My Genealogy Hound

HON. GEORGE N. HOCKER, possessor of one of the fine estates in Johnson County, was elected to represent his district in the Thirty-seventh General Assembly of Missouri in 1892, by a majority of four hundred and twenty-one votes. At the present time he resides on section 13, township 46, range 24, where he located his excellent farm.

A native of Kentucky, born August 17, 1841, in Shelby County, our subject was the fourth in the family of Newton and Nancy (Houseworth) Hocker, also natives of the Blue Grass State. There the father lived until 1870, the year in which he came to Missouri. He now makes his home with his son, our subject, and has passed his eightieth milestone in life. He followed farming in connection with carrying on his trade, that of a tailor, in his native state for many years, but after coming to Missouri gave his attention strictly to cultivating the soil and raising fine stock.

Mrs. Nancy Hocker was born in the Old Dominion in 1809. She accompanied her husband on his various removals, and at the time of her death, in March, 1893, was eighty-three years of age. George N. spent his early years in performing the lighter duties of farm work, and during dull seasons attended the district school. In December, 1868, he came to Missouri, locating on a farm seven miles north of Knobnoster, after which he removed to Pettis County and made that section his home for ten years. In 1881, however, he bought land in Johnson County, on which he lived for four or five years, and in the spring of 1888 moved upon the beautiful estate where he now resides. This place occupies one of the finest sites in the county, and is improved in such a manner as to attract the eye of the passer-by, who at once recognizes it to be the property of a progressive and intelligent agriculturist. Devoting his attention, as he did, to farming in his early life, he knows well how to make his land and labor remunerative.

Mr. Hocker and Miss Mary Scearce were married September 1, 1868. The lady is the daughter of John B. and Pauline (Shouse) Scearce, natives of Woodford County, Ky. Mrs. Hocker was likewise born in the Blue Grass State, and has become the mother of four children, as follows: Boyd W., at home; Thomas, now engaged in business at St. Joseph, this state; Mabel S., the wife of George W. Arthur, a prominent farmer, whose estate is located near the above city; and Mary Ethel, at home with her parents.

With his wife, our subject is a devoted member of the Baptist Church, with which he has been connected since 1871. His political affiliation has always been with the Democratic party, and his popularity is indicated by the fact that he was chosen Representative from his district and elected by a handsome majority. While in the Legislature he served on the Committee of Improvements, Normal Schools and various others of importance. His record was that of a man interested in public improvements, liberal in his views regarding appropriations, but averse to extravagance or fraud. In the landslide in 1894 Hon. Mr. Hocker went down with his party, being defeated, however, by only nineteen votes.