lockhartj
Transcribed from "An Illustrated History of The Big Bend Country, embracing
Lincoln, Douglas, Adams and Franklin counties, State of Washington",
published by Western Historical Publishing Co., 1904.
JOHN LOCKHART resides about six
miles northwest from Harrington, where he owns a half section of land in
company with his son. They handle a section of land to wheat in addition
to the amount they own and produce annually many thousand bushels of this
profitable cereal.
John Lockhart was born on February 4, 1842,
the son of Robert and Sarah L. (Lemmon) Lockhart. The father was
born in Pennsylvania and died in Mercer county, Illinois, in 1865, aged
fifty-three. The mother was also born in the Keystone State and her
death occurred in Mercer county, Illinois, in 1866. Our subject is
the third of a family of ten children, all living but three. He came
to Mercer county with his parents when very young and there grew to manhood.
After receiving his education in the common schools, the war broke out
and he enlisted in Company A, Eighty-third Illinois Infantry, but was later
transferred to Company E, Sixty-first Volunteer Infantry. He was
at Clarksville, Tennessee, when President Lincoln was assassinated, and
at Nashville, the same state he received his honorable discharge later.
After the war he went west with a train to Helena, Montana, and had much
trouble with hostile Indians. The same year, Mr. Lockhart returned
down the Yellowstone and Missouri in a Mackinaw boat, making the trip to
Sioux City, Iowa, in twenty-seven days. Returning to Mercer county,
he was married on September 24, 1868, the nuptials occurring in Rock Island.
Miss Lucinda E. Decker then became his bride. Her parents, Westfall
and Anna M. (Lougley) Decker, were natives of Ohio and England, respectively.
The father's ancestors came from Holland. The parents are both deceased
now. They had a family of eleven children six of whom are living,
and all in Mercer county except Mrs. Lockhart. After marriage, Mr.
Lockhart went to Mills county, Iowa, and in 1880 went to California for
his health and upon its improvement, he returned to Iowa. Then he
sold out and settled in Saunders county, Nebraska. In 1885 he went
thence to Polk county, Oregon, and later settled in Umatilla county. of
the same state. The next move was to Oakesdale, Washington, and thence
he went to Priest River, Idaho. In the spring of 1899 Mr. Lockhart
came from that point to his present residence in Lincoln county and here
he has dwelt since. He is so well pleased with this section, that
he determines to remain here the balance of his life. Four children
have come to bless this household; Arthur E., married to Grace Stover and
now living near Earl; Harry F., married to Nellie Swank and in partnership
with his father; Annie B., wife of Frank Lambrith, of Plaza, Washington;
and Lela A., wife of Barney Dixon, of Downs, Washington. Arthur is
a member of the I. O. O. F. and Harry of the K. P.
BACK