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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Chautauqua County, New York published by John M. Gresham & Co. in 1891.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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IDDO A. SIKES is a wholesale and retail agent for the sale of wagons, buggies and general road vehicles at Kennedy. He was born in Cattaraugus county, New York, June 4, 1848, and is a son of Stephen and Caroline (Woodward) Sikes. His grandfather, Shadrach Sikes, was a native of Pittsfield, Berkshire county, Mass., and removed to the town of West Otto, Cattaraugus county, this State, when about forty years of age, where he died fifty-seven years later, in 1890. He was a democrat of the Jeffersonian type, and served as a private in the last war with Great Britain. John Woodward was a native of the Empire State, married a Miss Blanchard, and reared three children, one of whom, Caroline, is the subject’s mother. He was a carpenter and joiner by trade, being considered very skillful. Politically a democrat, he was enthusiastic in the campaigns prior to reconstruction. Stephen Sikes was born at Pittsfield, Mass., about 1817, and spent his youth upon his father’s farm near that town. A good common school education was acquired and when sixteen years of age he came to Cattaraugus county, Besides farming he quarried and trimmed burr-stones for grist-mills, which, being of superior manufacture, were in great demand. In 1880, while at Niagara Falls, he died, aged sixty-three years. In 1844 he married Caroline Woodward, and they were the parents of five children: Iddo Abiathar, Florence D. (dead); Winford S., resides at Eldred, Pa.; Olney Y., lives at the same place; and Estella (dead). Mrs. Sikes is still living, enjoys good health, and bids fair to enjoy a pleasant life for many years. Stephen Sikes was a gentleman of unusual public spirit and perspicacity, was a member of church, of the local military, and belonged to the Republican party.

Iddo Abiathar Sikes was born and reared at Otto, Catturaugus county, until twelve years of age, during which time he attended school. The family then removed to Leon and he learned the trade of blacksmithing at East Randolph. Upon completing his apprenticeship he came to Kennedy and embarked in business, doing general blacksmithing and carriage ironing, besides doing a large sales business in all kinds of vehicles.

In August, 1868, he married Alice V. Saxton, a daughter of Reuben Saxton, by whom he had two children: Edith L., born June 13, 1869, was given all the advantages of a liberal education at the village schools and Chamberlain institute, especial attention being given to instrumental music. She is a finished scholar and performs brilliantly upon the piano; and Mabel I., born June 4, 1871, and died October 10, 1890, in the freshness of her young womanhood.

I. A. Sikes belongs to the Republican party, and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, while his connection with fraternal and beneficial organizations is confined to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

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This family biography is one of 658 biographies included in Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Chautauqua County, New York published in 1891. 

View additional Chautauqua County, New York family biographies here: Chautauqua County, New York Biographies

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