Résumé

Francis W. Reid was also a Congregationalist minister as well as being an architect. He was something of a vagabond, studying, living and working (as a newspaper reporter, Congregationalist minister and architect) in San Jose, Los Gatos, Palo Alto, Oakland, Paso Robles, San Miguel, Clayton, Concord, and Berkeley, CA, during his lifetime.

Newspaper reporter and editor, Bay Area, CA, 1887-1890. According to his obituary in the Oakland Tribune, Francis Reid worked between 1887 and 1890 as a newspaper reporter for the San Jose Herald, an editor for the San Francisco International Press, and the Martinez Daily Item. (See "Last Services for Rev. F.W. Reid," Oakland Tribune, 07/10/1949, p. 15.)

Partner, Reid and [G.C.] Meeker, Architects, San Jose, CA, c. 1892-1895. This Oakland Tribune obituary also noted that, "From 1890 to 1895 he practiced architecture at San Jose, Los Gatos and Palo Alto." (See "Last Services for Rev. F.W. Reid," Oakland Tribune, 07/10/1949, p. 15.) In 1894, Reid resided in Los Gatos, CA. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation California State Library; Sacramento, California; Great Registers, 1894; Collection Number: 4-2A; CSL Roll Number: 126; FHL Roll Number: 977290, accessed 07/29/2025.) George Cook Meeker (1849-1919) had worked during the 1880s in a long-distance partnership with the early and important Seattle architect William E. Boone (1830-1921).

The US Censuses of 1910, 1920 and 1930 indicated that Reid's primary vocation was as an architect, not as a minister.

Draftsman, Berkeley, CA, 1910. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1910; Census Place: Berkeley, Alameda, California; Roll: T624_72; Page: 6a; Enumeration District: 0051; FHL microfilm: 1374085, accessed 07/29/2025.)

Principal, Francis W. Reid, Architect, San Francisco, CA, 1911, 1914, 1924. He rented space in San Francisco's Monadnock Building between 1911 and 1914. (See San Francisco, California, City Directory, 1911, p. 1785 and San Francisco, California, City Directory, 1914, p. 1558.) The San Francisco Directory, 1914. noted that while his office was in San Francisco, he resided in Concord. CA. He had an office in San Francisco's Call Building in 1924. (See San Francisco, California, City Directory, 1924, p. 1182.)

Principal, F.W. Reid, Architect, Concord, CA, c. 1913. In 1913, Reid consulted with various members of Concord city government. He worked with the Concord School Board on an addition to a school there. The Martinez Daily Standard wrote in 11/1913: “Bids are invited by the Concord school board for an additional room to the grammar school according to plans drawn by Architect F.W. Reid. It is proposed during next year to erect a handsome and substantial four room primary class building to cost not less than $10,000 to be met, of course, by a bond issue which the active members of the board are confident will be voted for when submitted to the people. The board consists of Messrs. Walter Williams, Thomas Smith and Jos. Williams, who have been wrestling with the problem of providing accommodations for the notable increase in the roll of pupils. They have been in consultation with Architect Francis W. Reid as to the best methods of getting more room and the additional class room to be paid for out of moneys in hand and the primary school building for which a bond issue is required are the solutions to the problems that confront them and will serve for such a time as conditions improve and the taxpayers feel justified in taking upon themselves the burden of an extensive structure which will have to come in a very few years.” (See “Primary Use in Plans of City Fathers,” Martinez Daily Standard, 11/13/1913, p. 1.)

Additionally Reid lobbied the Concord Board of Trustees to impose new fire and building codes: “The growth of Concord has reached a point where the city trustees must act in the matter of establishing fire limits and provide building restrictions,’ said Architect Francis W. Reid. ‘It is no encouragement to anyone to erect substantial structures in the business section,’ said Mr. Reid, “when the owner of adjoining property may put up a rookery. The establishment of reasonable fire limits will be an inducement for property owners to improve substantially. Building restrictions should be established by ordinance such as exist in other and well regulated communities. I mean, of course, such regulations that will adjust themselves to conditions here.’ Mr. Reid has consulted the members of the board of trustees in regard to establishing fire limits and the passage of a building ordinance and it is more than probable that the suggestion will adopted within the next month or two.” (See “Fire Limits and Building Regulations for Concord,” Martinez Daily Standard, 11/13/1913, p. 1.)

