Charles Bertram Sykes (1872-1931)

SYKES, MCGOVERN, ROBERTS, PARDEE, JENKINS, MACK

Posted By: Ken Akers (email)
Date: 9/19/2010 at 21:51:01

Audubon County Journal (IA)
Mar. 5, 1931, pg. 1
BRAYTON MAN
FATALLY HURT
ON HIGHWAY

---------
Chas. B. Sykes Found Dying
Along Roadway Near
Oakfield Friday

---------

Mystery surrounds the death of
Charles B. Sykes of Oakfield, who
was found Friday evening lying in
the roadway about a half mile east
of Oakfield. Sykes was alive when
found by Tom McGovern, Jr., near
the Jeff Roberts home and a phy-
sician was called but he failed to
to regain consciousness and no de-
tails of the accident were learned.

Sykes had been at the William
Pardee farm doing some painting
and had started for his home walk-
ing along the highway about 3:45.
It was about 4:30 when he was
found. There was a bruise on the
back of his head and one on his el-
bow and tracks in the roadway
showed that he had crawled or been
dragged about 30 feet. Near where
he was lying were his hat, a knife
and pipe.

A coroner's jury returned a ver-
dict of "death by being struck by
a vehicle driven by some unknown
person." Later it has been reported
that he may have been riding on
the back of a truck and when the
truck hit a bridge near where he
was found had bounced off, falling
on his head.

Native of England

Charles Bertram Sykes was born
in London, England, on October 23,
1872. He was the son of Francis
and Elizabeth Sykes. His early
days were passed in a private
school, after which he attended
Christ hospital, the students of
which are known as "The Blue
Coat Boys," and of which his fath-
er was a member of the faculty.
He later attended a private school
conducted by his Godfather.

In 1889 he came to America land-
ing at Toronto, Canada, where he
stayed but a short time before go-
ing to Chicago. After a few months
in Chicago he went to Cairo, Illi-
nois, and from there came to Oak-
field where he resided until his
death.

He was united in marriage to
Margaret Jenkins on October 23,
1895. To this union four children
were born, Ben who lives in Wash-
ington, Reginald and Errol at home
and a daughter who died in infancy.
He is also survived by his widow
and two sisters. The sisters, Edith
and Mabel Sykes, live in London,
England.

Funeral Held Monday

Funeral services were held Mon-
day afternoon from the Brayton
church with the Rev. William Mack
of Atlantic in charge, assisted at
the cemetery by the Modern Wood-
men, of which organization he was
a member. Burial was in the Oak-
field cemetery.