HIRAM LOCKWOOD, b 16 May 1828

LOCKWOOD, POTTER, BENTLEY, DEVIER, HAND, BURNHAM, VAUGHAN, AGERS, DUNLAP, ANDERSON, BEAVER, CONRY

Posted By: Donna Moldt Walker (email)
Date: 6/16/2004 at 22:55:53

Forty years ago the present year (1889) the subject of this notice made his way to the young State of Iowa from the vicinity of Bolton, Warren Co., N.Y. He traveled via the Erie Canal from Schenectady to Buffalo, thence by the lakes to Chicago, and from that then unimportant town proceeded westward by team to this county. There were then probably less than 200 people within its limits, and for two years thereafter Mr. Lockwood made his home with his brother-in-law, S.S. Wright.

In the meantime our subject purchased 160 acres of prairie land on section 10, Brookfield Township, Clinton County, and to this he removed in 1852, and commenced the improvement of his property by breaking and preparing the soil for cultivation. He put up a small board shanty, but only slept there a few nights, after which he made his home with S.S. Wright. The pioneer experience thus begun was followed up a number of years, and in due time Mr. Lockwood's land assumed the proportions of a well-regulated farm. In 1855 he put up a small frame house with two rooms, which he occupied with his little family a number of years, then erected a more commodious dwelling. He also put up a barn and the other necessary buildings, in the meantime steadily proceeding with the cultivation of his land.

Our subject was successful in his labors financially, and invested his surplus capital in 200 acres of land adjoining his first farm, and subjected this to the same process as he had done the other. He occupied this with his family until the spring of 1888, then left the old place in charge of his son and purchased that which he now occupies. During his long residence in this county he has become known to most of its people by whom he is held in the highest respect, not only on account of his labors and pioneer experiences, but his sterling worth of character. He commenced at the foot of the ladder in life, and has worked his way upward dependent upon his own resources, but it cannot be denied, aided greatly by his intelligent and faithful partner.

The subject of this sketch was born in Bolton, Warren Co., N.Y., May 16, 1828, and is the son of David and Martha (Potter) Lockwood, the former a native of Connecticut and the latter of Washington County, N.Y. The paternal grandfather, Stephen Lockwood, it is believed, was a native of Connecticut, where he spent the declining years of his life. David Lockwood left the parental roof when a young man, before his marriage, and migrated to Washington County, N.Y., where he sojourned for a time, then took up his residence in Bolton. He was a tanner by trade, which he followed considerably in the Empire State, but at the same time rented land and carried on farming.

The father of our subject in 1849 determined to seek his fortunes in the further West, and coming to Iowa settled in Clinton County, where he spent the remainder of his life, making his home with his children. The mother survived her husband some years and died at the home of her son, our subject, in Clinton County. She was the daughter of George and Dorcas Potter, and by her union with David Lockwood became the mother of eight children, all of whom grew to mature years. They were named respectively: George, Maria, Elizabeth, Stephen, William Henry, Caroline, Hiram and Martin D.

Hiram Lockwood was the youngest child but one of the parental household, and was reared to manhood in his native town. As soon as of suitable age and strength he began assisting his father on the farm, but when a youth of sixteen commenced working out at $9 per month, giving to his father all the money which was not required for his clothing. In due time as his usefulness increased, his wages were raised and he earned $14 per month. He thus occupied himself on a farm and in a saw-mill until setting out for Iowa, in the year 1849. His subsequent movements until his marriage we have already indicated.

On the 3d of April, 1855, occurred the wedding of Hiram Lockwood and Miss Harriet J. Bentley. The young people settled down upon the farm, and in due time became the parents of three children: Duane F., the eldest son, married Miss Clara Devier, and is the father of three children - Blanche, Crene and Nora; Ella M. is the wife of W.H. Hand, and resides in Maquoketa; they have two children - Bertha L. and Frank. Edgar died in November, 1882, when an interesting youth of sixteen years.

Mrs. Lockwood was born in Queensbury, Warren County, N.Y., May 13, 1838, and is the daughter of David and Lorinda (Burnham) Bentley, who were both natives of the Empire State, her father born in Warren County, Dec. 16, 1806, and the mother in Washington County, Aug. 11, 1810. The paternal grandfather, Richard Bentley, was one of the pioneers of Warren County, and opened up a farm, near which grew up the town of Queensbury, where he died in 1842. He married Miss Dina Vaughan, a native of Washington County, who died a few years subsequent to the demise of her husband.

David Bentley was the second child in a family of seventeen children, thirteen of whom lived to mature years. He made his home with his parents and assisted in the support of the family until reaching his majority. Then with the natural desire of youth for a change he repaired to Sanford's Ridge and opened up a grocery store, which he conducted one year, in the meantime making many friends and patrons by his upright and honorable dealing. This occupation, however, was not quite congenial to his tastes, and he purchased ten acres of land with a water power and saw-mill, which he operated successfully, and the next year built a carding and fulling-mill.

In 1835, however, Mr. Bentley decided to turn his attention to farming, and purchased forty acres of wild and rocky land, upon which he labored until 1841. Then not satisfied with his condition or his prospects he sold out, and in the fall of that year, accompanied by his wife and children and three other families, started for Iowa Territory. They made the entire journey overland, taking with them their cooking utensils, provisions and bedding, and arrived in Jackson County on the 15th of December, after a journey of seven weeks. They crossed the Mississippi River at Savanna, and came to the present site of Maquoketa, which was then occupied by a solitary log building, owned by John E. Goodenow.

Mr. Bentley and his family for six weeks thereafter sojourned under the roof of a Mr. Bates, and Mr. Bentley in the meantime purchased a claim on section 31, in Maquoketa Township. Upon this stood a small log-house, and into it the family moved and lived a few weeks while the father put up a frame dwelling of oak lumber, which he procured at Sabula. In March, 1842, they moved into the new residence, and Mr. Bentley commenced in earnest the improvement of his land. Indians were still numerous in this locality, and the pioneer secured the privilege of settling among them by giving them a small present. After a time, however, the claim-holders became dissatisfied, and about twenty-five or thirty of them repaired to the residence of Mr. Bentley, determined to hang him. He succeeded in pacifying them and they finally left without doing him any harm.

The nearest markets and depots for supplies at that time were Dubuque and Davenport, and the mail was brought once a week on horseback to Maquoketa. The new farm of Mr. Bentley at the beginning was stocked with a team of horses and one cow. He suffered in common with the people around him the hardships and difficulties of life on the frontier, and no little ingenuity was required during those first few years to surmount the difficulties which almost daily confronted them. His land, however, yielded to cultivation and became prolific and valuable. The family made their home there until 1875, then removed to South Fork Township, and from there in 1882 to Brookfield Township, Clinton County, of which they are residents.

The maternal grandparents of Mrs. Lockwood were Ashbel and Lydia A. (Agers) Burnham, natives respectively of Vermont and New York. Six of their nine children are still living, and located as follows: Wright, in Brookfield Township, Clinton County; Adelia, Mrs. William Dunlap, South Fork Township, this county; Anna, Mrs. Jesse Anderson in Brookfield Township, Clinton County; Albert, and Mary (Mrs. Dan Beaver) in this county; Jerome; Julia, Mrs. Reuben Conry, and Stephen are deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Bentley celebrated their golden wedding not long since, which was attended by many friends and relatives, who presented them with some valuable gifts, among them a pair of gold-bowed spectacles for each. Their long and useful lives have been crowned with the affection and esteem of many friends.

("Portrait and Biographical Album of Jackson County, Iowa", originally published in 1889, by the Chapman Brothers, of Chicago, Illinois.)