William H. Willcox

Who was William H. Willcox?

William H. Willcox was an American architect and surveyor who practised in Brooklyn and New York, Chicago, Illinois, Nebraska, St. Paul, Minnesota, Seattle, Washington, Los Angeles and San Francisco.

Willcox's first appearance is as the designer of a "Suburban Octagonal Cottage" illustrated in plan and elevation in John Bullock, The American Cottage Builder: A Series of Designs, Plans, and Specifications 1854:239f; the design, which could be well executed in wood for about $1500, was described at length in Willcox's own words. In later life Willcox claimed to have been the uncredited architect of Grammar School 51 at 519 West 44th Street, New York City, built in 1858.

He served in the American Civil War with the 95th New York Infantry, December 1861 to September 1863, as a topographical engineer who prepared the well-known map of the battle of Antietam for Brig.-Gen. Abner Doubleday, and reaching the rank of Lieutenant before he was released after Gettysburg. After his release from service, in partnership with the well-known New York architect Gamaliel King, he assisted in constructing the Kings County Savings Bank in Williamsburgh, Brooklyn, built 1860-67.