A MEMORIAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF IOWA
SAMUEL HOCKETT
SAMUEL HOCKETT, Redfield, Iowa, is well known in this part of the State for the prominent part he has taken as a worker in the Friends’ Church. On coming to Iowa, in 1881, he organized the church of which he is now Presiding Elder, starting with a membership of less than twenty and in a few years increasing it to upwards of sixty. At present, however, its membership numbers only about forty. Besides his efficient work here he has been largely instrumental in advancing the cause of Christ elsewhere.
Samuel Hockett dates his birth in Randolph county, Indiana, May 9, 1835, he being the eleventh in a family of twelve children. When he was three years old his parents removed with their family to Henry county, Iowa. This was just previous to the first Government land sale, and, when the United States sold what had been the haunts and hunting grounds of the Black Hawk warriors, his father pur chased a half section of land at $1.25 per acre. Joseph Hockett, the father, was a native of Randolph county, North Carolina, was of English extraction, and when ten years of age removed with his parents to Highland county, Ohio. He died in June, 1846, at the age of fifty-seven years. Early in life he was united in marriage to Miss Martha Smith, a Virginian by birth who traced her ancestry back to the Emerald Isle. She survived her husband a number of years, her death occurring in 1877, at the age of eighty-three.
Reared on the frontier, the subject of our sketch had limited educational advantages, his schooling being confined to the typical district schools of that day. He may well be termed self-educated, for the greater part of his wide range of knowledge has been gained by observation and by home reading and study. He remained with his mother until attaining his majority, after which he commenced farming for himself, and for forty-four years he farmed in the same county, and with the exception of a year or so lived within sight of his mother's home. However, during all these years farming was not his only vocation; he was constantly working for the Lord. Indeed, he has spent the greater part of his life in the pulpit, and much of his time as well as money in charities. In the spring of 1881 he sold his farm of 105 acres and came to Dallas county, selecting his location in Liim township, where he purchased his present property, comprising 160 acres. Here he has since lived with the exception of three years spent in Greene county, whither he went to take charge of two churches, one of which was across the line in Calhoun county. At the time he settled in Dallas county his place was only slightly improved; the first year he and his family suffered not a eleventh in a family of twelve children. When I little from the severity of the weather, and the outlook was enough to make homesick the bravest hearts. But Samuel Hockett was not one of the kind to be discouraged long, and his determined and well directed efforts soon gave a different aspect to the place. To-day his farm is ranked with the best improved ones in the township. Besides his own comfortable residence, he has a good tenant-house.
Mr. Hockett has been married three times. June 8, 1856, he wedded Sarah Cook, a native of Iowa, who died January 20, 1862, without issue. He was again married, March 22, 1866, this time to Annie Jane Trueblood, a native of Indiana, whose life was blended with his for a period of twenty-five years, and who passed away June 20, 1891, leaving not only a devoted husband but also a family of seven children to mourn their loss. She had one other child, Clinton, that died in infancy. Those living are Clifton, Alice, Hermon, Lydia, Milo, Howard and Grace. Deprived of early school ad vantages himself, Mr. Hockett has made it a point to afford his children good education and fit them to occupy useful positions in life. Miss Lydia is now a popular and successful teacher. November 29, 1891, was consummated Mr. Hockett's marriage to Mrs. Frances E. Taylor, we Warren, his present companion. She is a native of New York, and has a son, Clarence, by her marriage to William R. Taylor.
Politically, Mr. Hockett has been an ardent Republican ever since he cast his first vote for John C. Fremont.
From A Memorial and Biographical Record of Iowa, Volume I, Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1896, pp. 544-545. Transcribed July, 2015 by Conni McDaniel Hall.