05/31/2026
Good afternoon Fellow Lea Countians far and near. Today we will remember a Tatum old-timer from not that long ago. Frank Wyckoff was a well-known figure in Tatum and northern Lea County for many years. He was born in Llano County, Texas, October 3, 1873. He and his wife Eddie and their son came to Hope, NM where he ranched and then Roswell. Frank had a lot of heartache in his early years.
In February of 1902 Frank and Eddie’s 5-year-old son, Rollie G. died at Roswell. Then just 7 years later on June 11, 1909, one day after giving birth to a son, Henry L., Eddie Wyckoff died at Hope, she was only 32 years old.
Then, sadly, on June 29, 1909, Henry also dies at Hope, Frank has lost his family. A little over a year later, Frank found love again and marries a lady named Lena (Jahn) Rabbe at Carlsbad on November 15, 1910, it is her second marriage. Lena died at Hope on January 16th, 1914, she was only 38 years old.
Frank decides to relocate and settled in about 20 miles Northeast of Roswell in the Acme area working as a cowman. On August 15, 1923, Frank Wycoff takes a bride at Lovington, Nancy “Nannie” Price of Odessa, Texas. The ceremony was performed by Justice of the Peace P.S. Eaves. In December of 1928 Frank gets a patent on his homestead that was 2 – 3 miles North, Northeast of Ranger Lake. The homestead took up parts of sections 22 and 27 of Township 10 south and Range 36 east. But shortly, Frank, Nannie and the kids are living in Tatum.
At about this time, Frank is employed by Our Lea County as a deputy sheriff under Sheriff Sam Cain and in 1933 becomes Justice of The Peace and has that position up at least into the 1950s.
In 1940 Frank Wyckoff became one of the Charter Members of the Open Range Cowboys Association at Lovington, rubbing shoulders with notables such as Bob Beverly, Charlie Cochran, Dow Wood and Henry Record.
On October 27, 1958, Frank lost Nannie; she passed away at home at 208 S. Ave. C in Tatum. Frank followed February 18, 1974, passing away at Brady Texas where he had moved to be near his son Otis, a tough old pioneer, he was 100 years old! Happy Trails!
