Richard Owens Sykes (1848-1907)

SYKES, RITNOUR, SMITH

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 4/18/2017 at 21:24:29

From Nevada Representative February 1, 1907

OBITUARY

DEATH OF R. O. SYKES

Richard Owens Sykes died at his home in this city this morning after a comparatively brief illness. The occasion of his illness was grippe, and toward the end it developed both meningitis and pneumonia. His condition had not until within the present week been regarded as especially serious; but for several days it had been known as critical, and his death did not surprise people who were at all advised.

The deceased was born at Haverstraw, New York, August 10, 1848, and died at Nevada, Iowa, February 1, 1907, aged 58 years, 5 months and 22 days. His people removed when he was four years old to Whiteside county, Illinois, where he grew up and enjoyed the opportunities of a common school education. In 1872 he removed to Page county in this state, where he was married at Clarinda January 15, 1870, to Miss Harriet Ritnour. They continued to reside at Clarinda until 1887, when they came to Story county, locating on their farm in Grant township. From there they removed to Nevada in 1891, and here they have since resided. They built in town a very pleasant home, from which he has been taken considerably sooner than would be indicated by the ordinary course of life. Mr. Sykes was a very earnest member of the Methodist church, and in the faith of that church he lived and died. He leaves his wife but no children. His niece, Dama Sykes, made her home with them for a considerable time but returned to Chicago. He was one of a considerable family, his brothers, however, having died before him. Friends who came here in his last hours were his sister, Mrs. W. B. Smith from Morrison, Illinois, and Mrs. Sykes' father and brother, George Ritnour and James Ritnour, from Adams county in this state.

The funeral will be conducted from the Methodist church by the pastor, Rev. R. E. Shaw, next Sunday afternoon. The casket will not be opened at the church; but friends will have an opportunity to view the remains Sunday at the house.