U.S. Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ -- USGenNet Inc. -- Please read the U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on the following page: ------------------------------------------------------------------- Sikes, Thomas (1836-1908) ------------------------------------------------------------------- Men of West Virginia, Volume II Biographical Publishing Company George Richmond, Pres.: C. R. Arnold, Sec'y and Treas. Chicago, Illinois, 1903 Pages 663-665 COL. THOMAS SIKES, the present city treasurer of Huntington, West Virginia, was born in 1836 at Portsmouth, Ohio, and has been a resident of Huntington since 1872. At the time of his birth, his father. Rev. Levi Sikes, a Baptist minister, was residing on the latter's farm in Scioto County, Ohio. John J. Sikes, the grandfather of Colonel Sikes, served in the Revolutionary War, from Massachusetts, and his widow, formerly Sarah Cole, secured a pension in 1856. She attained the age of 99 years. Both grandfathers of Colonel Sikes were engaged in produce dealing and shipping on the Ohio River, and both lost their lives in the pursuit of their duties, either from drowning between Cincinnati and New Orleans, or through massacre by Indians. Rev. Levi Sikes was born in 1796 in Massachusetts and removed to Ohio with his father in 1804, locating in the vicinity of Portsmouth, and was the first brick manufacturer there. The mother of Colonel Sikes was born in Rockbridge County, Virginia, in 1799, and died in 1876, one year later than her husband. Besides our subject, the other members of the parental family were: James, who resides in Scioto County, Ohio, aged 76 years; Melvin, deceased; Hiram, aged 62 years, who lives at Portsmouth, Ohio, Melvina, who died at the age of 79 years in 1900; Harriet, deceased; Eliza, aged 79 years, who lives in Scioto County, Ohio; Sarah, who died some 40 years ago; and Elsie, aged 64 years, who lives in Scioto County, Ohio. Colonel Sikes obtained a common and high school education and then learned the brick-mason trade and gradually engaged in contracting, a business he followed in Portsmouth, Ohio, and in Huntington, West Virginia, in the latter city from 1872 until quite recently. He is well and favorably known to all of his fellow citizens, and his fine work is seen in almost all of the principal business and residence structures of Huntington. In 1886 he served as chief of police of Huntington and in 1901 was elected to his present responsible position, and in 1903 was re-elected for a term of two years. Colonel Sikes enlisted for service in the Civil War in Company G, 1st Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf., for three months, and then re-entered the service as captain of Company E, 33rd Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf., was subsequently made major, then lieutenant-colonel and finally received his colonel's commission. He participated in some 30 of the main engagements of the war, notably the first battle of Bull Run, Stone River, Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, and Lookout Mountain. He was in the 14th Army Corps, under Gen. George H. Thomas, for whom he retained so much respect and affection that he named one of his sons, now a prominent business man of Huntington, in his honor. After four years and 10 months in the army, he returned to Portsmouth. Colonel Sikes is an honored member of Bailey Post, No. 4, Grand Army of the Republic, of which he has often been commander. Colonel Sikes married Minerva I. Williams and their children are: Mrs. Ida M. Johnson, of Huntington; Mamie, bookkeeper for the W. M. Prindle Company of that city; Maude, at home; George H., a contractor in brick masonry; Austin M., a stenographer; and Herbert A., instructor in shorthand and bookkeeping at Marshall College, Huntington, although but a youth of 17 years. The religious views of the family are in accordance with the Methodist faith. Fraternally, Colonel Sikes is a Royal Arch Mason. ------------------------------------------------------------------- REGISTER OF DEATHS, Cabell County, WV (Page 149) FULL-NAME: Thomas Sikes DEATH-DATE: April 10, 1908 AGE-AT-DEATH: 71 years DEATH-PLACE: Huntington MARITAL-STATUS: Married CAUSE-OF-DEATH: Heart trouble INFORMANT: wife ------------------------------------------------------------------- If you've reached this file through a SEARCH, you can access other biographies for Cabell County, WV by going to the following URL: http://www.us-data.org/wv/cabell/bios.html -------------------------------------------------------------------