Frederick Hockett (1918)

HOCKETT

Posted By: Kent Transier
Date: 12/28/2011 at 12:25:55

The Winterset Madisonian
Winterset, Iowa
Wednesday, December 04, 1918
Page 2, Column 1

Earlham

Mrs. S. D. Hockett, who was called to Canton, Mo., last Saturday by the sickness and death of her son, Fred, returned home Thursday morning.
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Earlham Echo
Earlham, Iowa
Thursday, December 5, 1918

Thirty six years ago, on the 5th of February, 1882, a month when many great men have been born, a beautiful blue-eyed baby boy, the third child in the family of “We are Seven,” gladdened the home circle of Mr. and Mrs. S. D. Hockett, near Earlham, In Madison County, Iowa. Naturally of a jovial, cheerful disposition, the boyhood days of this whistling, good-natured boy, were unusually happy, as with his brothers, Jim, Waldo and Stephen, or sometimes his parents, sisters or friends, he spent hours in the “old swimmin’ hole,” or along the creek banks making willow whistles; or perhaps in the fields chasing butterflies; snaring ground squirrels, or flying kites, or again in some quiet nook reading his favorite book.

A typical American boy, full of noble ambitions and energy, Fred early assumed responsibility, as out of school hours, his smiling face was seen behind Earlham store counters or in the P. L. Stanley Produce House. After his high school career in Earlham, and a year spent in the west, he purchased a course in the C.C.C. College in Des Moines, after which he worked for the S. P. Pend Company, of Keokuk, who soon recognized his ability and placed him as manager of their Produce house at Canton, Missouri. Here Fred later bought out the business for himself, and along with the Canton Produce Co., and running a country store, he established the “Canton Fish Market,” which proved successful in many lines, as his fish were sold to many markets of the world. He also held other interests as well as public offices, where, as a prominent citizen, he worked for the development of Canton.

It was here that he met and married Miss Mae Plant, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George Plant, druggist on a beautiful April day in 1905, suggestive of the beginning of a hardy walk along the “Life Road” together, and when the warm sun has returned ----- and colored wings move with softly-warbled songs, along forest openings.

To this happy union were born Fred Plant Jr, Harry Corwin, Mary Elizabeth, Hobart Eugene, Ruth ----- and Sue Mae, who with the wife, father, mother, three brothers, John, Waldo, Stephen; three sisters, Gertrude, Mayme and Orpha, with other relatives and hosts of friends are bereft of the wise counsel of husband, father, son and brother.

In early life Fred’s business ability was recognized by his friends, and it was through his cheerful perseverance and unselfishness that many have felt the result of his generosity, and though often pressed with responsibilities, heavy for one so young, he never allowed anxiety or disappointments to hinder his big heart and hand from helping others.

During his last brief illness of pneumonia, to which he succumbed Nov. 24, 1918, the same tender thoughtfulness that marked the entire career of this ideal husband and father, was manifested by the counsel he gave his children at his bedside and his prayers he offered in his family’s behalf. His was a victorious triumphant passing, and though we trust that sometime we’ll understand the loneliness and despair in our hearts over the loss of this useful, young life, we know he is safe in the “Father’s house prepared for him,” and that “Just beyond this earthly planet with the souls redeemed by grace, we shall meet Fred face to face, Just beyond.” For it was not in cruelty, nor in wrath, the Reaper came that day; t’was an angel visited the green earth and took our “Flower” away.

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