Principal, F.W. Reid, Architect, San Jose, CA, 1924. Reid had an office in Room #95 of the Ryland Building in San Jose. He shared this office with the architect Walter King in 1924. (See San Jose, California, City Directory, 1924, architects business directory section, n.p.)

The 1940 US Census did not indicate employment for Reid, suggesting, perhaps, that he had retired by this point.(See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1940; Census Place: Berkeley, Alameda, California; Roll: m-t0627-00189; Page: 2B; Enumeration District: 1-125, accessed 07/29/2025.)

Teaching

Instructor in poetics, San Jose Bible College, San Jose, CA.

College

A.B., University of the Pacific, San Jose, CA, 1887.

M.A., University of the Pacific, San Jose, CA, 1890.

Bachelor of Divinity, Pacific Theological Seminary, Oakland, CA, 1898. (See Catalogue of the Pacific Theological Seminary at Oakland, Cal., 1897-1898, p. 5.)

Reid was also listed as a graduate student at the Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley in 1929-1930 and 1930-1931. (See Annual Register of Pacific School of Religion, 1929-1930, p. 13 and Annual Register of Pacific School of Religion, 1930-1931, p. 15.)

Relocation

Francis William Reid was born in Tamworth, ON, Canada. Tamworth, on the Salmon River, utilized the water's motion to turn the wheels of early grist, lumber and woolen mills that operated there in the mid-19th century. The town became a destination for many Irish immigrants to Canada during this time.

According to the 1900 US Census and other sources, Reid's family lived in ON until 1868, when it moved to San Jose, CA. As noted in the 1870 US Census, Francis's father William worked as a farm laborer in the Redwood Township of San Jose. At this time, William Reid had no real estate but owned about $375 of other assets. The household included his parents, younger sister Anna and a housekeeper, Abigail Cornwell (born c. 1819 in NJ). (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1870; Census Place: Redwood, Santa Clara, California; Roll: M593_88; Page: 125A, accessed 04/30/2025.)

By 1880, the Reids continued to reside in San Jose, CA, but at this time, it had its own farm. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1880; Census Place: San Jose, Santa Clara, California; Roll: 81; Page: 190b; Enumeration District: 262, accessed 04/30/2025.) San Jose voter records of 1884 listed Francis as a student living in San Jose's fifth ward. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation California State Library; Sacramento, California; Great Registers, 1884; Collection Number: 4-2A; CSL Roll Number: 125; FHL Roll Number: 977288, accessed 07/29/2025.)

Throughout his adult life, Reid seems to have inhabited dwellings in two cities at about the same time. This can be seen in the early 1890s, early 1900s, and 1930s. He may have split time between cities in his roles as an architect and as a clergyman.

The San Jose, California, City Directory, 1893, (p. 379.) indicated that Francis continued to live at home with his parents on the east side of Meridian Road, south of Willow Street in the Willows neighborhood of San Jose. Santa Clara County voter records of 1892 and 1894, however, documented that Francis lived on his own in Los Gatos. CA, and worked as an architect. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation California State Library; Sacramento, California; Great Registers, 1866-1898; Collection Number: 4-2A; CSL Roll Number: 125; FHL Roll Number: 977289, accessed 07/29/2025 and Ancestry.com, Source Citation California State Library; Sacramento, California; Great Registers, 1894; Collection Number: 4-2A; CSL Roll Number: 126; FHL Roll Number: 977290, accessed 07/29/2025.) His address was given in another part of the San Jose, California, City Directory, 1893, (p. 567), as being on Edelen Avenue at the corner of Miles Avenue in Los Gatos. These sources suggest that Reid had his own residence in Los Gatos, but also spent time with his parents in San Jose.

