Résumé

Draftsman, William H. Weeks, Architect, Watsonville, CA, -1906.

Draftsman, William H. Weeks, Architect, San Francisco, CA, 1906- .

Principal, Ralph Wyckoff, Architect, Berkeley, CA, c. 1914-1915.

Principal, Ralph Wyckoff, Architect, Watsonville, CA, c. 1916-1919, He had his office in Room #4 of the Pajaro Valley National Bank Builidng in Watsonville on 09/12/1918. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Registration State: California; Registration County: Santa Cruz County Source Information Ancestry.com. U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005. Original data: United States, Selective Service System. World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration. M1509, 4,582 rolls. Imaged from Family History Library microfilm, accessed 12/14/2023.)

Partner, Wyckoff and [Hugh] White, Architects, Salinas, CA, c. 1919-1921.

Principal, Ralph Wyckoff, Architect, San Jose, CA. Between 1928 and 1955, at least, Wyckoff kept an office in the Anglo Bank Building in San Jose. In 1928, Wyckoff had an office in Room #511 in the Growers Building in San Jose, CA. (See Polk's Directory of San Jose City and Santa Clara County, 1928, p. 471) By 1942, he had an office in Room #207 of the Spring Building in San Jose. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation The National Archives At St. Louis; St. Louis, Missouri; World War Ii Draft Cards (4th Registration) For the State of California; Record Group Title: Records of the Selective Service System; Record Group Number: 147, accessed 12/14/2023.)

Professional Activities

Registered Architect in the State of CA, 1914.

College

Wyckoff completed high school, but did not attend an American college or university.

Coursework, École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts, Paris, France.

Relocation

Ralph Maxwell Wyckoff was born in Watsonville, Santa Cruz County, CA, on 06/06/1883.

In 1900, the US Census found Ralph Wyckoff living with his six of his family members on in a residence on Sudden Street in Watsonville. Others living in the household included his parents, brothers Byron Wyckoff and Frank Wyckoff, and his maternal grandmother Cecelia Maxwell and his maternal uncle James S. Maxwell (born c. 06/1860 in CA). (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1900; Census Place: Watsonville, Santa Cruz, California; Roll: 112; Page: 32; Enumeration District: 0085, accessed 12/14/2023.)

After the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake, his boss, architect William H, Weeks, transferred Wyckoff to work in his San Francisco office to assist with rebuilding. Wyckoff likely lived in Berkeley for about nine years, from c. 1906-1915. He and his wife Myrtle resided at 2133 Essex Street in Berkeley, CA, in 1910. As per the US Census, he continued to work as a draftsman at that time (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1910; Census Place: Berkeley, Alameda, California; Roll: T624_72; Page: 11b; Enumeration District: 0059; FHL microfilm: 1374085, accessed 12/14/2023.)

Wyckoff and his wife returned to his hometown of Watsonville by about 1916 to take over the practice of the architect H.B. Douglas which he maintained for about three years. On 09/12/1918, the Wyckoffs resided at 205 East Lake Avenue in that city. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Registration State: California; Registration County: Santa Cruz County Source Information Ancestry.com. U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005. Original data: United States, Selective Service System. World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration. M1509, 4,582 rolls. Imaged from Family History Library microfilm, accessed 12/14/2023.)

By 1919, he had had his one only child, a daughter Frances, and shifted his practice to nearby Salinas, CA, partnering with the architect, Hugh White. The 1920 US Census listed Ralph and Myrtle Wyckoff as living in a rented house in Salinas, CA, at 3286 Main Street. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1920; Census Place: Salinas, Monterey, California; Roll: T625_122; Page: 11B; Enumeration District: 5, accessed 12/14/2023.) The house had a substantial estimated value of $15,000, in line with some others in the neighborhood, but substantially more than most. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1930; Census Place: San Jose, Santa Clara, California; Page: 1B; Enumeration District: 0076; FHL microfilm: 2339954, accessed 12/14/2023.)

