The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1881-11-16
GRICULTURIST.

and sound minds, binding themselves
by the power OF their wills to con-
tinuous pursuit in their chosen occu-
patton.
An example of maintained indies
pendence, intellectual ability, and
cheerful, untiring perseverance, we
find in the subject OF this sketch, Mrs.
Belva a, Lockwood, of Washington
City.
Belva A. Bennett was born at Roy.
alton, Niagara county, N. Y. in 1880,
being the second of five children,
who were raised together on the
country estate of their parents. From
her earliest years she showed marked
intellectual ability, and at the age OF
fifteen was offered and accepted the
position of teacher in one of New
York's public schools. After three
years successful teaching, she mar.
rled gentleman by the name of Nc
Nails, and LETT the school-room to
perform the duties of farmers wife,
which were ever executed with the
zeal and patience of true woman.
For four years her young life was
bright with domestic happiness; then
death came and took away the dearly
loved husband, leaving her with one
only comfort, her little daughter Lu>
ra. The loss of her husband, her
first great grief she endeavored to
quiet by mental exertion, and for two
years she studied and taught. At
the end of that time she entered Gen.
esee Wesleyan College, N. Y. Her
college career was one OF strict APP
plication, and closed with honor, in
} June, 1857. She then followed teach
ing eleven years, keeping up her habit
of mental application. She studied
three modern languages and became
proficient in them. Ana here let me
remark that one might associate with
her Tor years and never know she
understood French, Spanish or Ital-
ian, unless there was some cause to
obllgate her to speak in those tongues
such is her innate reticence and
m0desty OF character.
In 1868 she married DR.. Lockwood,
OF Washington. Again death snatch.
ed away Ler infant daughter and her
husband. Study was her refuge. She
entered upon the study OF law, pur>
sueing IL in all its branches, and grad
uated nom the National University
Law School in 1878. She was adj
mitted 10 practice in the Supreme
Court Of the District of Columbia.
Later she pushed through Congress
a bill called the "Lockwood Bill"
woman's admission to the
Supreme Court OF the United States
admissible and legal, and became a
member of that bar. She has been
also admitted to the U. S. Court of
Claims, and the Virginia courts. Her
practice is lucrative and extensive.
Mrs. Lockwood is a medium size
lady, with lustrous brown eyes, a
wealth OF silvery.gray hair, and dress
es after the manner Of the period,
only toned down, not quite SO many
fy-away ruff1es as we see ladies OF
the same position and means put on.
She is noted for the calmness OF her
manners. never heard any one say
that in all her onerous and varied
life, she was unbalanced. When ma
king her first plea before that august
tribunal, the Supreme Court Of the
United States, many looked for signs
OF trepidation, but they saw only the
s'me calm lady who, a short time
tetore, they had seen giving orders
about her household management
giving advice to her client, or in the
home Of the wretched bringing aid
and comfort; by the bedside OF some
sick friend; writing loving mothers
letter to that first little daughter God
gave ler--now no longer a little
daughter, but a matron bearing hey
husbands name, and travelling with
him over the countries OF the Did
World.
A beautiful home has Mrs. Lock.
wood at GIG F street, N. w. WASH
ington, D. c., hospitable home,
where friends are greeted and well
coined sincerely, and where those
morally worthy may feel that they
are as free TO come as those who have
wealth or superior intellect The
writer of this sketch knows we'll of
whom she speaks-knows Of her com
public lite-knows Of her
beautiful domestic life-ot her true
refinement of character, aud her ex-
ac!itude in the discharge OF all the
duties, even 10 the smallest one, that