The ancestry of the LOCEY family is Scotch on the paternal side. The great-grandfather emigrated from Scotland to America, and settled in New York some time prior to the revolutionary war. His, son, Daniel LOCEY, grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was born in that State, and there grew to manhood and married Ester TAYLOR, by whom he had twelve children.

In 1826 he came West to Illinois, and settled in Carlyle, Clinton county. He brought all his daughters and youngest son with him. Here he followed his trade of stone and brick mason, and is credited with building some of the first brick chimneys in the town of Carlyle.

He subsequently engaged in farming, and died August 20th, 1835. His wife died November 20th, 1835. Of the twelve children born to them, there were six sons and six daughters, four of whom still survive the parents.

Abraham Taylor LOCEY, one of the sons, the father of Daniel, was born in Sullivan county, New York, in 1806, and was apprenticed to the blacksmith's trade, and was serving out his apprenticeship when the family came West. He followed several years later. After his arrival here he engaged in farming and doing general blacksmithing for his neighbors. He entered land in Santa Fe township, opened up a farm, and continued to reside there until 1854, when he removed to Wade township, and there remained until his death in 1867. He married Elizabeth STEPHENS, who was a native of Kentucky, and daughter of Charles STEPHENS, one of the pioneers of Illinois.

Mr. STEPHENS came here as early as 1814, and brought his slaves with him. Mrs. LOCEY was born in 1816, and was but two years of age when his parents came to the state. She still survives her husband, and at present is a resident of this county. By that union there were seven children born, five sons and two daughters, all of whom reached maturity, and all yet living except Charles, who died in 1878, leaving a wife and one child. He was a soldier during the late war, and was a member of the fifteenth regiment Ill. cavalry, and served nearly three years in the struggle for the suppression of the rebellion.

His brothers, Thomas and George, also served three years in the same company and regiment. George at the date of his enlistment was not yet fifteen years of age. The subject of the present sketch is the eldest of the family. He was born in Santa Fe township, Clinton county, Ill., August 20th, 1836. The winter months were spent in going to school, which was in those days located at a distance of two or three miles. His advantages for receiving and education in his youth were none of the best.

Mr. LOCEY's education is therefore more the result of observation, contact with the world and extensive reading in years after his school days ended. He remained at home until his twentieth year, when he came to Carlyle, and engaged to drive a team over the county and gather up the produce of the farmers, which was shipped to market. He remained in the employ of a gentleman of Carlyle for one year, then did general trading until he married, when he engaged in merchandizing and general trading in the village of Little York in this county, and continued in the business until 1863, then sold out and engaged in farming, and has, to a greater of less extent, continued in his agricultural pursuits from that time to the present.

On the 17th of March, 1859, he was united in marriage to Miss Sarah A. KIRKHAM, a native of Clinton county, Illinois, though reared in Bond county, where she resided at the time of her marriage. Her father, William KIRKHAM, was a native of Kentucky. By this union there are five children living, two sons and three daughters, all of whom are yet at home.

The LOCEY family may be regarded as one of the old families of this section of the State. Nearly a half-century has gone by since they settled here. Mr. LOCEY has remained here since his birth, and in all these years he has been regarded by those who know him best as a worthy and respected citizen, honest and honorable in all his dealings with his fellow-men, and striving to live by the golden rule of doing unto others as he would have others do unto him.

He is a respected member of the I. O. O. F., and belongs to Lodge No. 38, of Carlyle, Ill.

Source: History of Marion and Clinton Counties, Illinois, 1881, Brink, McDonough & Co., Philadelphia

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