JOHN J. LYKE, now living retired in Janesville, Rock County, where he has a neat and pleasant home at No. 260 South Main street, has led a career of singular probity, and by industry and honesty has accumulated a considerable fortune, and achieved a large success in life.

Mr. LYKE was born in Montgomery County, N.Y., July 28, 1823, only child of John and Nancy (NEAR) LYKE, both natives of New York. The father, who was a farmer, died in Steuben County, that State. In 1856 the widow came West with her son, and made her home with him until her death, in 1863. She and her husband were Lutherans in religion. His father, John LYKE, came from Germany, and settled in New York before the Revolution, locating in Dutchess County. He afterward moved to Montgomery County, where he died at an advanced age. He was a farmer, and had five or six children. Her father, Zachariah NEAR, who was a farmer, was of Mohawk-Dutch descent, and lived to about ninety years of age. He was the father of four children.

John J. LYKE was reared in the town of Palatine, Montgomery Co., N.Y., on a farm, attended district school, and worked out by the year until after he came West. Here he did farming on shares for six years, and then bought a farm of eighty acres in La Prairie township, section 7, which he still owns. He brought it to a high state of perfection, and made his home there until 1887, when he moved to Janesville. For some years he owned a second and adjoining eighty acres, but sold it after a time.

On Feb.. 2, 1854, Mr. LYKE married Miss Catherine Ann ENGLAND, who was born April 20, 1828, a daughter of Benjamin and Jane (VANTWERPT) ENGLAND, and they have had four children, Benjamin Clark, Mary J., Rachel Ann and Alice Catherine. Benjamin C. married Margaret AUSTIN, now deceased, and they had six children, John, Alice, William, Robert, Benjamin, and Alexander; he is a farmer. Mary J. is single, and lives at home. Rachel Ann married William A. READ, and has her home in La Prairie; they have one son, Arthur Victor. Alice Catherine married Webster C. HUGUNIN; they live in Rock township, Rock Co., Wis., and have two children, Hattie and Ira. Mr. and Mrs. LYKE are members of the Congregational Church. He is a Republican, has been supervisor two years, and school treasurer of La Prairie township seventeen years. Mr. LYKE has always been a hard-working man, and has lived an upright life. He contemplates with satisfaction that he was never sued, and has never had occasion to sue any one. He has treated the world squarely, and it in turn has used him well.

The parents of Mrs. LYKE, Montgomery County (N.Y.) people, had six children, Mrs. LYKE being the only one now living. Her father was a farmer, and died in New York in 1849, when about fifty-seven years old. Her mother died at the old homestead a number of years later. Mrs. LYKE's paternal grandfather, Benjamin ENGLAND, was born and educated in Germany, and was a farmer in his early life. Coming to America, he served throughout the Revolutionary war as a minister; he belonged to the Lutheran denomination. He lived many years after the war, continuing to serve his Master. He married Jane GODNEW, and had five children. Mrs. LYKE's maternal grandfather, John VANTWERPT (VAN ANTWERP), was born in Holland, came to this country when young, became a farmer, and died in New York State when quite old. Throughout the Revolution he served as a home guard and the incidents connected therewith which remained strongest in his memory were those of the famous period of starvation which occurred when the soldiers were under a traitor commander. His wife Rachel (VANANTWERP), became blind, and died in old age.

Note: Add'l bio from Hist. of Northern Wisconsin 1881, Pg 834: John J. LYKE - farmer, Sec.7; P.O. Janesville; born in Montgomery Co., N.Y., in 1823; came to Wisconsin in 1854, at Shopiere; remained about eighteen months, then removed to Turtleville, where he engaged in farming for one year. He then moved to La Prairie in 1864, purchased eighty acres, afterward adding eighty acres more, where now stands his homestead. Married, Feb. 22, 1853, Miss Catherine A. ENGLAND, a native of Montgomery Co., N.Y.; have four children - Benjamin C., born Aug. 22, 1854; Mary, Sept. 12, 1857; Rachel, Oct. 22, 1860; Alice, April 18, 1863. Was Treasurer of the District School twelve years.

Provided by Carol