During the period 1895-1898, Reid attended the Pacific Theological Seminary in Oakland, CA. He resided in North Hall on that campus during this time span. (See Catalogue of the Pacific Theological Seminary at Oakland, Cal., 1895-1896, p. 6. and Catalogue of the Pacific Theological Seminary at Oakland, Cal., 1897-1898, p. 5.) Although living for most of the year in Berkeley, Reid continued to be registered to vote in San Jose, in 1896, however. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation California State Library; Sacramento, California; Great Registers, 1896; Collection Number: 4-2A; CSL Roll Number: 126; FHL Roll Number: 977290, accessed 07/29/2025.)

For at least part of 1900, Reid resided in Clayton, Contra Costa County, CA. He lived here when the US Census was taken on 06/06/1900. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1900; Census Place: Clayton, Contra Costa, California; Roll: 85; Page: 3; Enumeration District: 0412, accessed 07/29/2025.)

Reid also resided in Paso Robles, San Luis Obispo County, CA, in 1900. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation California State Library; Sacramento, California; Great Register of Voters, 1900, accessed 07/29/2025.) He likely lived in San Luis Obispo County through 1902 and was also known to have resided in San Miguel, CA. Motor vehicle records of 1921 indicated that Reid had registered his Ford automobile in San Luis Obispo. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation California Motor Vehicle Department; California, USA; California Automobile Registration (1921); Volume Number: 13-14, accessed 07/29/2025.)

At some point between 1900 and 1916, the Reids were registered to vote in Walnut Creek, CA. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation California State Library; Sacramento, California; Great Register of Voters, 1900-1914, accessed 07/29/2025.)

In 1908, Francis W. Reid resided at 1716 Hearst Avenue in Berkeley, CA. (See Oakland, California, City Directory, 1908, p. 1415.) He, his wife and two daughters remained at this address in 1910. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation California State Library; Sacramento, California; Great Register of Voters, 1910, accessed 07/29/2025 and Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1910; Census Place: Berkeley, Alameda, California; Roll: T624_72; Page: 6a; Enumeration District: 0051; FHL microfilm: 1374085, accessed 07/29/2025.)

Reid lived and worked in Concord, CA, in Contra Costa County, CA, by 1913. (See "Fire Limits and Building Regulations for Concord," Martinez Daily Standard, 11/13/1913, p. 1.) Reid continued to reside in Concord in 1920. The 1920 US Census located Reid, his wife, and two daughters, Alice and Edith residing on East Street in Concord. (This census misidentified Lynda as "Sarah." See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1920; Census Place: Concord, Contra Costa, California; Roll: T625_95; Page: 5B; Enumeration District: 10, accessed 07/29/2025.)

In 1924, the architect resided at 208 Meridian Road in San Jose. (See San Jose, California, City Directory, 1924, n.p.)

Reid and his wife Lynda dwelled in a house at 1630 Josephine Street in Berkeley's North Berkeley neighborhood in 1930. (See Oakland, California, City Directory, 1930, p. 1141.) The 1930 US Census indicated that the Reid's house had a value of $5500, on par with neighboring residences. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1930; Census Place: Berkeley, Alameda, California; Page: 3B; Enumeration District: 0300; FHL microfilm: 2339846, accessed 07/29/2025.) The Reids remained at the same Berkeley address in 1940, although this census indicated that William and his wife had lived in Contra Costa County in 1935. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1940; Census Place: Berkeley, Alameda, California; Roll: m-t0627-00189; Page: 2B; Enumeration District: 1-125, accessed 07/29/2025.) Voter records c. 1938, listed the address of Francis and Lynda Reid as being in Concord. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation California State Library; Sacramento, California; Great Register of Voters, 1928-1940, accessed 07/29/2025.)

Reid passed away in a nursing facility in the East Bay and was buried at the Madronia Cemetery in Saratoga, CA, alongside his wife.

