Lock, Henry bio

Portrait and Biographical Album of Fulton County, Illinois: containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county: together with portraits and biographies of all the presidents of the United States, and governors of the state; Biographical Pub. Co., Chicago, IL; 1890; page 740 & 743; Transcribed by Margaret Rose Whitehurst
Henry Lock is a respected member of the farming community of this county. For thirty years he has owned and occupied his present farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Joshua Township. He has it under fine cultivation, has placed upon it substantial improvements, and as the result of a hard, earnest, laborious life, has made here a cozy home, wherein he can pass his declining years in comfort, peace and happiness, free from the cares that beset his younger days.
Mr. Lock is of English birth, born in Devonshire in 1824. In the prime of a vigorous manhood he emigrated to America, hoping thereby to better his fortunes. Our subject was six weeks en voyage to this country; they were becalmed fourteen days in the ice and the vessel lost her mast in a storm off Newfoundland. After landing on these shores he made his way to this State, settled in Peoria County, and the ensuing seven years was industriously engaged in farming there. When he first entered upon his career after coming to this State, he had but five pounds sterling with which to begin his new life. He had, however, what was better; good physical endowments, industrious habits and a well-balanced mind and these have been sufficient capital to place him in prosperous circumstances. In 1859 he removed to this county and has since been a useful citizen of Joshua Township, where his farming operations are centered.
Our subject found in this county soon after coming here one of life’s choicest blessings, a good wife, in the person of Miss Polly Smith, to whom his life was united July 28, 1861. Mrs. Lock was born in Ohio and is the daughter of Mathias and Polly (Burns) Smith, who are natives of Pennsylvania. To them have been born two sons – William H. and James A., aged respectively twenty-six and twenty-four years. They have been carefully trained and are following in the footsteps of their parents and are respected and honored young men in this their native county.
Mr. and Mrs. Lock are highly regarded by all who know them for those sterling traits of character that mark them as eminently worthy of respect. Mr. Lock is a strong Republican in his political views, and is much interested in the affairs of his adopted country. Mrs. Lock is a pure Christian woman and a member of the Dunkard Church.