Locker, Christian J.

LOCKER, ULITCH, RUSHMAN

Posted By: Roseanna Zehner
Date: 7/23/2006 at 19:10:33

LOCKER, CHRISTIAN J.

Christian J Locker, the proprietor of the "Sunnyside Farm," is well known as a farmer and business man in the southeastern corner of Lyon County. His fortune has been invested in land, and the main part of his wealth consists of improved lands in Lyon County. He has not spared expense in making these various tracts attractive farms and a credit to the county by erecting substantial improvements and needed out buildings.

Mr. Locker was born in Bureau county, Illinois, Sept. 30, 1858, being the second member of a family of six children born to Christian and Hannah (Ulitch) Locker, both of whom are now living in Livingston county, Illinois, where the family established a home in 1864. There the subject of this article grew to manhood under the parental roof, receiving at the hands of his father a thoroughly practical farm training. In 1883, Mr. Locker came to Lyon County to look after his father's farm interests, making his home with William Sauer. When he returned to his Illinois home in the fall of that year he went vastly in love with the country. He gladly accepted his father's proposition of a farm in Lyon County, on condition that he made this county his home, and in the spring of 1884 began the improvement of the land. He broke prairie as rapidly as possible, and soon had six hundred and forty acres under cultivation and his labor met with its just reward. All surplus from his farming enterprises was put into the land and in 1888 he began the erection of three sets of buildings for renters, into whose hands he put the most of his land. His investments were made with care, and not until after he was well acquainted with the vicinity. To-day he owns three thousand acres of as choice farm land as is to be found in the state of Iowa. Not confining himself alone to investments in Iowa, he bought land in Sough Dakota in 1900, and the following year he became a partner in the Hunter Land and Cattle Company, of which concern he is at the present time the sole owner. This company controls thirteen thousand acres of land in Hamill county, South Dakota, and it is stocked with choice beef cattle. Since 1895 Mr. Locker has given up active farming, seeing that his outside business and the overseeing of his estate have demanded the most of his time. On section 32, in Wheeler township, he is planning the erection of a set of modern buildings strictly up to modern ideas, to take the place of the older structures. He find much pleasure in fruit growing, and has one of the finest orchards in the county. He is an enthusiastic Republican in politics, and his wide circle of acquaintances give him considerable influence.

Mr. Locker was married in 1899 to Miss Anna Rushman, and is the father of two daughters, Hannah and one unnamed at the writing of this sketch. He is a man of generous disposition, and ever been alert to grasp a business opportunity, and is highly esteemed by all who know him.

Source: Compendium of History Reminiscence and Biography of Lyon County, Iowa. Published under the Auspices of the Pioneer Association of Lyon County. Geo. Monlun, Pres.; Hon. E. C. Roach Sec’y; and Col. F. M. Thompson, Historian. Geo. A. Ogle & CO., Published, Engravers and Book Manufacturers. Chicago, 1904-1905

Transcribed by Roseanna Zehner, Darlene Jacoby and Diane Johnson