Santa
Clara County
Biographies
HIRAM
G. WYCKOFF, M.D.
H. G. WYCKOFF, M.D. Although for less than a year a resident of
Palo Alto, Cal., the experience of Dr. H. G. Wyckoff in the
professional field covers a period of thirty-six years, during which he labored
successfully in several different states.
It was in 1887 that he located in California, and the first eight years
of his residence in this state were spent by him as general practitioner of
Calistoga, in Napa county. He subsequently removed to Ukiah, for the
purpose of sending his children to high school, and for eight years he followed
his chosen calling in that city, mostly in office practice. In June, 1903, he took up his residence in
Palo Alto, where he soon won recognition as a physician of worth, and during
the short period of his residence here he has established a well paying
practice.
Born in Hennepin, Putnam county, Ill., August 28, 1839, Dr. Wyckoff is a
son of Asher and Amarilla (Reynolds) Wyckoff, the
former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Ohio. His father, reared in the Keystone state, was
a blacksmith by trade, and in early manhood went west
to Illinois, when that state was new and undeveloped. He descended from an old Holland family, who
first settled in New York. He died in
Putnam county at the early age of thirty-four
years. His wife was reared in Ohio, her
native state, and survived her husband a number of years, attaining the age of
seventy-five years.
Dr. Wyckoff was but one year old when
deprived of his father, and his boyhood days were spent at home upon the farm
up to his fourteenth year. When his
mother remarried he started out to make his own living, working during the
summers at farm work and attending school during the winters. After several years spent in this manner he
finally became a student at Wheaton College, afterward known as the
Congregational College, at Wheaton, Ill.
Here he pursued his studies and in connection read medicine for two
years, preparatory to taking up its study later. He was so engaged at the breaking out of the
Civil war, and with true patriotism, he relinquished his studies for a time and
responded to his country’s call for volunteers, enlisting as a private in
Company E, One Hundred and Twenty-fourth Illinois Regulars, infantry. After one year’s service he became second
lieutenant and was placed in charge of Company A., Third United States
Heavy Artillery, a colored regiment. Promotion again followed and he became first
lieutenant, and being detached from his company was placed on the staff of General
Stoneman as provost marshal, stationed at Fort
Pickering, Tenn. In the battle of Holly
Springs he was taken prisoner, but escaped before twenty-four hours. He had enlisted August 8, 1862, and was
honorably discharged from service in April, 1866, after the war had
closed. The only injury he sustained was
to one of his feet, caused by walking in the sand the first six months of his
service.
Returning to Illinois at the close of
the war he taught school one term, then entered Rush Medical College at Chicago,
Ill., and completed the regular physician’s course, graduating February 5,
1868, with the degree of M. D.
Immediately after receiving his diploma he entered upon the practice of
his profession at Chebanse, Iroquois county, Ill.,
and during ten years as general practitioner of that section he established a
reputation as a skillful physician.
Seeking a broader field of labor at Sioux City, Iowa, he was equally
successful at that place, where he remained until 1887. During this time he took a post-graduate
course at Bellevue College and the Polyclinic College in New York City. The last year of his residence in Sioux City
he was president of the County Medical Society, and upon leaving there he
located in California.
The home ties of Dr. Wyckoff date
back to October 3, 1869, the date of his marriage with
Miss Laura A. Young, born in Boston, Mass. Three children were born to them: Rilla May, John
Wesley and Harry A. The latter is
attending the medical department of the Stanford University and the elder son
is in the employ of Ames & Harris, of San Francisco. Politically, Dr. Wyckoff is a stanch[sic]
Republican and his first vote was cast for Abraham Lincoln. Fraternally he has been a member of the
Independent Order of Odd Fellows, for the past sixteen years. He is also a member of the State Medical
Society, and since coming to Palo Alto he has been a member of the Board of
Trade. Being not only a skilled
physician but a public-spirited citizen, he is a welcome addition to Palo Alto.
[Inserted by D.
Toole.]
Wyckoff Articles
1905
Nov 2, The San Francisco Call, P6, San Francisco,
California
Open
Art Loan Exhibit
Palo
Alto, Nov. 1 – The art loan exhibit, given by the Women’s Association of the
Congregational church, opened yesterday evening with an address on “California Art”
by Charles A. Keeler of Berkeley. The
following committee has charge of the affair:
President Mrs. F. A. Stuart, Mrs. E. W. Wainick, Miss Ellen Coddington,
Mrs. C. C. Baldwin; H. G. Wyckoff, F. L. Crandall, D. A. Curry,
M. I. Dayon, H. L. Brown,
M. G. Kimura, F. E. Perham and R. S. Murray.
1908
Nov 28, San Jose Mercury News, San Jose, California
Mrs.
