My Genealogy Hound

JOSEPH MEDLOCK. Among those of foreign birth who are closely associated with the farming interests of Seneca County, we should not fail to present an outline of the career of Mr. Medlock, for he has fully borne out the reputation of that class of thrifty, industrious and enterprising men of English birth who have risen to prominence in various portions of this county. It is with genuine pleasure that we include his sketch in this volume, for he is not only one of the best residents of the county, but a man whose honesty, uprightness and sociability have won for him the esteem of all.

On Christmas Day of 1823, our subject was born in Bedfordshire, England. His parents, William and Mary Medlock, reared a family of four sons and one daughter. When seventeen years of age Joseph enlisted in the British army for a period of twenty-one years. His division was first assigned to Ireland, where he was stationed for eighteen months. On his return to England he spent four months in his native land, and then went with his regiment to the West Indies, being three months and two days on the water.

Landing at Postals Battery, the regiment was stationed there about six weeks, and then was ordered on board a man-of-war, which conveyed it to Montega Bay. After landing there, they marched to Maroon Hill, where they were on duty about eight months. From that place they took passage on a sailing-vessel bound for Halifax, Nova Scotia, where they remained for about four months. From there they went to Montreal, Canada, when they were ordered to report at St. John’s, Canada East, making that place their headquarters for a year and a-half. They then went back to Montreal, and after staying there for thirteen months, took passage on a ship bound for England, and were landed in due time at Portsmouth, England, where they remained for six months.

Our subject about this time put in application for a furlough, and it being granted, he went home and for two months visited his relatives and friends. He then rejoined his regiment at Portsmouth, and shortly thereafter procured his honorable discharge, paying therefor L18. Mr. Medlock was variously employed in his native land until 1854, when he determined to come to America. Engaging passage on a vessel, he was two months and fourteen days en route, and was very well satisfied to make his home on land after arriving here. He made his way from New York City to this county, and chose the town of Covert for his future home. He worked at whatever he could find to do for two years, during which time he had saved a sufficient sum of money to enable him to purchase a small farm. In 1856, however, he moved to the town of Lodi, and lived there on a tract of seventy-five acres until 1895, when he returned to this town. He has been prosperous in his agricultural ventures, having adopted the most approved methods for cultivating the soil.

The lady to whom Mr. Medlock was married, September 3, 1857, was Miss Elizabeth Cannon, who was born in Dublin, Ireland, and who crossed the Atlantic May 1, 1849. Her union with our subject resulted in the birth of seven children, namely: William, Charles and Clinton, deceased; Fred, a farmer of this locality; Morris, who is also engaged in agricultural pursuits; Mary, who married Frank Hazard, a blacksmith of Townsendville; and Annie, the wife of De Forrest Dickerson, a farmer.

In politics Mr. Medlock is a Republican, and in religious affairs is a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is highly regarded here for the sterling traits of character which’ make up a good citizen, kind neighbor and Christian man.