Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 1119 – 1120

DR. PETER A. LOCKE, late a resident of Ninnescah Township, and who departed this life Feb. 2, 1887, at his home in Clearwater, was a native of Alabama, and born Dec. 16, 1844. His parents were John and Margaret Locke, the latter of whom died when he was a child two years of age. Ten years later he was also deprived by death of his remaining parent, and was then taken into the home of his paternal uncle, Samuel Locke, of Schuyler County, Ill., where he was reared to manhood and to whom he became deeply attached.

             Dr. Locke was a man of fine education and of more than ordinary ability. During the late war he enlisted from Schuyler County, Ill., in the 16th Infantry, of which he became First Lieutenant, and in less than a year received the position of Colonel on account of meritorious conduct on the field. Holding this rank he served with distinction during the remainder of the war, participating in many of its important battles. At Gettysburg his left arm was shattered by a musket ball, and he was confined in the hospital at Nashville, Tenn., for a period of five months. Upon recovering sufficiently for duty he rejoined his regiment, again taking the field, and was captured by the Confederates, but after a short time paroled and duly exchanged.

             Previous to entering the army, Col. Locke had spent several months studying medicine, and now entered upon a course of lectures in the St. Louis Medical College. Subsequently he became a student of Rush College, Chicago, from which he was graduated with honors. He commenced the practice of his profession at Rixville, Ohio, but a short time later came westward toward Oquawka, Ill., where he practiced four years, then crossing the Mississippi located at Silver Creek, Col. A few years later he removed to Ford County, this State, but shortly after taking up his residence in the latter place there began to develop the germs of the disease which he had contracted in the army, and which was finally the cause of his death. This assumed the form of consumption, and after lingering several months he passed peacefully away. 

            As a practitioner Dr. Locke had been very successful and was an exceptionally fine surgeon. He filled one term in the Chair of Surgery in the Medical College at Joplin, Mo., but resigned his professorship on account of failing health. He was a great reader and possessed a retentive memory, and as a physician and friend enjoyed the unbounded confidence of all who knew him.

             Dr. Locke was first married, March 5, 1864, to Miss Tillie E. Kelley, who bore him two sons—Emri K., now deceased, and Hinman A. He contracted a second marriage, Aug. 4, 1874, with Miss Nira O. Elliott, a native of Ohio, and the daughter of James C. and Elizabeth Elliott, of this county. He was a member in good standing of the Presbyterian Church and active in the G. A. R., and was also identified with the I. O. O. F., and with the honors of the latter order was laid to his final rest. Politically, he was a Democrat, but no office-seeker, preferring to give his attention to his professional duties. In this he took a genuine and devoted interest, making a study of the ills to which human flesh is heir to, and was one of the most capable and conscientious men in his profession. As a father and husband he was all that could be desired, and few men possessed the friendship of the community to a larger degree. He left his widow in comfortable circumstances, with a pleasant home in Coldwater. She is a lady greatly respected and a member of the Presbyterian Church.

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