James Sykes, Beverly Township

James Sykes, Beverly Township

SYKES, James,

Physician; P.O. Beverly; was born in Adams county, Ill., May 22, 1844.  After four years’ study of medicine, the last year being employed as dresser in a military hospital, he graduated at the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Keokuk, Iowa, May 21, 1864, being then but twenty years of age; was immediately commissioned Surgeon in the army of the Cumberland.  After serving two years in the south, was transferred to Custer’s Cavalry, and served one year in the campaign against the Indians on the plains, and was finally mustered out at Fort Dodge, on the Arkansas river, March 1, 1868.  Returning to Beverly, he located there, and has attained a large and lucrative practice; was married to Miss Helen H. Godfrey in 1872.  They have four children: Mary F., Eliza, Howard J., and Helen.

SYKES, James,

farmer and stock raiser; Sec. 22; P.O. Beverly; was born in Hudsfield, England, in March 1819; came to New York when two years of age, and to Beverly township in 1834, being at that time about fourteen years of age.  His father built the second house ever erected in the township, in the fall of 1834, on Sec. 21; mother died in 1860, and father in 1861; was married to Miss Mary Ayers in 1849.  She was born, in 1830, in New Jersey, and died April 1, 1873; was remarried to Martha Cunningham, in 1875.  She was born in 1832.  Had, by first marriage, six children: Hannah (now Mrs. Cunningham); Elizabeth (now Mrs. McClain); Joseph, Emma, Frank and Hattie.  He owns 807 acres of land in Beverly township, 240 acres in Nebraska, and 320 acres in Minnesota;  probable value of all, $30,000.  Being one of the early settlers, by his energy and attention to business, he has accumulated a large amount of wealth.  Politically, he is a Republican.  (See a Family Group Sheet for James Sykes parents.)

SYKES, John,

farmer ; Sec. 21; P.O. Beverly; was born in New York, in 1824; came to Adams county in 1834, at a time when Beverly township was a vast wilderness, his father being among the first settlers who came into the township; was married to Miss Ellen Holt in 1856.  She was born in 1830.  They have one child, Richard H., born in 1862.  He owns 287½ acres of land worth $10,000; also has 470 acres in Minnesota, worth $2000.  Mr. S., has, by his energy and industry accumulated a valuable property.  Politically, he is a Republican.
SYKES, Joseph, farmer; Sec. 21; P.O. Beverly; was born in Adams county, Ill., in 1854; married to Martha Holt in 1875.  She was born in 1855, in Adams county.  Have one child, George, born Sept. 13, 1876.  Owns 100 acres of land under a good state of cultivation, worth $4000.  Is a Republican.

SYKES, William,

farmer; Sec. 28; P.O. Beverly; was born in England, in 1817; came to Adams county, Ill., from New York with his parents in 1834.  Married Eliza G. Raymond, in 1840; have three children, William R., James and John G.  Has served as Justice of the Peace for twenty-three years, and been Township Treasurer for nearly thirty years.

Source: The history of Adams County, Illinois, p. 820; by Murray, Williamson & Phelps, Chicago, pub., 1879.