My Genealogy Hound

SYLVENIS LOCKARD, who resides in township 46, range 26, Johnson County, is a native of Ohio, born in Perry County, July, 15, 1846. He is a son of Hugh and Ann (Zuby) Lockard, and is one of thirteen children, of whom ten survive. His father, who was also a native of Ohio, was born in Steubenville, and was reared to the life of a farmer. He engaged in farming in Ohio for a number of years, and in 1870 moved to Kansas, where he continued in the same occupation, and where he resided until his death.

The subject of this sketch was reared at home, and until his sixteenth year attended the public schools of his native state and assisted in the work of the farm, when he enlisted in the army as a member of Company D, Fifty-third Ohio Infantry. The regiment was organized at Jackson, Ohio, February 16, 1862, and left Portsmouth for Paducah, Ky., where it was assigned to the Third Brigade, Sherman’s Division. It was then removed to Savannah, Tenn., and thence to Pittsburg Landing, participating in the Shiloh campaign and movement on to Corinth. On the 2d of June it left Corinth on an expedition to various points in Mississippi and Tennessee, arriving at Memphis July 21. On the 26th of November it engaged in the campaign through Mississippi and thence went to La Grange, Tenn., in January, 1863. On the 7th of March of that year it moved to Moscow, Tenn., where it was mounted and engaged in the campaign against guerrillas. On the 9th of June it went to Young’s Point and participated in the Vicksburg campaign, being assigned to the Third Brigade, First Division, Sixteenth Army Corps. On the surrender of Vicksburg, it was moved up the Yazoo River to Snider’ s Bluff, thence to Oak Ridge and then against Jackson, Miss. On the 1st of October it left Vicksburg for Memphis, and on the 15th began a campaign in Mississippi and Alabama to Trenton, Ga., and then participated in the Chattanooga campaign, being in the Third Brigade, Fourth Division of the Fifteenth Army Corps. On the 26th of November it moved to the relief of Knoxville, returning to Chattanooga in December; and then moved to Scottsboro, Ala., January 1, 1864. The most important actions in which Mr. Lockard participated were Shiloh, Tenn., April 6 and 7, 1862; Monterey, April 8; Corinth, April 20 to May 20; Black River, Miss., July 4 and 5, 1863; Jackson, July 9 to 16; and Mission Ridge, November 25. He was honorably mustered out March 5, 1864, on the surgeon’s certificate of disability.

On receiving his discharge, Mr. Lockard went to Ross County, Ohio, and engaged in farming on his own account. He was a young man of nerve and industry, and succeeded reasonably well in his first venture. In 1867, with but a few dollars in his pocket, he came to Missouri, locating in Johnson County, and after a year’s work for others purchased sixty acres of land near his present home, which he farmed successfully for a few years and then purchased one hundred acres, which he began to improve. It was about this time that success seemed to crown his every effort, and from year to year he added to his farm until he now has six hundred and fifty-nine acres under a good state of cultivation. He is a thoroughly practical farmer and stock-raiser on a large scale, having now on his place some one hundred and sixty head of cattle, which he is feeding for market, together with much other live stock.

Returning to Ohio, January 1, 1869, Mr. Lockard was united in marriage with Miss Hannah Hier, the daughter of Michael Hier. Bringing his young wife to his Western home, they settled down to what they thought would be a life of future happiness, but unfortunately Mrs. Lockard was called to her final rest. After about three years Mr. Lockard married Miss Evaline Shackelford, daughter of James Shackelford, an old pioneer resident of Johnson County. The marriage took place April 2, 1872. Mr. Lockard was fortunate in the selection of a worthy woman, with many personal and intellectual charms, and his home is a happy one. Seven children came to bless their union, of whom five still survive. They are Mary Ada, Ivory Ann, Sylvenis Hayes, Memphis and Josephine.

Mr. Lockard’s political affiliations are with the Republican party, and religiously he espouses the Methodist belief His home is a most hospitable one, and we are pleased to accord him a prominent place among the worthy and representative citizens of Johnson County.