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Stephen David Hockett (1933)

HANKS, HESTER, HOCKETT, KING, MOORE, STANLEY, WALTON

Posted By: Linda Brittain
Date: 3/20/2007 at 17:50:44

Earlham Library Collection
Earlham, Iowa
December 1933

Stephen D. Hockett Is Called by Death

Stephen David Hockett, son of David and Mary Jane Hanks Hockett was born near Salem, Henry County, Iowa, September 22, 1854. When eleven years of age, with his parents, he moved by way of the covered wagon and oxen team route over fenceless plains to Madison County, in 1865. David Hockett, acquiring land in the north part of the county, later sold eighty acres when the railroad came through, for the town site of Earlham. During the overland trip, with their stock and household goods, they forded the Des Moines River at Des Moines

On August 8, 1877, Stephan was united in marriage with Ruth Abigal Stanley, daughter of Joshua and Mary Stanley, who had moved to Earlham from Jasper County, near Lynnville, Iowa. After a few years of farming in Dallas, Madison and Warren counties, in 1885 Stephan went into business in the same location as the present butcher shop. He continued in this business for fourteen years in the then growing hamlet of Earlham. For sixty-eight years this Quaker boy who often told of riding horseback through the bluegrass of Iowa prairies, watched development of railroads, banks, and schools. He was among the first pupils in the old stone schoolhouse.

Eight children blessed the union; an infant, Charles Foster, and son, Fred, preceding the father to the union eternal. Surviving, are the faithful wife, Ruth; and children, James Corwin, Lancaster, Missouri; Seburn Waldo, Oskaloosa; Miss Pardie L. Moore, Boone; Miss Mayme, Stephen D. and Mrs. Jesse Walton, Des Moines, with Mrs. Fred Hockett and family and twenty-one grandchildren. Of his five brothers and sisters and one foster sister, but one sister, Mrs. Nannie King, Glad Valley, South Dakota, survives; with nieces and nephews, among them Mrs. Jesse Hester and Stephen King, Earlham.
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Earlham Echo
Earlham, Iowa
Thursday, December 14, 1933

STEPHEN D. HOCKETT IS CALLED BY DEATH

Former Earlhamite, 79, Passed Away Quietly at His Home in Des Moines Last Friday Morning. Burial Was From Earlham Friends Church Sunday.

Services for Stephen D. Hockett were held in the Friends Church, Sunday afternoon, December 9, conducted by Mrs. Nora Craven, who based her sermon upon 1 Corinthians 15-58. Rev. Millard Jones, pastor of the church, read the 15th chapter of Corinthians. A double quartet furnished music, singing special favorites of the deceased. The quartet members were Misses Pauline Craven, Maxine Wilson, Mrs. Charles Maxwell, Mrs. Wayne Thomas, Fred and Bert Fry, William Allen and accompanied by Mrs. Fred Fry. Pallbearers were: Clement Godby, William Stiles, Lin Thomas, Thomas Williams, John Williamson, Charles Maxwell. Burial was in Earlham cemetery.

Mr. Hockett passed away sometime during the early morning hours last Friday. His remains were brought to the Welch Funeral Home here from which they were tenderly born by old friends Sunday to the nearby church where he so long had worshipped.

Stephen David Hockett, son of David and Mary Jane Hanks Hockett, was born near Salem, Henry County, Iowa, September 22, 1854. When eleven years of age, with his parents, he moved by way of the covered wagon and oxen team route over fenceless plains to Madison County, in 1865. David Hockett, acquiring land in the north part of the county, later sold eighty acres when the railroad came through, for the town site of Earlham. During the overland trip, with their stock and household goods, they forded the Des Moines River at Des Moines.

On August 8, 1877, Stephen was united in marriage with Ruth Abigail Stanley, daughter of Joshua and Mary Stanley, who had moved to Earlham from Jasper County, near Lynnville, Iowa. After a few years of farming in Dallas, Madison and Warren counties, in 1885 Stephen went into business in the same location as the present butcher shop. He continued in this business for fourteen years in the then growing hamlet of Earlham. For sixty-eight years this Quaker boy who often told of riding horseback through the bluegrass of Iowa prairies, watched development of railroads, banks, and schools. He was among the first pupils in the old stone schoolhouse.

Eight children blessed the union: an infant, Charles Foster, and son, Fred, preceding the father to the union eternal. Surviving are the faithful wife, Ruth; and children, James Corwin, Lancaster, Missouri; Seburn Waldo, Oskaloosa; Miss Pardie L. Moore, Boone; Miss Mayme, Stephen D. and Mrs. Jesse Walton, Des Moines, with Mrs. Fred Hockett and family and twenty-one grandchildren. Of his five brothers and sisters and one foster sister, but one sister, Mrs. Nannie King, Glad Valley, South Dakota, survivies; with nieces and nephews, among them Mrs. Jesse Hester and Stephen King, Earlham.

Reared in the Quaker faith as a birthright member of the church, Stephen Hockett was loyal to the traditions of his church, family and community, one large interest being the church services—Bible School and prayer meeting, looking forward to the quarterly meetings with special interest. A lover of music, he delighted to sing with his family, favorite songs, reciting alone, many verses. Particularly was this true during the last months of frail health.

Ten years ago, with his wife, he moved to Des Moines, to live with his daughter, Mayme. In May 1933, he suffered a light stroke of apoplexy from which he never recovered his former strength, and five weeks ago, while on a visit at the home of Waldo, was taken abed. When asked the day before he slipped away if he suffered, he whispered, “No, I’m so tire. I’m just waiting for the gates to open.” He passed peacefully through the “Gates Ajar” on the morning of December 8, 1933, at the age of 79 years, two months and sixteen day.
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The Winterset News
Winterset, Iowa
Thursday, December 14, 1933
Page 3, Column 3

County Briefs - Earlham

Steve Hockett died in Des Moines Friday night after an illness of two weeks following a stroke. Mr. and Mrs. Hockett lived for many years in Earlham until recently when they made their home with their daughter, Ruth, in Des Moines. Funeral services were held Sunday at Earlham at the Friends church and burial in the Earlham cemetery.

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