Ezra F. Kysor

Early life

Ezra Kysor was born on August 6, 1835, in Cattaraugus, New York.^[1] Around the age of thirty, he traveled west to Virginia City, Nevada.^[1]

Career

Upon his arrival in Virginia City c.1865, Kysor established himself as a carpenter.^[2] He may also have maintained an architectural office.^[1] By 1868, however, he had settled in Los Angeles, California, as an architect.^[1]

He practiced alone until March 1875, when he established Kysor & Mathews with Walter J. Mathews (1850-1947).^[3] This firm was dissolved in April 1876.^[4] He was again alone until 1879, when John F. Hennessy (1853-1924) became a member of Kysor & Hennessy.^[5] Hennessy, who was born in Ireland and came to the United States in 1875 or 1876, left Los Angeles for Australia in late 1880.^[6]

Upon Hennessy's departure, Kysor made his chief draftsman, Octavius Morgan (1850-1922), a member of Kysor & Morgan. In 1886, John A. Walls (1858-1922) was added, the firm becoming Kysor, Morgan & Walls.^[7] It was around this time the Kysor began to withdraw from practice, to focus on real estate speculation. He retired from the firm completely in 1890, which became Morgan & Walls.

Personal life

He was married to Clara Perry. They had a son, Charles H. Kysor (1883-1954), who was also an architect.^[8]

Private practice, 1868-1875

• Episcopal Church of Our Savior, 535 W. Roses Rd., San Gabriel (1869–71)^[9]
• Pico House, 494 N. Main St., Los Angeles (1869–70)
• Merced Theatre, 420 N. Main St., Los Angeles (1870)^[10]
• William Workman House (Remodeling), 15415 E. Don Julian Rd., City of Industry (1870)
• Congregation B'nai B'rith, 218 S. Broadway, Los Angeles (1872–73) - demolished^[11]
• Samuel C. Foy House, 1337 Carroll Ave., Los Angeles (1872)^[12]
• Los Angeles High School, N. Broadway & Temple St., Los Angeles (1872–73) - demolished^[13]
• Ducommun Building, 304 N. Main St., Los Angeles (1874) - demolished^[14][15]
• Farmers and Merchants Bank of Los Angeles second building, west side of Main St. south of Plaza, Los Angeles (1874)^[16] - demolished
• Harris Newmark House, 233 S. Broadway, Los Angeles (1874) - demolished^[17]

Kysor & Mathews, 1875-1876

• Anaheim Hotel, 182 W. Center St., Anaheim (1875) - demolished^[18]
• Cardona Block, 118 N. Main St., Los Angeles (1875) - demolished^[19]
• R. C. Cathedral of St. Vibiana (Completion), 214 S. Main St., Los Angeles (1875–76)^[20]
• Herman W. Hellman House, 125 W. 4th St., Los Angeles (1875) - demolished^[21]
• McDonald Block, 129-131 N. Main St., Los Angeles (1876) - demolished^[22]
• William H. Perry House, 3800 Homer St., Los Angeles (1876)^[23]

Private practice, 1876-1878

• Joseph Mullally House, 850 N. Broadway, Los Angeles (1876) - demolished^[22][24]
• Hellman & Mascarel Block, 230-240 N. Main St., Los Angeles (1878) - demolished^[25]

Kysor & Hennessy, 1879-1880

• Horticultural Pavilion, Temple St., Los Angeles (1879) - burned^[26]

Kysor & Morgan, 1880-1886

• University Building, University of Southern California, Los Angeles (1880)^[27]
• Garnier Block, 501 N. Main St., Los Angeles (1882–83)^[28]
• Hotel Nadeau, 202 W. 1st St., Los Angeles (1882–83) - demolished 1932^[29][30]
• Grand Opera House, 110 S. Main St., Los Angeles (1883–84) - demolished^[31]
• First Baptist Church, 556 S. Broadway, Los Angeles (1883–84) - demolished^[28]
• Placentia School, Placentia & Chapman Aves., Anaheim (1884) - demolished^[32]
• Los Angeles Infirmary, 1111 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles (1884) - demolished^[33]
• Trinity M. E. Church, 522 S. Broadway, Los Angeles (1884) - demolished^[34]

Kysor, Morgan & Walls, 1886-1890

• Law Building, 125 Temple St., Los Angeles (1886) - demolished^[35]
• Los Angeles National Bank Building, 100-104 N. Spring St., Los Angeles (1886–87) - demolished^[28]
• Abstract Title & Insurance Co. Building, 203 New High St., Los Angeles (1887) - demolished^[36]
• Granite Bank Building, 230 S. Myrtle Ave., Monrovia (1887) - demolished^[36]
• Hazard's Pavilion, 427 W. 5th St., Los Angeles (1887) - demolished 1905^[37]
• Los Angeles Orphans' Home, 817 Yale St., Los Angeles (1887) - demolished^[36]
• Palomares Hotel, 350 N. Garey Ave., Pomona (1887) - burned 1911^[36]
• Michael Sanders House, 1345 Carroll Ave., Los Angeles (1887)^[36]
• Turn Halle, 321 S. Main St., Los Angeles (1887) - demolished^[38]
• Gates Building, 215 W. 5th St., Los Angeles (1888) - demolished^[39]
• Frank Sabichi House, 2437 S. Figueroa St., Los Angeles (1888) - demolished^[39]
• Annex Building, State Normal School, S. Grand Ave., Los Angeles (1889) - demolished^[40]
• Gymnasium, State Normal School, S. Grand Ave., Los Angeles (1890) - demolished^[41]