|
Last week, Rev. J. P. BROOKS of this city moved the remains of his great-grandfather from the MARTIN place, formerly the home of Rev. Jacob LOCKE, to the TERRY-PARRISH lot in the Glasgow Cemetry [Glasgow Municipal]. At the same time the remains of Rev. LOCKE's wife, Margaret JETT LOCKE, niece of the well-known David CROCKETT were interred with her husband.
Rev. Jacob LOCKE was born in Hanover County, Virginia, August 24, 1768. Hanover is derived from the word "Hohenufer", meaning high rank. He was the
son Richard and Mary LOCKE, both of English parents.
Rev. LOCKE had but little educational advantages; in fact, the sum total of his attendance at school was three months and the extent of his education consisted of abilty of read, write and cipher, at the age of twenty one years, but his mentality was of such character that he triumphed over this handicap; he was a close studnt, both of books, nature, and humankind. He collected quite an extensive library for his day and became thoroughly conversant with the best in the literature of his time. He was a born orator and could sway his hearers at will. Rev. LOCKE was a genuine pioneer. He was ever looking toward the West and hoping to solve the lure of the wilderness. After several locations in Barren County, he finally settled on a farm near Flint Knob, on which Mr. MARTIN now lives. Here he built a house from the logs cut from his own lands, and so well and so strong did he build that it stands today and is occupied by Mr. MARTIN and family.
When Rev. and Mrs. LOCKE came from Virginia, they made the trip on horse back and moved their household effects in the same way. The trip was a dangerous one and before reaching Fort Boonesboro, several of the party had been killed, either by the lurking Indians or the fierce wild beasts; they arrived in Kentucky in 1789 and reached Barren County in 1799.
Rev. and Mrs. LOCKE not only lived to celebrate their golden wedding but passed eight years beyond it. There were born to this couple eight sons and one daughter, all of whom it is claimed lived to maturity. One of the sons followed his father in the ministry, but never equaled him either in ability or in power.
Rev. Locke was converted and dedicted his life to God at twenty years old; he preached and exhorted for several years before his ordination, but did not receive any pay for it. Much of his preaching was done in the log cabin homes of the new settlers; he would go from community to community on horseback; call the scattered settlers together in someones home and there preach the precious depths of God's word. His message then and all the way through his long, useful life was of love of duty, and of service. He believed he was divinely called to preach the Gospel and that God would hold him responsible for the use of his time and talent. After his ordination to the full work of the ministry he became the guiding spirit in the establishing of Green River Association of Baptists in 1815 and was
moderator of this body with the exception of four years until 1840, at which time the Liberty Association of Baptist was formed and came out of the Green River Association, the separation being brought about over the question of missions. Those withdrawing from the Green River body, claimed the "Liberty" of working the the cause of missions, hence the name Liberty.
Rev. LOCKE joined Mt. Tabor Baptist Church on the third Saturday in June, 1800 and his good wife followed his example the next day. The church licensed him to exhort on the third Saturday in August 1800, then licensed him in March, 1801 to preach the Gospel wherever God might call him. His ordination was on the third Saturday in March, 1802, the Prebytery consisted of Alex. DAVIDSON and Alex. McDOUGAL.
Rev. LOCKE died in 1845 and his wife six years later; both were buried in the LOCKE Family Burying Ground, which ws made into a home lot afterward. Here they rested until their great-grandson, Rev. J. P. BROOKS agigated the question of moving their remains to a cemetery where the graves would be cared for; this effort upon his part, resulted in the bringing of the tomb and the few remaining bones here for reinterment. Rev. BROOKS is preparing an appropriate programme for Rev. LOCKE to be held at the TERRY-PARISH lot at the Cemtery on October 6, 1934. This meeting will be one of great interest to all our people and we doubt not will be attending by many people from a distance."
Back
[an error occurred while processing this directive]
|
