The Street Seen: William Smith Vawter (1845 – 1917)
Ocean Park
Born in IN, Vawter comes to Pasadena with his father, W.D. Vawter (1815 – 1894) and younger brother Edwin James Vawter (1848 – 1914) in 1875. From Pasadena, the Vawters open the first general merchandise store in Santa Monica. Operating as the Santa Monica Commercial Company, W. D. Vawter and his two sons are involved in many real estate, banking, railroading, and other Santa Monica businesses.
W.S. Vawter was one of the organizers of the First National Bank of Santa Monica and was a member of the Santa Monica Board of Trustees.
Vawter marries in 1868 Sarah M. McClaskey (1852 – 1929) and they are the parents of Mary Charlotte Vawter Moore (1871 – 1962).1 Their home is on the corner of Second Street and Arizona Avenue. Vawter dies in 1917.
Mary Charlotte Vawter (1871 – 1962) marries John Rigdon Moore (1863–1943).