In 1928, he and Myrtle resided at 256 Sequoia Avenue in San Jose. (See Polk's Directory of San Jose City and Santa Clara County, 1928, p. 471) By 1930, they had moved to another residence close-by at 310 Sequoia Avenue and continued at this address in 1940 and 1950. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1940; Census Place: San Jose, Santa Clara, California; Roll: m-t0627-00337; Page: 8B; Enumeration District: 43-64, accessed 12/14/2023 and Ancestry.com, Source Citation National Archives at Washington, DC; Washington, D.C.; Seventeenth Census of the United States, 1950; Year: 1950; Census Place: San Jose, Santa Clara, California; Roll: 3063; Page: 73; Enumeration District: 73-21, accessed 12/14/2023.)

The architect was buried in the Oak Hill Memorial Park in San Jose. CA.

Parents

His mother was Minerva Isabel Maxwell, (born 12/23/1854 in MO-d. 05/13/1926 in Oakland, CA), his father, Cyrus Newton Wyckoff (born 06/04/1854 in Oquawka, IL-d. 01/22/1900 in Salinas, CA). Minerva administered the household, while Cyrus worked as both a farmer (early in life), and, later, as an engineer.

Minerva's parents were John Lowry Maxwell (born 1821 in KY-d. 06/23/1895 in Santa Cruz County, CA) and Cecelia Beverly Tate (born 06/18/1828 in Pulaski County, KY-d. 09/22/1906 in Santa Cruz County, CA). Her parents farmed in the Watsonville, CA, area in 1880. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1880; Census Place: Watsonville, Santa Cruz, California; Roll: 82; Page: 520A; Enumeration District: 091, accessed 12/14/2023.)

In both the 1870 and 1880 US Censuses, "Newt" Wyckoff lived with his parents--Jesse T. Wyckoff (born 1821 in OH-d. 05/30/1882 in Watsonville, CA) and Elizabeth Ann Short (born 12/14/1829 in IL-d. 10/29/1921 in Napa County, CA)--and seven other family members on a farm in Watsonville. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1870; Census Place: Watsonville, Santa Cruz, California; Roll: M593_89; Page: 377A, accessed 01/10/2024 and Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1880; Census Place: Watsonville, Santa Cruz, California; Roll: 82; Page: 519C; Enumeration District: 091, accessed 12/14/2023.) Santa Cruz County voter records of 1880 also indicated that Newt worked as a farmer. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation California State Library; Sacramento, California; Great Registers, 1880; Collection Number: 4-2A; CSL Roll Number: 127; FHL Roll Number: 978581, accessed 01/10/2024.)

The 1900 US Census, however, indicated that Newt made a living as an engineer in Watsonville. Unfortunately for this family, he would pass away in that year at age 45. (See and Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1900; Census Place: Watsonville, Santa Cruz, California; Roll: 112; Page: 32; Enumeration District: 0085, accessed 01/10/2024.)

Ralph had two brothers and a sister: Byron Raymond Wyckoff (born 04/04/1880 in Watsonville, CA-d. 01/03/1957 in Alameda County, CA), Frank Robert Wyckoff (born 04/15/1885 in Oakland, CA-d. 02/10/1963 in San Diego County, CA) and Evelyn Wyckoff Mitchell.

Byron became an osteopathic physician after graduating from the American School of Osteopathy, Kirksville, MO, in 1918. He met his wife, Anna, there and practiced for 30 years in Oakland, CA.

Frank Wyckoff also became an architect, working in both Salinas, CA, and Glendale, CA. Frank worked for a variety of employers, sometimes as a draftsman.

Spouse

He married Nellie Myrtle Cornell on 08/20/1905 in Watsonville, CA.

Children

Myrtle and Ralph had a daughter Frances Wyckoff

Biographical Notes

His World War I draft registration card listed Wyckoff as Caucasian with blue eyes and brown hair. He was of medium height and build. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Registration State: California; Registration County: Santa Cruz County Source Information Ancestry.com. U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005. Original data: United States, Selective Service System. World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration. M1509, 4,582 rolls. Imaged from Family History Library microfilm, accessed 12/14/2023.) His World War II draft card of 04/25/1942 listed his height at 5-feet, 10-inches tall, and weight of 180 pounds. His complexion was described as "light." (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation The National Archives At St. Louis; St. Louis, Missouri; World War Ii Draft Cards (4th Registration) For the State of California; Record Group Title: Records of the Selective Service System; Record Group Number: 147, accessed 12/14/2023.)

SSN: 562300421.