San
Joaquin County
Biographies
RALPH P. MORRELL
Many of Stockton’s finest and most
substantial structures are the handiwork of Ralph P. Morrell, the pioneer
architect of the city, which he has seen develop from a town of 12,000
inhabitants until its population now exceeds 50,000. He is a native son of California, his birth
having occurred at San Francisco, February 5, 1867, and his parents were Oliver
L. and Margaret (Holmes) Morrell, the former a native of Vermont and the latter
of New Bedford, Massachusetts. In 1850
the father came to California via the Isthmus of Panama, locating in San
Francisco, where he built and operated the first furniture factory in the
city. He established his plant at the
corner of Fremont and Market streets and was numbered among the pioneer
businessmen and upbuilders of the city.
Mr. Morrell attended the Lincoln
grammar school at Fifth and Market streets in San Francisco, and after their
lessons for the day were ended the boys would frequently devote their energies
to digging up Indian beads and other trinkets on the present site of the San
Francisco Civic Auditorium. He also
remembers when there were plank sidewalks on Market Street and the first
railroad station was located at the intersection of that thoroughfare with
Seventh Street, his reminiscences of San Francisco’s early days being most
interesting. In 1879 he came to
Stockton, where he attended the public schools, and afterward completed an
apprenticeship in furniture designing and decorating, becoming very proficient
in that line. Later he embarked in
business on his own account, erecting a large planing mill on Lafayette Street
in March, 1890, and at the same time he began his work in architectural
drawing. The mill was afterward
destroyed by fire and Mr. Morrell has since devoted his attention to
architectural work, in which he has been very successful. The greater part of the business blocks in
Stockton were designed by him and also a large number of fine homes, for which
he has likewise selected the furnishings.
His reputation has spread beyond the boundaries of Stockton and he has
drawn the plans for public buildings and private residences in cities from
Bakersfield to the northern part of the state and he has also done
architectural work in Nevada, being widely known in this connection. In fraternal circles he is well known,
belonging to Stockton Lodge No. 218, B. P. O. E., and to Charity Lodge No. 6,
I. O. O. F. He occupies a position of
leadership in his profession and his work, which is of high character and
standard excellence, is a credit to the city and a feature in its substantial
improvement.
Transcribed by V. Gerald Iaquinta.
Source: Tinkham, George
H., History of San Joaquin County, California , Page
1443. Los Angeles, Calif.: Historic
Record Co., 1923.
© 2012 V. Gerald Iaquinta.
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