Genealogy -- Wykoff    

Although the Wykoff chain name in genealogy files may say something else, the following explanation by Frank C. Wykoff was made to me, his daughter-in-law, Terri Wykoff in June, 1979 -- six months before he passed away

With a twinkle in his eye, Frank described the beginning of a romantic love for adventure of his 8th Great grandfather and his strength of determination to make his dream a reality;
and proceeded to describe the roots of our family name Wykoff -- this way ...

 ... "In 1540 there was born to a Danish family a boy. The proud parents named him 'Peter' -- who was the son of 'Erick' as in those days people had no last names except they were the son of so and so (Peter, son of Erick = Peter Erickson). Peter was very adventuresome, in fact he could be the Huckleberry Finn of his day; and decided to go to this new land of American that Columbus had only discovered 45 years ago . So, at the age of fourteen, (1554) he stowed away on a ship. He did get caught and had to be a ward of the ship owner while he lived in (what today is known as the state of) New York area until he could pay off his debt. He married and had sixteen children, one of which was Clairs Cornelius from from which Frank's root chain continued. CLAIRS had many children of which one was Peter Claesen. Peter had many children of which one was Cornelius Pieterse who married Grietze VanNess. At this time in New York, it became a law that everyone must have a first as well as last name as things were getting confusing even in those days -- so, since (Peter Claesen) was a judge, he used the Danish word for judge = WYKOFF, and the rest is history." __Frank C. Wykoff (June, 1979)

Frank Wykoff described both his mother and father ...

CLIFFORD WYKOFF -- father of Frank C. Wykoff:
"Clifford Wykoff was born on June 13, 1876 in Calhoun, Missouri. Clifford was a plumber and married Nellie Bagg. He belonged to the Masonic Lodge as a 3rd degree Mason. He died of a heart attack at the age of 85 in March of 1961. Clifford was one of 13 children. four of whom were Arthur Wykoff, who married Alice and had two children, Johnny & Alice -- Bill Wykoff, Frank Wykoff, and Harry Wykoff."

NELLIE BAGG WYKOFF -- mother of Frank C. Wykoff:
Nellie, according to Frank, was a very good mother and a crafty person who devoted many hours to crocheting tablecloths and doing fine needlepoint. Nellie did needy work in church circles for the underprivileged in the community. She created quilts and hooked rugs. Frank was very fond of his mother. Nellie died at the age of 79 of old age. She died in August, 1954 -- she was born in Iowa, in 1874.

Nellie was one of six children. She had two sisters and three brothers were were: Hattie Bagg, who never married and died in 1927; Sarah Bagg, who married Harry Ryan. Sarah and Ryan had three children; Ramona Ryan (Weaver)/ Dick Ryan, and Ruth Ryan (Minter).

FRANK CLIFFORD WYKOFF (1909 - 1980)
Frank C. Wykoff was born October 29, 1909 in Des Moines, Iowa. Frank had an older sister, Mabel, who died of pneumonia at the age of 13. Following the death of his sister in 1919, he and his family moved to Glendale, California where he attended elementary and high school. After graduating high school, Frank attended Glendale Jr. College for one year -- after which he enrolled at the University of Southern California in 1929 and graduated with a B. S. Degree in Education in 1933.

(See Also Frank Wykoff's ATHLETIC achievements - three time Olympic Gold Medal Winner.)

After graduating college in 1933, Frank Wykoff married Ethel Mae Richardson; and moved to Atascadero, California where he taught track & field for one year at Moran School for boys.

In 1934, Frank & Ethel Mae moved to Carpinteria, California where Frank was offered a teaching position at Carpinteria Union Elementary School.

Three years later (1936), Frank received a Master of Science degree in Education from the University of Southern California at Los Angeles. Also, in a glorious comeback to track & field, Frank anchored the 1936 USA Olympic 400 Meter Relay Team to victory at Berlin. Upon retiring his "Lucky Track Shoes", he became the youngest District Superintendent of Schools in the State of California; and on October 24, 1936 Frank & Ethel Mae became the proud parents of their first born whom they named, Marjorie Louise.  Two years later (1938) -- their son, Frank David, was born

In 1942, the California State Board of Education presented Frank with a "Life Diploma" for his service as a teacher in elementary schools; and in 1943, he received another "Life Diploma" as administrator in elementary or secondary schools.

Frank and his family moved to Alhambra, California in 1950 where he accepted a position as Director of Special Schools (schools at Juvenile Halls and Juvenile facilities) of Los Angeles County.

Frank was a devoted to his family, and very involved in many organizations including US Olympic fund raising events. After his retirement from Los Angeles County Special Schools in 1972, he and his wife traveled the world. Both enjoyed entertaining and playing Bridge with friends. He was handy around the house, and loved escaping into his private world aka the tool shed to tinker with electronics. His hobbies included, golfing, fishing, attending USC track meets, and watching college football games on the television.

While at LaVina Hospital in Arcadia, Frank quietly passed away on New Years Day (January 1, 1980) hours after watching his Alma Mater, USC (17) conquer Ohio State (16) at the Rose Bowl Game. One month later -- on February 2, 1980 his wife, Ethel Mae, also passed away of both illness and a broken heart.
 

MARJORIE LOUISE WYKOFF DeYoung (born 1936 -- California)
Marj attended Carpinteria Elementary School, and graduated from Alhambra High School. She also graduated from a Nurse academy, and just like her dad - she devoted most of her life managing various branches of the State of California County services departments. Now that she is retired, she has become very involved with her four children and her many grandchildren. Marj loves to quilt just like her Grandma Nellie.

Marj had three children with her first husband -- Cindy, Tina, and Mark Champion. In 1975 Marjorie married Mel DeYoung and they have one daughter, Mindy who married recently and announced she is expecting her first baby which will add yet another joy to Marj's busy life. As of this writing, 11-29-04 -- Marj and Mel live in Los Osos, California.

On December 3, 2004 - Marj wrote:
"I worked in LA County originally. I worked for a couple of weeks in the summer for Dad when Mom had a Hysterectomy. I worked in El Monte Medical Center after Nurses training until Cindy was born. I worked in Ventura County after Mindy was born, until we moved up here to San Luis Obispo County where I worked for Social Services Welfare Department.

"I have 14 grandchildren and one great grandchild, Nathan 4 yrs old. Tina, Richard, Paul, and Randy are Cindy's kids, Jessica, and Eddie are Tina's kids, Mark and Katherine are Mark's kids and Mindy is expecting her first child in June.

"My main hobby now days is the quilting. I make small quilts for the quilting guild that are given to children at the county Health Department and also quilts for terminally ill children also. I make about 12 - 15 of those. I also have made quilts for all of the grand kids and am almost done doing the last one for Tina."

FRANK DAVID WYKOFF (born 1938 -- California)

Dave attended Carpinteria Elementary School, and graduated from Alhambra High School. In 1960 he graduated from the University of Southern California with a bachelor of Science degree, and later he achieved a masters degree in Business Administration. In 1964 Dave married Theresa (Terri) D. Mruz from Niagara Falls, New York. Dave & Terri have two children -- Rebecca June born on September 20, 1964; and Robert David made his début to this earth -- December 23, 1967. As of this writing, 11-29-04 -- Dave and Terri live in Downey, California. As of January 2006, Terri & Dave live in Reno, NV.

Photo Gallery - Early Life of Frank Wykoff

Short Biography Early Life of Frank Wykoff