JOHN J. FYKE, M.D., who is engaged in the practice of his profession at Odin, is a native of Marion County, having been born in Raccoon Township, November 17, 1842.
He is the son of J. A. and Margaret (Wilson) Fyke, natives respectively of Tennessee and Marion County, this state.
The paternal grandparents of our subject, John and Betsy (Matthews) Fyke, were born in North Carolina, where they grew to mature years and were married. Later they removed with their family to Tennessee, where they followed farming for some time. In 1836 the grandfather came on a prospecting tour to this state, and purchasing land in Monroe County, returned to Tennessee for his family. He was never permitted to live here, as his death occurred before his plans could be carried out.
J. A. Fyke, the father of our subject, was born in Tennessee in 1812, and spent his early life on his father's farm in Robinson County, where he received a good education. When reaching mature years, and having learned the trade of a carpenter, he traveled as a journeyman, plying his trade through most of the southern states, and while at Vicksburg aided in laying the first rail over which later ran one of the first railroads in the United States. In 1839, coming to Marion County, he continued to work at his trade and had the honor of building the first houses erected on Tennessee Prairie.
In the spring of 1841, and while residing in the above county, the elder Mr. Fyke was married to Miss Margaret, daughter of John Wilson. Mrs. Fyke was born October 22, 1822, and was the first white child born in Marion County; her parents were very early settlers here and resided at Walnut Hill. Educational advantages were very limited in this locality in that day and Mrs. Fyke was not permitted to go to school, but being of a studious turn of. mind and througli her desire for learning, she read books which would be liable to increase her store of knowledge and in that way acquired a good education.
The father of our subject started out in life poor in this world's goods, but so industriously did he apply himself to the various departments of his work that at his death he was the possessor of four hundred broad acres of the best land in Marion County. In early life he followed his trade of a cabinet-maker, but for a number of years prior to his decease was an agriculturist. He was a member of and an earnest worker in the Methodist Episcopal Church, with which he was connected for over half a century. He was very popular in local affairs and for thirty years served as the efficient Justice of the Peace of his locality. He was a stanch Democrat in politics and kept himself well posted on all of the issues of the hour. He departed this life January 8, 1892. His good wife still survives and makes her home on the old homestead.
Of the twelve children born to Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Fyke, our subject is the eldest.
J. J. Fyke, of this sketch, completed his education in McKendree College, soon after which he entered the Chicago Medical College in Chicago. Later he went to St. Louis, where he attended lectures, and was graduated from the Eclectic Medical College with the Class of '77. He had previously read medicine with Dr. Davenport, of Salem, and in 1866 practiced in Odin. Since receiving his diploma Dr. Fyke has continued to make his headquarters in Odin, and he now has a large and paying practice, which extends over the greater part of the county.
The lady to whom Dr. Fyke was married was Miss Minerva, daughter of Thomas and Eliza (Chadwell) Phillips. She was born in Tennessee and accompanied her parents on their removal to Marion County in 1854.
By her union with our subject she became the mother of three sons, Edgar E., Hurley and Emmet, the two latter of whom are twins.
The eldest son has followed in the footsteps of his father and is practicing medicine in Centralia. He was graduated from the College of Physicians and Surgeons in 1889, and in the winter of 1893-94 took a post-graduate course at the same institution. He is rapidly building up a fine patronage and is Pension Examiner of Marion County. He owns sixty acres of fine land near Odin, the greater portion of which is devoted to an apple orchard.
Socially Dr. Edgar Fyke is a prominent Mason and a Knight of Pythias.
Our subject and his estimable wife are members in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and in the congregation at Odin the Doctor holds the position of Trustee.
Socially he is a member of the Odin Lodge No. 503, A. F. & A. M., and in politics is a stanch Democrat. He takes great interest in educational affairs, and has been a member of the School Board for a number of years. He has also done good work as Alderman of Odin, and at all times is ready to do what he can to further the interests of the community.
Harley and Emmet Fyke, the younger sons of our subject, are wide-awake, enterprising young men and are at present editors and proprietors of the Odin Journal.
Source: "Portrait and Biographical Record Clinton, Washington, Marion and Jefferson Counties, Illinois"
Chapman Publishing Co, Chicago, 1894
Pages 384 & 385
Submitted by Sandy (Whalen) Bauer