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File contributed to the Fulton County ILGenWeb Project
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Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Fulton County
Biographical Publishing Co., Chicago, 1890

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The Biography of William J. DYCKES 

Pages 827-828, transcribed in full by Karen CRANE Goggin 

[Surnames: ANDRUS, BARNETT, DYCKES, EICKELBERGER, JUDD, MASTERS, WOODWORTH] 

    
WILLIAM J. DYCKES, a well-known lawyer of Lewistown was born in Bernadotte, this county, August 4, 1845. His father, the Hon. Joseph Dyckes, was born in Baltimore, Md., January 5, 1813. When he was quite young his parents moved to Pennsylvania, and there he learned the trade of a carpenter and worked at it until 1837. In that year he became a pioneer of this county, locating at Bernadotte, where he followed his calling a short time. He bought a home there and also purchased wild prairie land near the village. He resided in Bernadotte till he was elected Sheriff of the county in 1846, when he moved to Lewistown and spent eight years there. After that he lived on his farm near Bernadotte and engaged in its cultivation the ensuing seven years. At the expiration of that time he was elected County Clerk and again took up his residence at Lewistown, where he lived till his death. He was very prominent in the public and political life of the county and held many important offices besides those mentioned. He represented Lewistown, as a member of the county Board of Supervisors. He was Justice of the Peace, and in 1866 was elected as a Representative to the State Legislature. He was a stanch upholder of the principles of the Democratic party. 
    
The father of our subject was married March 14, 1840, to Lucinda Andrus, who was born in Watertown, Jefferson County, N.Y., November 21, 1821. Her parents Reuben and Olive (Woodworth) Andrus, were natives respectively of Connecticut and Massachusetts. Her father was one of the first settlers of Watertown, where he cleared a farm. He afterward lived for a while in Lockport, Niagara County, and from there came to Fulton County, in 1837. He bought three hundred acres of land in Bernadotte Township and was one of the worthy pioneers of this part of the State. Mr. and Mrs. Dyckes were leading members of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Bernadotte. 
    
Our subject received his early education in the district schools of his birthplace and later in the city schools of Lewistown. At the age of eighteen he entered Wesleyan College at Bloomington, and was graduated from that institution in June, 1868. He at once commenced the study of law in the office of S. Corning Judd, and was admitted to the bar in the fall of 1869. He formed a partnership with Mr. Judd which continued till the removal of the latter to Chicago. Our subject then practiced alone for some time till he entered into a partnership with A. M. Barnett. His present partner is H. W. Masters and they carry on a good law business under the firm name of Masters & Dyckes. Our subject is very prominent in social and political circles. He is President of the Young Men's Christian Association and has always been an active worker in the Sunday-school. His political affiliations are with the Democratic party. He is well-known in business circles and is Secretary of the Lewistown Building and Loan Association. 
    
Mr. Dyckes was married December 30; 1869, to Julia A. Eickelberger. Two children have been born of this marriage, Jennie and Lawrence. Mrs. Dyckes is a native of Lewistown and a daughter of Martin and Isabella G. Eickelberger. Mr. and Mrs. Dyckes are members in high standing of the Presbyterian Church.