CaptainSylvester D. Nokes

 
CAPTAIN SYLVESTER D. NOKESwas born in Franklin county, New York, February 11, 1835. His father wasJohn Nokes, born March 20, 1809, and his grandfather was Jacob Nokes, ofNew England. He was a farmer who died at an advanced age in Brown county,Illinois, and his wife’s name was Mary —, who bore him seven children.She died in Brown county about ten years after her husband, aged eightyyears. John Nokes came West from New York in 1842, and settled in Browncounty on 160 acres of new land, it being part of his present farm. Hebrought his wife and six children with him in a covered wagon. He rentedfor several years and then built a hewed log house. Much of his land wasprairie of the most productive kind. He resided on this farm about twentyyears.

The Captain was a volunteerin the One Hundred and Nineteenth Illinois Infantry, Company E, enlistingAugust 9, 1862. He went as Second Lieutenant, and was mustered out as Captain,to which post he was promoted in 1864, in the place of Captain Munford,resigned. He was absent from his command on account of a gunshot woundin the thigh received on the Red river. He was all through that campaign,was in the two days’ fight before Nashville, Tennessee, and in the chargeon Fort Blakely. He has sixty acres of orchard land, apples, peaches andgrapes. He keeps ten to twelve horses, fifteen to twenty head of cattleand fattens about fifty hogs per year. His orchards return him the bestinterest on his money. He built their fine brick farm house in 1881. Theschooling of the Captain is limited, but he is well informed and a greatreader.

He was married about theage of twenty, to Anna J. Dodd, who was nearly sixteen. She was the daughterof William and Julia Ann Richardson Dodd. Her father was of Green county,Illinois, and her mother of Bradenburg, Kentucky.

The living children of Captainand Mrs. Nokes are: Mrs. Carrie Bradney, living in Missouri; Mrs. MaryV. Wright, at home; Oscar E., living at the Mounds; Birdie May, a younglady at home; Irwin Grant; and Jessie.

The Captain has been a Republican,but now is an Alliance man. He is justly proud of his war record.

Biographical Review ofCass, Schuyler and Brown Counties, Illinois, Biographical Review PublishingCo., Chicago, 1892, page 261.

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