My Genealogy Hound

CLARK RAWSON LOCKWOOD, of sturdy and honorable New England ancestry, has been for about forty years before the public as a prominent lawyer of Chautauqua county, New York, where he now resides. He was born in the town of Schroon, Essex county, New York, June 6, 1827, and is a son of Jeremiah and Amanda (Rawson) Lockwood. Jeremiah Lockwood, Jr., (for that was his father’s name) was born at Lanesborough, Berkshire county, Mass., May 17, 1797. His mother was born at the head of Schroon Lake, Essex county, N. Y., February 4, 1800, and is said to have been the first white female child born in the town of Schroon. Jeremiah Lockwood, Sr. (paternal grandfather of C. R. L.), came from Massachusetts to Schroon in the year 1810. His birth-place was Norwalk, Conn., but when quite young he moved to Massachusetts, where on January 19, 1776, he was united in marriage with Mehitable Clark. At the time of their removal to Schroon they had three sons living, of whom Jeremiah, Jr., was one. Jeremiah, Jr. and Amanda Rawson were married at Schroon Lake about the year 1819, and continued to reside in the town of Schroon down to the death of Amanda, which occurred June 22, 1850. The permanent home of Jeremiah, Jr., and family was about two miles north of Schroon Lake, where for many years they kept what was known as “Lockwood’s Tavern.” November 20, 1856, Jeremiah, Jr., married Mrs. Margaret McCaffre Allen, a widow lady, with whom he continued to live down to her death, which occurred May 15, 1868, and about June 1, 1868, he removed to Chestertown, Warren county, N. Y., where he continued to reside with his daughter Harriet (who was the wife of Charles Fowler,) down to his death, which occurred April 19, 1869. Of the nine children born to Jeremiah, Jr., and Amanda (Rawson) Lockwood, there are now living: Harriet R., Henry F., Pamelia J. and Clark R. Amanda (Rawson) Lockwood was the daughter of Simeon and Anna (Holden) Rawson, who moved from Shrewsbury, Vt., to Schroon, in the year 1798, and where both remained down to their deaths which occurred many years since. There were born to them eleven children, the last of whom, Safford Rawson, of Leroy, Genesee county, N. Y., died in May, 1891, being ninety-six years of age December 9, 1890. If there be credit in adding multitudes to the human family, then, indeed, both the Lockwoods and Rawsons are entitled to very much, for from their households have sprung numerous children who, to greater or less extent, have made their mark in the world.

Clark R. Lockwood received his early education in the common schools of his native town. At the age of about sixteen years he entered the wagon-shop of Jonathan Stevens, of Castleton, Vt., for the purpose of learning the trade. His health was not good, and after remaining in the shop about eighteen months, he was obliged to leave the business, which he did and returned to his home. After recruiting in health, and as soon as able, he commenced attending school with the view of fitting himself for other duties. For several winters he taught school in his native district and adjoining towns, and summers attended school at Ticonderoga, N. Y. and Poultney, Vt. Considerable of his time was devoted to the learning of the French language; and hoping to make greater proficiency therein, he went to Canada where he remained in a French family for quite a time, learning to speak the language, which he did so well as to enable him to instruct others. During these several years his physical health was very much improved, and he resolved to engage in something for permanent business, and through the assistance of Mr. A. R. Catlin, then of Jamestown, he secured an opportunity for reading law in the office of Orsell Cook, at that time an active and popular lawyer also residing in Jamestown. Almost penniless and with but little encouragement, except through his own resolution, in August, 1849, he left home for Jamestown where he arrived August 24, and on the next day commenced as a law student with Mr. Cook. This proved to be a very favorable opportunity for learning law, as Mr. Cook had an extensive clientage and the field for practice in the lower courts was such that theoretical and practical knowledge were constant aids to each other. Mr. Cook, too, was an industrious worker and gave to his students the fullest opportunities for improvement, so that the main things needed for professional success, were willingness of and actual application, all of which C. R. Lockwood possessed. Poverty of circumstances compelled constant labor and, after reading and office work for less than a year, he commenced trying cases in Justice’s court, from which he derived a sufficiency to nearly support him, in that great economy in dress was exercised, and he boarded himself in the office where he kept “bachelor’s hall” for several years. During this time he taught a term of school in what was known as the Pine street school-house, then located on the corner of Fourth and Pine streets in Jamestown. During the winter of 1852 and 1853, Mr. Lockwood attended the Fowler law school at Ballston Spa, N. Y., and in the spring of 1853, at a general term of the Supreme Court, he was admitted to practice in all the courts of the State, and subsequently in the United States Courts. After his first admission, in 1853, he returned to the office of Mr. Cook where he remained but a short time, and then entered into a law partnership with William M. Newton, under the name of “Lockwood & Newton.” This firm lasted to about August 25, 1855, when the former principal and student formed a partnership known as “Cook & Lockwood.” Under this name they practiced their profession, down to August, 1880, when Mr. Jerome B. Fisher was admitted into the firm, which then assumed and continued practice, under the name of “Cook, Lockwood & Fisher.” About this time Mr. Lockwood’s health began to fail and became so poor that in 1881, under the advice of his physician, he retired from the firm, and for many months refrained almost entirely from the practice of his profession.

