Locklin Family
Nora Bernice Gentry Locklin, wife of Dee Locklin – grandson of William Lawson Locklin, sent the following information years ago.
THE WILLIAM LAWSON LOCKLIN FAMILY
“TAMP LOCKLIN”
RESEARCH SUBMITTED BY:
Sarah Locklin Taylor Milam County, TX
IF ANYONE IS RESEARCHING THIS LINE OR HAS FURTHER INFORMATION OR IS CONNECTED TO THIS LINE PLEASE CONTACT SARAH.
William Lawson Locklin, “Tamp”, was born in Milam County, Texas, October 11, 1848. He was the fourth child of sixteen surviving children born to “Billy” and Nancy Locklin. He married Melissa Ellen Jones, July 12, 1872, and lived in a log cabin on farm land purchased in Milam County. This land was traded for a flock of sheep and driven from Milam County to Rocky Creek Ranch in Tom Green County, Texas. This ranch was bought prior to moving wife, Melissa, and small son Alvah Donald, who was born April 6, 1876.
Two infant children of Tamp and Melissa were born in Milam County and buried in the Locklin Cemetery at San Gabriel, Texas.
Two sons, Elmer and Dave, were born on the Rocky Creek Ranch. Alvah went to school in San Angelo for one year.
In 1890, the Locklin family moved to Sherwood, the County seat of Irion County. Here on December 14, 1893, a baby girl, Hettie, was born to the couple.
Tamp and his boys were in the sheep business. They had large flocks of sheep ranging from 2000 to 10,000 head. All the sheep were herded by Mexicans on the open range, operating in several counties over a period of years. Their counties were: Irion, Sutton, Terrell, Schleicher, Val Verde, Kenny, Edwards, and Pecos. This was all unfenced land, maybe every one hundred miles there would be a drift fence for use by cattlemen.
Grandpa, Tamp Locklin, was very diplomatic and could usually get along well with everyone including cattlemen.
Once, the Locklins were driving their sheep across country below Ozona. The sheep had not been watered in several days. They stopped at a ranch which had a big tank of water but the owner said, “In no way would sheep water in his tank”. The next morning everyone was armed but Grandpa put the sheep through the gate on the water. It was about thirteen against Tamp and his sons, Alvah and Dave. Alvah was driving the chuck wagon; he got off the wagon by the wheel. Tamp led the sheep in the gate and they watered, everyone stood by his gun but nothing happened.
When the sheep were ready to bring their lambs in the spring, Grandpa, Alvah, Elmer, Dave and the Mexican herders would drive the sheep near home, Sherwood. The only shipping points for wool, lambs and supplies were San Angelo and Del Rio.
Melissa Locklin was a real homemaker and was never happier than when all her children were in her home.
Grandpa Locklin died Sept. 23, 1914, and Grandma died July 26, 1935, both are buried in the Sherwood Cemetery.
Submitted by, Mrs. Dee Locklin, McCamey, TX
Grandchildren of the Locklin couple are: Dee, Lela, Leatie, Donald, Dave, Elmer Locklin, Hiram Whitaker, and Kelso and Davey Dean Locklin. Thank you! Sarah Locklin Taylor
Milam County, TX Paternal Research: LOCKLIN, MERCER, ZACHRY, FOKES, FULCHER, McLENNAN, McKINNON and many others.
Maternal Research: BENAD, BACHMANN, HERRING, STONE and WALL.
Descendants of William Lawson Locklin, Jr.
Generation No. 1
1. WILLIAM LAWSON5 LOCKLIN, JR. (WILLIAM LAWSON4, SAMUEL W.3, SAMUEL W.2 LACHLAND, SR., WILLIAM (LAUCHLINE)1) was born Oct 11, 1848 in Milam Co., TX, and died Sep 23, 1914 in Sherwood, Irion Co., TX. He married MELISSA ELLEN JONES Jul 18, 1872 in San Gabriel, Milam Co., TX, daughter of DAVID JONES and MIRAH MILLER. She was born May 04, 1856 in Grimes Co., TX, and died Jul 26, 1935 in Sherwood, Irion Co., TX.
