John S. Locke

An Illustrated History of Baker, Grant, Malheur and Harney Counties, 1902
published by Western Historical Publishing Company

John S. Locke

The birth of Mr. Locke took place in the Granite state in 1848, March 10, at Manchester, he being the son of Levi and Nancy M. (Durgin) Locke. The father died in 1893, and the mother is still living on the old home place at Concord, New Hampshire. When our subject was still a child he removed with his parents to the city of Concord and there received his education in the common schools until he was sixteen years of age. At that time he entered the employ of the United States and Canada Express Company, continuing with them for seven years. Following this he went into business for himself, handling fuel and ice, in which he was prospered until 1879, when he sold all and migrated to Baker county, locating first in Rye valley. Here he operated as superintendent of mines and later furnished all the timber for the Snake river bridge that was constructed by the O.S.L. Co. He spent some time in this line of contracting and then turned his attention to stock farming, handling cattle and horses. He built and operated the first livery stable that was in Huntington, which he sold three years since. At the present time he resides in Huntington, having a handsome home there, besides a farm of eight hundred acres some ten miles west of the city; he is also interested in the Vaughan mines and other valuable properties.

Mr. Locke and Miss Charlotte A., daughter of Newell D. and Eliza A. (Averill) Foster, were married in Franklin, New Hampshire, on October 11, 1868, and to them have been born three children: Hattie A., wife of Daniel Padrick, of Portland, Oregon; Jennie B., deceased; Grover F., attending school in Huntington. Mr. and Mrs. Locke are members of the Congregational church in Huntington, and take especial interest in its support and welfare. Mrs. Locke's parents are both dead. Mr. Locke is associated with and is past noble grand of the I.O.O.F., Burnt River Lodge, No. 86, and has been the representative to the grand lodge nearly every year for the past sixteen years; he is also a member of Rathbone Lodge, NO. 32, Knights of Pythias, and is past master workman in the Huntington Lodge, No. 19, A.O.U.W., and is a member of the Maccabees. He was for several years sheriff of Merrimac county, New Hampshire.

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