Martin Sykes

SYKES, LYONS, BRADY, TEELING, HEALEY, HAAS, SHORT, DEVINY, WHALEN, WELCH

Posted By: Patricia Bollozos (email)
Date: 7/6/2020 at 12:53:08

Martin Sykes (1827-1896) married Mary Lyons (1831-1902) in County Kildare, Ireland on January 29, 1851. They sailed to America in April 1851, on the ship The Hemisphere. Martin and Mary lived a short time in Bridgeport, Connecticut, withMartin’s brother James, before settling in Allamakee County, Iowa. By 1856, they had purchased a one hundred-sixty acre farm located in Section: 22 of French Creek.

The couple never had children of their own. However, through their love and kindness they raised three children as their own. The Sykes raised Mary Ann Brady (1852-1954) and James Patrick, Jr. (1853-1915), the children of Mary’s sisterPenelope Lyons-Brady (1827-1907) wife of James Brady. Martin was a close and personal friend of Edward James Teeling (1822-1876) and his wife Ann Martin-Teeling (1835-1876). When the Teelings died within months of each other, the Sykes took in Edward MartinTeeling (1866-1944) and raised him as their son.

James Patrick Brady, Jr. never married. Mary Ann Brady married Patrick Healey (1841-1919). Edward Martin Teeling married Christina Haas (1871-1952).

Mary Sykes lived with her nephew John Short, on his farm in French Creek after Martin’s death. John Short was the son of Patrick Short and Bridget Elizabeth Lyons-Short. Mary appointed John Short executor of her will. She provided $500.00to her brother William in Ireland. For her nieces and nephews: Mary Ann Healey, $500.00. Rosanna Deviny, $200. Elizabeth Whalen, $200.00. Thomas and James Welch, $150.00 each. Martin was buried at Lycurgus Cemetery, no record of Mary Sykes burial.

Compiled by the submitter from the following references: Allamakee Co. IAGenWeb, U.S. Federal Census, Find A Grave, Ancestry. com