Calif. Families Sikes
Richard 1610-1676 | John Jones 1760-1807 | John 1791-1861 | John Alva 1829-1904 Jonathan 1830-1913 | Alvin 1880-1960 | Ranch (1890, Current) | Sources

The next 4 generations remained in Massachuetts. in 1794 John Jones Sikes bagan moving west ending up in Northern Kentucky. His wife, Sara Soule, was the Great Great Grandaughter of George Soule who came to America on the Mayflower in 1620.
John Jones son, John moved just across the border to southern Ohio. When the rest of the family moved to Missouri the four brothers stayed in Ohio where they were working in the iron mines.

See John at Richard Sikes and his Descendants the first Seven Generations by Art Sikes.

Alva Sikes came to California in 1849 after gold was discovered. His brothers Ezra, Jesse, and Jonathan joined a wagon train that left for California in 1850 or 51. According to one account they were attacked by Indians at least once during the trip. They joined Alva at Shasta and worked gold miners there for several years.

Jessie lived only a short time and passed away from hardships of the trip. Ezra stayed with the mines all his life.

( Copied from a letter written by Ezra Sikes May 15 1944 ) [Note: Ezra was Jonathan's older brother] "My grandfather came to missouri before my father was grown and brought with him my father Sylvanus, Harilla and the 3 girls Electa, Aley & Sarah, The 4 older boys all stayed in Ohio. All were single and were working in an iron mine. A few years later gold was discovered in Calif. & in 1940 Uncle Alva came to Calif. As soon as he got word back the other 3 came. They all joined Uncle Alva at Shasta. Uncle Jessie lived only a short time & passed away from hardships of the trip. Uncle Ezra stayed with the mines all his life. Uncle Jonathan and Uncle Alva went to the valley and started farming. The Sikes family came from the Sycta (or Scyota) valley. My grandmother's maiden name was Rockwell. My father had a cousin Dr. Rockwell, who was a surgeon in the Civil war. After the war he settled in our community and was our local Dr. for many years."

See John Sikes entry in Jonathan and Alva moved to the Sacramento Valley and began working on farms. They both eventually started farms of their own in the Tremont section of Solano Co. just South of Davis.

last updated 1 Sep 2025