My Genealogy Hound

GILBERT M. RYKERT was born in Attica, Wyoming county, New York, October 6, 1840, and is a son of Rev. Gilbert and Sarah A. (Nichols) Rykert. His father, Rev. Gilbert Rykert, was a native of Washington county, this State, a minister of the Free-Will Baptist church, and in politics a republican. He married Sarah A. Nichols, a native of the town where her son was born, who is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and now resides with her son in Westfield, in the seventy-sixth year of her age. They were the parents of three children. Rev. Gilbert Rykert died in Evans, Erie county, this State, where he had lived for several years, on June 12, 1864, at the age of fifty-three years.

Gilbert M. Rykert was reared principally in Erie and Chautauqua counties, and received a common-school education. In July, 1862, he enlisted in Co. C, 154th regiment, New York Vol. Infantry, and was honorably discharged in February, 1864, on account of a wound received at the battle of Gettysburg, on July 1, 1863, while he was color-bearer. His comrade, also a color-bearer, had been previously shot, and Mr. Rykert had taken his colors in addition to his own. He was struck in his right arm by a minie-ball, permanently disabling the arm. After leaving the army, he entered the employ of the L. S. & M. S. R. R. company, where he has remained ever since. From 1876 to 1887 he was telegraph operator at Westfield, and in the latter year he was appointed station-agent, which position he still retains. He also devoted some attention to the cultivation of the grape.

Politically he is a prohibitionist, in his religious convictions a Baptist, of which church he is a member and a trustee, and is a member of Summit Lodge, No. 219, F. and A. M.; Chautauqua Lodge, No. 3, A. O. U. W.; Westfield Council, No. 81, Royal Arcanum, and William Sackett Post, No. 324, G. A. R. He has served three years as a trustee of the town of Westfield.

November 10, 1868, Gilbert M. Rykert united in marriage with Arietta H., daughter of Leonard Smith, of Brocton, this county, and their union has been blest with three children: Homer S., Charles E. and William C.

G. M. Rykert is a gallant soldier, an honest, faithful, conscientious employe, and an upright, honorable and respected citizen, ever doing all in his power for the prosperity of the town in which he resides.