My Genealogy Hound

Thomas T. Locke, planter, ginner and merchant, and one of the representative men of Cotton Plant Township, is originally from Rowan County, N. C., being born in 1825, and one of six children given to J. Richard and Margaret (Gheen) Locke. Richard Locke and wife were of North Carolina nativity, and died in that State in 1836 and 1849, respectively. He was a prosperous farmer, and his father, Alex. Locke, was also of North Carolina, his birth and death occurring in that State. The maternal grandfather, Joseph Gheen, was of Dutch descent, a native of North Carolina, and died in Kentucky. Thomas T. Locke is the only member of his father’s family living. He was educated in the common schools of his home, and in 1851 was married to Margaret A., daughter of Daniel and Hethey Harris, who were natives and life-long residents of North Carolina. To Mr. and Mrs. Locke seven children have been born, two of them now living: Thomas A. and Ida L. (wife of Frank P. Hill). Mr. Locke came to Woodruff County in 1858, settling on his present farm, which is five miles north of Cotton Plant. It is, without doubt, one of the finest farms in the county, consisting of 640 acres, with over 450 under a careful state of cultivation. On his daughter’s marriage he presented her with 200 acres, which in itself is a very fine farm, and the two farms combined make a very fine plantation. Mr. Locke operates a plantation store and a gin, which has been in successful operation since his residence in Arkansas. It would seem that with so much on his mind something would have to be neglected, but Mr. Locke manages his farm, gin and mercantile business in a way that demonstrates his perfect efficiency to complete anything he undertakes. Mrs. Locke died in 1868, while in Mississippi, where she had gone for her health, and in 1876 Mr. Locke again married, this time to Mrs. Mary E. Linthicum, of Arkansas, and a daughter of the Hon. Parley P. Hill, who was among the first settlers in Woodruff County, and one of its most prominent citizens in an early day. He was a member of the legislature from Woodruff County from 1848 to 1849, and a wealthy planter. His death occurred in 1866. Mr. Locke served in the war a short time, under Capt. Cauley, in 1864. Previous to the war he was a Whig, voting for Taylor in 1848, but since that time has been a stanch Democrat. He has been connected with the Cotton Plant Presbyterian Church since 1864, and has presided as an elder since 1877. Mrs. Locke has been a member of the Presbyterian Church for a great many years, and is known and respected by everyone. Mr. Locke is a good citizen, lending his support to all worthy movements, and is of the character of men who help to build the villages into towns and the towns into cities.