Parents

His father was William Wilkinson Reid (born c. 12/1840 in Camden Township, Lennox and Addington County, ON, Canada-d. 10/24/1930 in CA) who worked as a farmer in San Jose, CA, by 1880. William's father had been born in NY, his mother in English-speaking Canada, as noted by the 1900 US Census. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1900; Census Place: San Jose, Santa Clara, California; Roll: 110; Page: 2; Enumeration District: 0061, accessed 07/29/2025.)

In 1894, Santa Clara voter records noted that William Reid resided in the Willow Glen neighborhood of San Jose and worked as an "orchardist." This document indicated that he had been naturalized a US citizen 09/02/1873 in San Jose, CA. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation California State Library; Sacramento, California; Great Registers, 1894; Collection Number: 4-2A; CSL Roll Number: 126; FHL Roll Number: 977290, accessed 07/29/2025.)

Twenty-one-year-old Eliza Jane Pake (born 1840 in Sheffield Township, Lennox and Addington, Canada-d. 05/20/1892 in CA), Francis's mother, married 22-year-old William Reid on 01/01/1862 in Lennox and Addington County, ON, Canada. When they wed, Eliza lived in Richmond Township in Lennox and Addington. (Eliza's last name was listed as "Pake" in the 1861 Canadian Census for Lennox and Addington County. [See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Library and Archives Canada; Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; Census Returns For 1861; Roll: C-1047-1048, accessed 07/29/2025.] In ON marriage registers, however, her name was listed as "Parker." [See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Archives of Ontario; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; County Marriage Registers, 1858-June 1869; Reel: 6, accessed 07/29/2025.]) Eliza died at age 51 from "surgical shock." (See Find a Grave.com, "Eliza Jane Pake Reid," accessed 07/29/2025.)

Francis had a younger sister, Anna Julia Reid Wilson (born 03/12/1866 in ON, Canada-d. 07/21/1955 in CA), who married Frederick Gilman Wilson (born 10/09/1866 in MA-d. 01/28/1951 in Alameda County, CA) on 01/08/1896 in San Jose, CA. By 1900, William, his daughter and her husband resided in the Willow Glen neighborhood of San Jose, CA. (See Source Citation California State Library; Sacramento, California; Great Register of Voters, 1900-1906, accessed 04/30/2025.)

Anna and Frederick resided in Berkeley, CA, at the time of Francis's death in 1949.

Spouse

He wed Lynda Alexander (born 12/1872 in CA) in about 1898. Both of Lynda's parents had been born in Ireland. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1900; Census Place: Clayton, Contra Costa, California; Roll: 85; Page: 3; Enumeration District: 0412, accessed 07/29/2025.)

As per the 1940 US Census, Lynda had completed the eighth grade. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1940; Census Place: Berkeley, Alameda, California; Roll: m-t0627-00189; Page: 2B; Enumeration District: 1-125, accessed 07/29/2025.)

Children

He and his wife had three children, Francis A. Reid (born 07/05/1899 in CA-d. 01/14/1904 in CA), Alice Reid Putnam (born 02/13/1902 in CA-d. 07/12/1967 in Contra Costa County, CA) and Edith R. Reid Tulin.

Biographical Notes

Santa Clara County registration records of 1894 indicated that Reid, at age 28, stood 5-feet, 10-inches tall. He was Caucasian with a “light” complexion, gray eyes and brown hair. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation California State Library; Sacramento, California; Great Registers, 1894; Collection Number: 4-2A; CSL Roll Number: 126; FHL Roll Number: 977290, accessed 07/29/2025.)

Voter records indicated that Reid was a lifelong Republican voter.

Reid wrote a book entitled Friendship Offerings, published by the author in 1941. By about 1939, Reid served as the publisher for several books, mostly concerning local poets and history, including, Fred Lewis Foster, Mission Grapes of California, Santa Clara County Vintage, (Berkeley: Francis William Reid, 04/20/1940) and Reid's own Poet Edwin Markham, (Berkeley: Francis William Reid, 1940).

SSN: 552303271.