Herbert Allen Wall

In the 1910 U.S. Federal Census, taken on May 2nd, Herbert Wall's father, William Henry Wall, was 36 years old, and living at 232 N. Alma in the Belvedere Section of Los Angeles with his wife, Agnes, 34, and their son William Clifford, a year and a half old. Herbert Allen Wall was not born until the next month, June of that year. William Henry Wall was working as a steward in a restaurant. He was born in Colorado, his father in England, and his mother in Ireland. His wife, Agnes, was born in Norway, as were both of her parents.

Per William Henry Wall's World War I Draft Registration card dated September 12, 1918, he was working as a driller at Schau Batcher in South San Francisco, and was living with his wife, Agnes, at 226 Willard Street in San Francisco. He was described as being 5'6", with a stout build, grey eyes, and black hair. His mother's maiden name was Braudon. William Henry Wall was born March 3, 1874, in Colorado, and he died November 14, 1951, in Los Angeles.

In the 1920 census, Herbert was 9 years old and living at 994 Capp Street in San Francisco with his parents, William H., 45, and Agnes, 43, and older brother Clifford, 11. Herbert's father was working as a waiter in a restaurant. By 1928 the family had returned to Southern California, and Herbert was listed among the class of Summer '28 in the Venice High School Gondolier Yearbook.

By 1930 the family was living at 417-1/2 Westminster Avenue. William was working as a store manager, his son Clifford as a truck driver for a beverage company, and Herbert was a swimming instructor at a swim club. In a 1931 school yearbook for the Venice High School Skill Center, Herbert was pictured, and was listed as being on the swimming team and the Oarsman staff, which was the weekly school newspaper. He served on the staff of the newspaper as the Department Editor the first semester the vehicle was created.

Herbert's future wife, Eeva Delight Smith, was also listed in the same 1931 Venice High School yearbook, and was a member of the G.A.A. (maybe the Girl's Athletic Association or some type of sorority) and Glee Club, so it appears they may have been high school sweethearts.

In 1933, Herbert was listed in the Spin-Drift Yearbook for Santa Monica College as being a member of the Scholarship Society and the Letterman's Club, as well as being President of the school's German Club and the Biology Club whose purpose was to increase the interest in the biological sciences and to promote better fellowship among the students. The Biology Club had several activities that year including a field trip to the Tejon Ranch, and the motion picture, "Eyes of the World" was present in addition to having several speakers on scientific subjects.

The German club's purpose was to foster a spirit of comradeship among the members and to bring about a more cordial relationship between instructor and student. The club's activities that year included a trip to Big Pines, six trips to the Filmarte Theatre to see German talking pictures, and socials in the A.W.S. Bungalow, a trip to see a German play at Ebell Theatre, and a hike to Grovers' Lakeside Park in San Fernando with U.C.L.A. and the L.A.J.C. German clubs.

Two years later, Herbert was listed as a candidate for an A.B. Degree in Zoology from the University of Southern California in June of 1935. The following year was probably when Herb married Eeva Delight Smith, the daughter of Mattie Estella Scott Smith and Isaac Randall Smith, who had moved to Venice, California, from Kansas in about 1922 after the death of Mattie's father in Kansas City in 1921.

By the 1940 census, Herbert, 29, and Eeva Smith, 27, had a one-year old son, Allen Randall Wall, and living with them was Eeva's mother, Mattie, 66, who was listed as a nurse (probably for her grandson Allen). Herbert was working as a science and life teacher in the public schools and had income of $1,440 in 1939. Mattie had income of $176, (plus her own other income), and they were renting a home for $30.00 a month located at 1623 Crescent Place, Venice, California. A Google Search for that address showed that the home was built in 1927, had about 3,000 square feet, and is currently valued at about $3 million. Neither Herb nor Eeva would believe the price of their old home today.

By 1947, Herb and Eeva were living at 2130 Selby Avenue in Westwood, California. In the 1950 census they were living at the same address and Herb was working as a Professional Representative for a Pharmaceutical Manufacturer E.R. Squbb & Sons. Herb was 39, Eeva, 37,Allen, 11, and Lorna, 8 years old.

The photo above from my mother's family photo album shows Herb probably working in a pharmaceutical lab. Sadly, Herb took his own life, and the California Death Index shows he passed away April 30, 1959, at the young age of just 48 years old.

Sadly, a short time later, his daughter, Lorna, also took her own life by shooting herself in the head at the home where she lived with her mother on Selby Avenue. Later I lived in that same house, and actually slept in the same bedroom where Lorna took her life. This was in about 1968, only about 6 years after Lorna had died there. At the time, I was living there with Lorna's brother, Allen Randall Wall, and his wife, Sharon. They had no children, but I do remember that Sharon raised Schnauzer dogs.

They had an old clock on the mantle that chimed on the quarter, half and on the hour that used to keep me awake a lot at night. I always wondered if the spirit of uncle Herbie and cousin Lorna were in the house with us back in those days. Such a sad end to what must have been a very happy family at one time.

Eva Smith Wall lived almost another 40 years and passed away in 1998 in Los Angeles County, California. It must have been very sad and lonely for her after the deaths of her husband and daughter.

Her son Allen Randall Wall, born July 13, 1938, is still living in Arizona.