Richard West Suydam was born on July 1, 1908, the youngest child of Franklin Benjamin and Ida Frances Chamerlin Suydam, of Napoleon, Ohio. He had two brothers, Herman of Marshall, Arkansas, deceased, and Clement F. of Napoleon, deceased, and three sisters, Jayne Belle Travis of Napoleon, Mary Elizabeth Deily, formerly a resident of Montpelier, Ohio, now living in Lakeland, Florida, and Frances Kathryn Wilson of Delta, Ohio.
Richard married Velma Gertrude Ricker on June 15, 1934. Velma was born on August 3, 1913, the daughter of John George and Ruth Margaret Laubenthal Ricker, of Henry County.
Ryke is a World War Two veteran and a member of Bert G. Taylor American Legion Post 4300.
At one time, Ryke was in the automobile business with his brother, Clem. The Suydam family, under the management of Clem Suydam, built Wayne Park along the Maumee River west of Napoleon, Ohio, in the 1920's. Skating and dancing to live bands made this a popular recreational spot in Northwest Ohio. For twenty years, Ryke was employed by the Napoleon Light and Water Plant as a boiler operator. He is presently semi-retired. Mr. and Mrs. Suydam are members of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Napoleon.
John Richard Suydam, son of Richard West and Velma Ricker Suydam, was born on December 24, 1944, in Napoleon. He married Carol Jean Steffens on March 20, 1965. Carol was born on September 21, 1945, the daughter of Fred John and Maybelle Spiess Steffens of Wauseon, Ohio.
John is a ground man truck operator for Napoleon Electric Distribution. Carol, a former executive secretary, is presently working as an orthodontal assistant. They belong to St. Paul Lutheran Church and are the parents of Michael Richard Suydam, born November 14, 1966 and Michelle Dawn Suydam, born September 22, 1969.