Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2013, All Rights Reserved U.S. Data Repository Please read U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the US Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ ========================================================================= U.S. Data Repository NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization. Non-commercial organizations desiring to use this material must obtain the consent of the transcriber prior to use. Individuals desiring to use this material in their own research may do so. ========================================================================= Formatted by U.S. Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== Biographical History of Cherokee County, Iowa W. S. Dunbar & Co., Chigago - 1889 [page 386-387] HON. JOSEPH COOPER LOCKIN, member of the State Legislature from Cherokee County. One of the most progressive men in Cherokee County, Iowa, is he whose name heads this sketch. A cultured gentleman, a close student and a thorough business man, the people of Cherokee County have acted wisely in selecting him to represent their interests in the Legislature of the State. His career in that body has convinced his friends and those whose confidence in his ability and judgment placed him there, that no mistake had been made in his selection. JOSEPH COOPER LOCKIN was born November 3, 1854, at Brandon, Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin. His parents were JOHN and MARY J. (GREGG) LOCKIN. His father is a native of Lincolnshire, England, and came to America at the age of twenty years. He is still living, at the age of sixty-six years. The mother was a native of Connecticut, and was a daughter of GEORGE GREGG. She died May 6, 1889, aged sixty-seven years. The parents were married at Cherry Valley, New York, in 1845, and immediately after settled in Jefferson County, Wisconsin. Soon afterward they settled in Fond du Lac County. They had a family of eight children, of whom are living, JOSEPH and CHARLES H. being residents of Cherokee County. JOSEPH was reared to the occupation of a farmer, near the town of Brandon, Wisconsin. He was educated in the public schools of Brandon, and at the age of twenty began to teach. After completing one term in the fall of 1876 he came to Iowa, and located in Cherokee County, two of his brothers, WILLIAM H. (deceased) and CHARLES H., having previously settled here. The first two years after his arrival were devoted to teaching, the latter of which he was principal of the Aurelia Public Schools. In 1879 he began farming 160 acres. He now owns 200 acres in his home farm, and 160 acres in Spring Township. His improvements are of the first class, the residence and barn costing about $3,000. He has the farm well stocked with high-grade animals, feeding annually from three to seven car-loads of cattle, and from seventy-five to 100 head of hogs. Mr. LOCKIN is one of the incorporators of the Maple Valley Mutual Insurance Association, and has been its secretary and treasurer since its organization in 1883. The marked success of this institution, which carries over $200,000 of insurance at a much less cost than can be given by standard companies, is largely due to the untiring efforts and careful business methods of Mr. LOCKIN. He held with credit various township trusts until his election to the Legislature in 1887. Although his opponent in the race was the popular ex-county clerk, J. H. BUTTS, of Cherokee, Mr. LOCKIN received the handsome majority of 300 votes. His ability was recognized by the Speaker of the House, who selected him as chairman of the Committee on Animal Industry, and named him as a member of the Ways and Means and Judi- ciary committees. As chairman of the Committee on Animal Industry he prepared a bill providing for a fund to be used for the purpose of eradicating contagious diseases of domestic animals, and protecting the State from the scourge of pleuro-pneumonia and similar diseases. As further evidence of the confidence and esteem of his fellow- citizens, he was chosen delegate to the State Convention which selected delegates to the National Republican Convention held in Chicago in 1888. Mr. LOCKIN was married September 24, 1878, to Miss MARY JOSEPHINE BATSON, daughter of JOSIAH and ARABELLA (WELLS) BATSON. Mrs. LOCKIN was born February 4, 1855, in Fond du Lac County, Wis- consin. They have had three children: JOHN WINIFRED, HARRY and MARY. Mr. LOCKIN is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and his wife belongs to the Baptist Church. In writing Mr. LOCKIN'S biography it would be proper to add that his brother, CHARLES HIRAM LOCKIN, who was born in Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, March 25, 1851, is one of the present representative farmers of Pitcher Township. His beautiful tract of land, lying in the fertile Maple Valley, consists of 360 acres of finely improved land. He also has the estate of his brother, WILLIAM H., whose widow he married January 23, 1878. Mrs. LOCKING'S maiden name was EMMA FERGUSON, and her parents are FRIEND P. and BETSEY (LANDOW) FERGUSON. She was born in Delaware County, New York, December 27, 1847, and was married July 18, 1872, to WILLIAM H. LOCKIN. He was born October 23, 1846, and died August 25, 1875. He had settled in Cherokee County in the fall of 1871. During his short residence in the county he was widely know as an enterprising farmer, and as a popular teacher of vocal music. He left one child, CHARLES HERMAN, born March 27, 1873. CHARLES H. LOCKIN and wife are the parents of three children: CORALINE, JESSIE EMILY and CLARA LOUISA. ===========================================================================