Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Sykes, John "Jack" 1933
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/mi/mifiles.htm
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Sandy Heintzelman sheintz@iserv.net December 11, 2009, 1:55 pm

Ionia Daily Standard, October 1933

Fall From Couch Causes Death of Aged Portlandite - Jack Sykes, 83, Was 
Prominent In Affairs of Ionia County

Jack Sykes, former resident of Lyons township, died quite suddenly at his farm 
home north of Portland one day last week.  Immediate cause of death was from a 
shock sustained when he attempted to arise from a couch a few days previous.  
The deceased was born in Lincolnshire, England, 83 years ago and came to 
Michigan with his parents while but a year and a half old.  The family settled 
in North Plains township.  When Mr. Sykes quit the farm following the death of 
his parents he went to Muir and built a hotel and business block which he 
operated for several years, going from that village to Portland.  He was a 
stone mason and contractor by trade and during his first few years in Portland 
built a number of business structures.  During oil boom days in Texas he went 
to that part of the country, where it is said he amassed a considerable 
fortune.  Nearly 25 years ago he became involved in a celebrated Ionia county 
suit when his son, John, on his way home from school, saw a wire dangling over 
the path.  Boy fashion he grabbed it and was instantly electrocuted.  The 
parents began suit jointly against the Citizens Telephone company and the 
village of Portland, the case dragging over many months but finally resulting 
in a verdict for the plaintiffs.  “Jack” Sykes was a good citizen.  He was a 
community builder, was loyal to his friends, and never missed an opportunity to 
do a good deed for somebody else.

---

Ionia Daily Standard, October 18, 1933

John (Jack) Sykes, 83, of Portland, died at his home, the old Benjamin Smith 
place, across from the Portland Country club Tuesday afternoon from shock 
suffered as the result of slipping in the home while trying to get up from the 
couch with his crutches.  Funeral services will be conducted at the home 
Thursday afternoon at 2:30, and burial will be in Portland cemetery.

Jack was a native of England, but ranked among the pioneers of Ionia county.  
His parents, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Sykes, came from the old country while their 
son was a small child.  They located in North Plains township on the line 
separating it from Lyons township and on the place which now belongs to Chester 
Ostrander.  He grew up in this locality and learned the stone mason trade and 
many old buildings, their masonry still well preserved still stand as a 
monument to his workmanship.  Among the buildings he erected is the Sykes 
building in Portland.  For a time he owned the Muir The Sykes hotel.


File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mi/ionia/obits/s/sykes1684nob.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/mifiles/

File size: 3.1 Kb