On July 6, 1853, Clark R. Lockwood and Miss Eunice E. Wheeler, of the town of Schroon, were united in marriage, and soon thereafter they commenced housekeeping in Jamestown, where they have ever since resided. Nehemiah and Olive (Fenton) Wheeler were the parents of Eunice E. Their residence was at the head of Paradox Lake, town of Schroon, where Mr. Wheeler had for many years been a prosperous, and for that country an extensive lumber dealer. Their family consisted of three daughters and one son, Eunice E. being the oldest. All the children are now living: Caroline F. and Laura W. residing in Jamestown; and Eliza A. and Edward A. residing in Colorado. Their parents died several years since. Nehemiah was quite a prominent man in his town, for many years holding important offices. His wife, Olive Fenton, was a native of Connecticut, and born in the year 1805, March 5. To Clark and Eunice E. have been born three children: Olive Amanda, wife of A. E. Allen, now residing in Jamestown; Lizzie W., who died in her childhood; and Clark W., who continues to live with his parents.

It was during the year 1881 that Clark R. built the “Opera-house block” which is located on East Second street, Jamestown. This block is 87 1/2 feet on East Second street, and extends back in depth 150 feet to East First street. On East First street it is six stories in height, and on East Second street four stories. Building is of brick and stone, and was constructed under the general superintendence of his son-in-law, Mr. A. E. Allen. In the block is “Allen’s Opera-house,” which has become quite noted in the theatrical world. Indeed the building is a bee-hive of industry, and to say that it is an ornament to the now “city of Jamestown,” is no more than its merits deserve.

After about eighteen months Mr. Lockwood’s health had so much improved that he re-engaged in professional work and, establishing his office in his block, he continued in practice under the name of different partnerships down to the year 1888, when he formed a partnership with Fred. R. Peterson, under the name of “Lockwood & Peterson,” which yet exists. Believing in the integrity of creation and liberal in opinion, C. R. Lockwood has ever repudiated the monstrosities and absurdities of “popular religion,” and today rejoices that advancing years verify his belief and justify his course. Unyielding in the belief that freedom is the natural and should be the governmental right of every American citizen, regardless of color or sex, he was active in republican ranks, and no one more gloried at the emancipation of the slave than did he; but when the party repudiated the well-earned and equal rights of citizen women, he regarded it as having violated plighted faith and no longer entitled to the fidelity of one whose principles of Liberty knew no distinction of right thereto between man and woman. Latterly he has devoted his energies to “political equality,” believing it the sublimity of American citizenship, as it will be the ultimate result from intellectual growth, personal need and State and National demand.

Though nearly sixty-four years of age, Mr. Lockwood has much of mental and physical vigor remaining, and with the exercise of ordinary energy, there is considerable yet in store for him to perform; and judging the future from the past, we may rest assured that it will bear the impress of wonted perseverance and industry.