SYKES, H. R.

SYKES, BULLENE, WHEELER, LEE, RICH

Posted By: Nettie Mae
Date: 1/19/2003 at 01:10:03

Source: "The 1901 Biographical Record of Clinton Co., Iowa, Illustrated" published: Chicago : S. J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1901.

H. R. SYKES

One of the leading railroad men of Clinton is the popular conductor on the Chicago & Northwestern Railway, who was born in Kenosha, Wisconsin, December 23, 1854, the only son of Milo and Louisa (Bullene) Sykes. For her second husband the mother married A. T. Wheeler, a prominent lawyer of Clinton, who served as county attorney for four years, city attorney two years and a member of the city council. He was known as the firemen’s friends on account of his efforts in behalf of the firemen of the city, and was also known as the war horse in politics, being a stanch supporter of the Democracy. He was a native of New York state, and at an early day removed to Wisconsin, being engaged in the practice of law at Lake Geneva for a number of years. In 1861 he drove from there to Clinton, Iowa, in a wagon, accompanied by our subject, and was successfully engaged in practice here until a year prior to his death, when he was obliged to retire on account of failing health. He died in 1900, at the age of seventy-seven years, the result of an injury sustained by a fall. He was one of the leading criminal lawyers of the state, and was widely known as a political stump speaker. His wife, the mother of our subject, passed away in 1873.

Mr. Sykes received a good common school education, and after leaving school read law with Mr. Wheeler for about a year and a half. At the age of fifteen he commenced work for the Joyce Lumber Company at Lyons, and remained in their employ for twelve years. In the meantime he was married, in 1876, to Miss Nellie M. Rich, of this county, and to them was born a daughter, Mary Louise, now the wife of W. F. Lee, of Clinton.

In the fall of 1883 Mr. Sykes entered the employ of the Chicago & Northwestern Railway as brakeman on the Eastern Iowa division, from Clinton to Belle Plaine, Iowa, and after serving in that capacity only ten months was promoted to conductor. For three years he ahs been running extra passenger trains, and has been on all the branches of the division, and on the run from Cedar Rapids to Chicago. In his railroad experience he has been very fortunate, having received only a slight injury on his fingers. He is a member of the Order of Railway conductors, and is very popular among his business associates and many friends. His political support is always given the men and measures of the Republican party.