William was the youngest of eight children. He married Eliza Lyons on September 19, 1859 at Goulbourn. The family appeared on the 1861 and 1817 census in Goulbourn, where they farmed. In July 1878 the family boated across Lake Superior and entered the United States through the Port of Duluth, Minnesota. Traveling down the Red River into the Dakota Territory, they then settled near what is now Manvel. In 1883 the Red River overflowed, ruining the crops and forcing the family to move to the Osnabrock area. William became a US citizen on June 3, 1890, at age 51. Not long after the turn of the century, the family moved across the border to Cartwright, Manitoba, Canada. While visiting his daughter in Osnabrock, William died after a short illness from liver disease. He was buried at the old homestead in Osnabrock, later reinterred at the Union Cemetery. He was the father of ten children -- John, Elizabeth, Hiram, Margaret, Mary Jane, Amanda, William, Samuel, Sarah, and another William.

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OBITUARY - Sykes, William
Sunday morning of this week Wm. Sykes died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Geo. Batson, after a short illness from liver disease, aged 67 years. This news will come as a surprise to the many friends of the old gentleman who were not aware that he was sick. In fact, they did not know he was here as he was only over from Cartwright, Manitoba, for a short visit when he was taken sick. The funeral was held Tuesday afternoon, and the remains were interred on the old homestead in Osnabrock Township. A very large number of friends turned out to pay their last respects to an old friend and neighbor whom they all liked and respected. He was the father of John Sykes, Mrs. Geo. Batson, and Mrs. Wm. Herriott and an uncle to Rev. D. J. Sykes. At the funeral, the whole family was present except one son. [Unknown Newspaper, May 1904 - Submitted by Kathie Kloss Marynik]
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