Whiteside County IL Archives Biographies.....Sykes, John 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Deb Haines http://www.rootsweb.com/~archreg/vols/00003.html#0000719 January 31, 2008, 2:59 am

Author: Portrait/Bio Album, Whiteside County IL 1885

John Sykes, retired farmer, resident on section 18, Clyde Township, is a 
citizen of the United States by adoption, having been born Nov. 14, 1818, in 
Huddersfield, Yorkshire, England. Charles Sykes, his father, was a craftsman, 
and worked in the woolen mills of Yorkshire. Sarah (Croft) Sykes, his mother, 
was born in England and was reared by her uncle, her parents having died when 
she was an infant. She lived all her life in her native country and died 
there. After her demise the father emigrated to the United States and located 
in Scott Co., Iowa, where he died, in Letare Township, about 1862, aged 73 
years. They had seven children. Four are still living, of whom Mr. Sykes is 
the oldest. He was reared and educated in his native country, and at the age 
of 16 years he was apprenticed to learn the trade of a weaver, in which he was 
occupied until 1841, when he came to America and located in the State of New 
York. He operated as a journeyman weaver for some years in various parts of 
the State, and held the position of foreman in several factories. He managed 
the carpet factory of Higgins, in the city of New York, seven years, and 
operated also at Poughkeepsie and at Haverstraw. He next engaged in the 
management of a carding-machine for Alexander Smith at another place in the 
State of New York, where he was employed one year. At the end of that time he 
came West to establish a permanent home, and located on 400 acres of land in 
Clyde Township, which he had purchased a year previous to his removal hither. 
He was among the earliest of the pioneer settlers of the township, and at the 
date of his taking possession of his farm neighbors were few and widely 
scattered. Morrison was not in existence, even in the sanguine imagination of 
speculation. Sterling was in its swaddling clothes. Some months after becoming 
a resident of the township, in company with a brother, he made a trip with ox 
teams to Chicago. He had shipped a considerable amount of personal property 
from the East, which was detained for want of transportation facilities. The 
time was early September, and the heat was so excessive as to necessitate 
night travel. On one of the nights just preceding their arrival in the city, 
an Irishman proposed to purchase one of the teams. Mr. Sykes mentioned his 
price and the Irishman accepted the terms, as teams were scarce and the 
opportunity to purchase a good team, even at extravagant rates, could not be 
allowed to pass. Mr. Sykes cultivated an ambition to convert his farm into one 
of the best in the county. He is now the owner of 380 acres, which includes 
his first purchase of 160 acres. The entire acreage is improved and supplied 
with a class of buildings which are in fair rank with the best in the county. 
He also owns 200 acres in Iowa, which is under good improvements with 
excellent buildings. He is also engaged in traffic in graded cattle and other 
classes of stock, and is dealing in them to considerable extent. Mr. Sykes was 
married Nov. 29, 1843, at Brooklyn, N. Y., to Susannah, daughter of Richard 
and Elizabeth (Peterson) Owens, the former a descendant of Welsh parents, the 
latter of German ancestry, and both were born in the city of New York. On the 
mother's side Mrs. Sykes is a descendant of John Paulding, one of the captors 
of Major Andre. Richard Owens was a skillful painter, and himself and wife 
passed their whole lives in the place where they were born. The death of the 
former took place in 1822; that of the latter in 1840. Mrs. Sykes was born 
Jan. 5, 1815, in the city of New York. Her father died when she was seven 
years of age, and she was reared by her mother. To Mr. and Mrs. Sykes seven 
sons and daughters were born, and two have died. The record is: Richard 
married Harriet Ridmon and they reside in Iowa; John E. is the second in order 
of birth; Susannah is the wife of William Smith, and they are farmers in 
Ustick Township; Helen is an accomplished musician; William H. C. is 
conducting the agricultural affairs of the homestead; Sarah A. and Mary E. are 
deceased. Mr. Sykes is a decided Republican. His wife belongs to the Methodist 
Episcopal Church.

Additional Comments:
Portrait and Biographical Album of Whiteside County, Illinois, Containing Full-
page Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative 
Citizens of the County. Chicago: Chapman Brothers, 1885.

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