El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-06-05

IlAf1U ll0HILH,
IS DEAD
Continued from Page II
that Taylor did not speak to his sonin-
law until after Buena Vista"
Was Twice Speaker.
Col. Locke married in Mississippi
and removed to Texas soon after. He
was elected speaker of the house Of
representatives for the years 1858 and
1859. In the following year he was
elected member of the secession con-
vention which voted the state of Texas
out of the union, and was chosen to
preside over its deliberations because
of his knowledge of parliamentary law.
Deposed Sam Houston.
zone of the first things we had 10
do was to depose governor Sam Hous-
ton feom the office" said Col. Locke.
Governor Houston and 1 were good
friends. met him often at church,
and admired him greatly. He was
UniOnist, however, and the convention
determined to depose him. I was a
member of the committee which noti
fled the governor of the action Of the
convention Knowing Houston as l
did, was chosen to be the spokes-
man.
when we arrived governor Houston,
who was one Of the most courteous
men 1 have ever known, received US.
said: Governor Houston, the conven-
ton now in session has decided that
If and voI1 oa1n0f work IN ha-monv
therefore this committee has been del
egated to inform you that you have
been deposed from the office. We,
therefore, are under the necessity of
asking you TO vacate.'
He said: Gentlemen, I appreciate
your position. I have the honor TO
bid you good morning. and with that
he bowed himself from the room.
Lieutenant governor Clarke, south
ern sympathizer. assumed the gov
ernorship and there was no further
friction
Raised Regiment.
After the ordinance of secession had
been passed Mr.. Locke went home and
was appointed colonel of cavalry. He
proceeded at once to raise a regiment
Of volunteers. In the meantime he had
been elected state senator. He wrote
men Of his regiment expected him to
command them in the war he would
resign as senator which he did. He
served throughout the war, and in
1865 removed to Arkansas, settling at
Van Buren, Shortly thereafter he laid
out the town of Alma, and is yet
known as the Father of Alma"
Agricultural Commissioner.
In 1887 the Arkansas legislature Gre
ated the department Of mines, manu-
features and agriculture. and in the
fall of that year Col. Locke was elect
ed the first commissioner. The first
Of January, il 1883. he organized the
present department Of agriculture,
with NJ. w. ManviIle as his deputy.
Two years later he was reelected, and
for that term c. A Nauck was appoint
ed deputy. He removed to Little Rock
in 1888, and from that time that city
had been his home until he moved to
FL Paso.s His two former wives having
died some years previously, Col Locke
married Mrs. Jennie L. Laurie in Little
Rock in 1890. She is living. It was
partly on account of the state of Mrs
Loo-1e's hea:in, that the change in resi-
dence was made.
His Mind Very Active.
Col. Locke at 81 was a bit infirm
physically. but his mind was the same
as that which dominated the house of
representatives for two sessions in
Texas. and which, to a great extent.
shaped the work of the secession con-.
vention in 1850. His memory as to far
past events was especially clear and
distinct. He noted that II is a great
deal easier to reme mber occurrences
so TO so years ago than those of the
past decade
His personal FecoHections of gov
ernor Sam Houston. jefferson Davis.
Gen. Santa Ana, Gen 'Zack' TAYLOR
and other leading spirits of those days
were especially vivid and entertain
His remembrance OF Col Bowles. com
handing the. second Indiana who de-
serted on the field of Buena Vista. was
not the most pleasant In the heat of
battle the second Indiana turned tail !.
and fled, but later in the day the third
Indiana, under Col Zoe Lane. over
came thesdisgrace upon the state, when
it supported the third Mississippi un-
der command of Jefferson Davis.
AS to the election as president of
the secession convention. Col. Locke
was very modest. He declared that an
other was elected 70 the position but
that being Unfamiliar with parlia
mentary usages he was not able to
Tie convention as ne desired.
Col Locke was asked TO
WELD the gavel enc two DAYS later
he was elected permanent president.
Destk Comes Suddenly.
The death of Col Locke was uuex-
pected. Saturday afternoon ne attend
ed the Jeff Favis memorial exercises
Of the Daughters OF the Confederacv.
and was apparently in good health. |
Sunday evening he ate a hearty dinner |
and went out on the porch to sit for
awhile Suddenly he called to Mrs. /
Locke TO bring him stimulant. and |
before he could take more than a few |
sips he was dead
The funeral viii be held Tuesday |
afternoon at 4 o'clock. interment taking /
place in Ell Paso. although it was at /
-1rst expected that the remains would |
be shipped to Alma. Ark. The Masons !
of which deceased was a member. will |
have charge of the services
Deceased. besides his wife leaves /
laughter. Miss Jennie. aged 16.l and a /
son. aged II. in FL PasO. He also /
caves a