L. M. Wyckoff has gone to Los Angeles to spend the winter with her son, Harry
Wyckoff.
1909
Feb 14, San Jose Mercury News, P14, San Jose, California
Mrs.
H. G. Wyckoff is spending several weeks in Oakland with her daughter, Miss May
Wyckoff.
1908
Dec 21, The Los Angeles Times, P16, Los Angeles,
California
Miss
Sasa[sic] Paine of Oakland and Harry A. Wyckoff,
manager of athletics at Polytechnic High School, Los Angeles, were married here
yesterday afternoon at the new home of Mrs. Grace V. King on East Pasadena
street, Rev. Heber Rice of the First Unitarian Church officiating. Mr. and Mrs. Wyckoff will make their
home in Los Angeles.
1911
Dec 17, San Jose Mercury News, P34, San Jose, California
Raymond
Preble of Oakland spent the first of the week at the home of Mrs. Laura M.
Wyckoff.
1919
Mar 21, Ukiah Dispatch, P8, Ukiah, California
News
of Former Residents
A
bit of news from Santa Rosa this week conveys tiding of former well known
resident. It is to the effect that Mrs.
Glenn Murdock of that city has been entertaining as a house guest Mrs. H. A.
Wyckoff (nee Safa Payne). Mrs. Murdock is pleasantly remembered as Miss
Abbie Elliot, a valued member of the faculty of the local high school for
several years. Mrs. Wyckoff is the niece
of J. H. and the late T. L. Carothers of this city and was a popular member of
the younger set during her residence here.
Dr. Wyckoff is also a former resident and his union with Safa Payne a number of years ago was a pleasant surprise to
their many friends here. He has gained
considerable honor as a biologist and was for a time connected with the Napa
State Hospital.
1933
Jan 16, San Francisco Chronicle, P7, San Francisco, California
Shipman
– In Palo Alto, January 15, 1933, Mary F. Shipman, mother of Mrs. Laura M.
Wyckoff, of Palo Alto, aunt of Miss Rilla M. Wyckoff
of Palo Alto, John W. of San Francisco and Dr. Harry A. Wyckoff of Oakland, a
native of Boston. Private funeral
services Tuesday at 2 p.m. at the chapel of Roller & Hapgood. Interment Alta Messa[sic, Mesa] cemetery.
1939
May 2, Santa Cruz Sentinel, P2, Santa Cruz, California
Mrs.
Laura Wyckoff Dies in Palo Alto
Mrs.
Laura M. Wyckoff, mother of John W. Wyckoff of Ben Lomond, succumbed yesterday
at her home at Palo Alto, to a long illness.
Funeral plans have not yet been made.
Mrs. Wyckoff was born in Boston, Mass.
In 1888 she came to California for her health, settling in Calistoga.
1939
May 7, Santa Cruz Sentinel, P2, Santa Cruz, California
Ben
Lomond Resident Attends Mother’s Funeral
John
W. Wyckoff has been at Palo Alto where he attended the funeral of his mother on
Thursday. She moved to California in
1888 for her health, settling here in 1904 with her late husband, Dr. H. G.
Wyckoff, a Civil War veteran. The
deceased is survived by her daughter, Miss Rilla M.
Wyckoff, and two sons, Dr. Harry A. Wyckoff, associate professor of medicine at
Stanford, and John W. Wyckoff of Ben Lomond.
1943
Oct 7, Oakland Tribune, P31, Oakland, California
Oakland
Doctor Injured by Bus
Dr.
Harry A. Wyckoff, 62, of 417 Oakland Avenue, a staff physician at Stanford
University Hospital, was struck by a Market Street bus in San Francisco last
night and suffered head, leg and back injuries.
He was taken to Harbor Emergency Hospital in extreme shock and then was
removed to Stanford Hospital. The driver
of the bus was identified as George G. See, of 1747 McAllister Street, San
Francisco. The accident happened at First
and mission Streets, police said, when Dr. Wyckoff started across the street to
the Key System Terminal.
1947 Jan 26, Oakland Tribune, P30,
Oakland, California
Wyckoff – In San Francisco, January 24,
1947, Rilla May, sister of John W. Wyckoff of Santa
Cruz, Doctor Harry A. Wyckoff of Oakland; niece is Mrs. Dressel
Martin of Palo Alto; nephew is Harry W. Wyckoff of Los Angeles; great niece is Felise Wyckoff of Berkeley.
Services at Palo Alto Monday, January 27.
Transcribed by Donna Toole.
Source: History
of the State of California & Biographical Record of Coast Counties,
California by Prof. J. M. Guinn, A. M., Pages 1347-1348. The Chapman
Publishing Co., Chicago, 1904.
© 2016 Donna Toole.