either late 1909 or early 1910. On 09/12/1918, the Ward and Blohme office was located at 310 Sansome Street in San Francisco. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Registration State: California; Registration County: Alameda 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 07/25/2023.) The partnership dissolved in either late 1933 or early 1934. (Clarence R. Ward was listed on his own in Polk's Crocker-Langley San Francisco City Directory, 1934, p. 1751.)

Relocation

Born in San Francisco, CA, J. Henry Blohme's parents both immigrated to the US from Germany. In 1880, J. Henry Blohme's family resided on Sutter Street in San Francisco. The household in 1880 consisted of his parents Johan and Gesine, and his sister Adela and four boarders: Charles Ramsey (born c. 1855 in MD), John W. Levely (born c. 1845 in NY), Thomas Landecker (born c. 1855 in NV) and John C. Mein (born c. 1847 in Germany). Ramsey and Levely worked as street car conductors and Landecker and Mein worked as clerks in John Blohme's grocery.

The architect went by the name "Harry" possibly to differentiate himself from his father. "Harry" was written on his death certificate which relied on his wife's information. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Nevada Department of Health; Carson City, Nevada; Nevada Death Records, accessed 07/25/2023.)

Blohme rented a room in 1900 in the large boarding house run by Peter Knutsen (born c. 12/1843 in Denmark) and his wife Sophie Knutsen (born c. 01/1848 in Denmark) at 568 12th Street in Oakland, CA. The Knutsens operated this boarding house with their three daughters--Annie S. Knutsen (born 12/1875 in NE), Lucy Knutsen (born c. 11/1878 in NE) and Katherine Knutsen (born 11/1884 in CO)--and a Japanese servant, Heikichi Terui (born c. 08/1870 in Japan). Both families and single people lived in the Knutsen boarding house in 1900. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1900; Census Place: Oakland Ward 5, Alameda, California; Roll: 82; Page: 9; Enumeration District: 0366, accessed 07/25/2023.)

In 1918, Blohme, while a partner in the firm of Ward and Blohme, lived with his wife at 1647 7th Avenue in Oakland. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Registration State: California; Registration County: Alameda 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 07/25/2023.)

Harry and Mathilda Blohme owned their own residence at 637 East 17th Street in 1940. The house had a value of about $2,500 in that year, a modest amount for the Bay Area at the time. Nearby, at 1647 East 17th, Mathilda's brother Walter lived in a small house with his widowed, elder sister Elnora L. (born c. 1879 in CA)

Blohme died of a heart attack (coronary thrombosis) in the Southern Pacific Railroad waiting room in Reno, NV. He had been in Reno for three months, perhaps for work, according to his death certificate. His last residence was 637 East 17th Street in Oakland, CA. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Nevada Department of Health; Carson City, Nevada; Nevada Death Records, accessed 07/25/2023.) Harry Blohme and his wife Mathilda were buried at the Mountain View Cemetery in Oakland.

Parents

His father Johan (John) Blohme worked as a grocer in 1880 San Francisco. Gesine Muyer was his mother, according to his death certificate. (It is possible that her surname was "Meyer," See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Nevada Department of Health; Carson City, Nevada; Nevada Death Records, accessed 07/25/2023.)

He had a sister, Adela Blohme (born c. 1877 in CA).

Spouse

He wed Mathilda "Tillie" Richter (born 03/19/1880 in CA-d. 08/02/1971 in Monterey County, CA) on 09/24/1903 in Oakland, CA. (See Ancestry.com, Source Information: California, U.S., Marriage Records from Select Counties, 1850-1941 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014. Original data: Marriage records, select counties and years. California State Archives, Sacramento, California, accessed 07/25/2023.) Mathilda also went by the name "T. Dorothy Blohme."

Her parents were Adolph Frederick Richter (born 11/18/1850 in Germany-d. 08/29/1913 in Alameda County, CA) and Dorothea Catharina Ludwig (born 12/19/1852 in Germany-d. 10/01/1936 in Alameda County, CA) (Spellings of Dorothea's name varied, including "Dorethea" and "Katherine.")

Biographical Notes

According to this World War I draft registration card, Blohme was Caucasian with gray eyes and light brown hair. He was of medium height and build. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Registration State: California; Registration County: Alameda 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 07/25/2023.)

SSN: 530100309.