Early Days of W.L. & Melissa Locklin
William Lawson Locklin and Melissa Ellen Jones were married at San Gabriel, Texas, Milam County, on July 18, 1872.
Melissa’s parents, David Enoch Jones and Mirah Miller, had four children, namely: Thomas E. Jones, born 1853; Melissa Ellen Jones, born 1856; William Jones, born 1861; and Hardie L. Jones, born 1866.
David Enoch Jones was a Baptist Minister and served as a Chaplain in the Civil War. At the time of the marriage of Melissa and W.L. Locklin, all her family had passed away except Hardie L. Jones, then about 5 or 6 years old. He was reared by them and was married to Nina Martin, Jan. 3, 1892.
When W.L. Locklin and Melissa were first married, they lived in a log cabin on farm land purchased in Milam County. This land was traded for a flock of sheep and moved from Milam County, Texas to Tom Green County on a ranch purchased prior to moving the family, known as Rocky Creek Ranch. There they lived until in the 1890’s. From there they moved to Sherwood, Irion County, Texas. Later the Tom Green Ranch was sold and the sheep were moved to leased land at 25 cents an acre. The herds were increased to as many as 10,000 sheep at a time, all under herd by Mexicans on the open range, operating in several counties over a period of years, among them were: Irion Co., Sutton Co., Schleicher Co., Val Verde Co., Kenny Co., Edwards Co., Terrell Co., and Pecos Co.
My parents, W.L. and Melissa Locklin are buried in the Sherwood Cemetery, also 3 sons, A.D. Locklin, Elmer Locklin and David Locklin. Three infants are buried at Milam County. Hettie now resides at Arlington, Tarrant County, Texas.
More About WILLIAM LAWSON LOCKLIN, JR.:
Burial: Sep 1914, Sherwood Cemetery, Irion Co., TX
Occupation: Sheep Rancher
Residence: Milam Co., TX
More About MELISSA ELLEN JONES:
Burial: Jul 1935, Sherwood Cemetery, Irion Co., TX
More About WILLIAM LOCKLIN and MELISSA JONES:
Marriage: Jul 18, 1872, San Gabriel, Milam Co., TX
State of Texas Death Records – Melissa Locklin – Irion County, 7/26/1935, Record #33993
Children of WILLIAM LOCKLIN and MELISSA JONES are:
i. INFANT (SON OF TAMP & MELISSA)6 LOCKLIN, b. Jan 25, 1874, Milam Co., Texas; d. Jan 25, 1874, Milam Co., Texas.
More About INFANT (SON OF TAMP & MELISSA) LOCKLIN:
Burial: Locklin Cemetery, San Gabriel, Milam Co., TX
2. ii. ALVAH DONALD LOCKLIN, b. Apr 06, 1876, Milam Co, Texas; d. Jun 25, 1967, Upton Co., TX.
iii. INFANT (DAU. OF TAMP & MELISSA) LOCKLIN, b. Oct 14, 1878, Milam Co., Texas; d. Dec 17, 1878, Milam Co., Texas.
More About INFANT (DAU. OF TAMP & MELISSA) LOCKLIN:
Burial: Locklin Cemetery, San Gabriel, Milam Co., TX
iv. ELMER LAWSON LOCKLIN, b. Dec 22, 1881, Rocky Creek Ranch, Tom Green Co., TX; d. Apr 10, 1933.
Death Records for the State of Texas shows Elmer L. Locklin – Tom Green County – 4/10/33 – Record #20343
More About ELMER LAWSON LOCKLIN:
Burial: Sherwood Cemetery, Irion Co., TX
Draft Registration: Irion Co., TX
Residence: Littlefield, TX @ time of Draft Registration
v. INFANT (DAU. OF TAMP & MELISSA) LOCKLIN, b. Abt. 1885, Milam Co., Texas; d. Milam Co., Texas.
More About INFANT (DAU. OF TAMP & MELISSA) LOCKLIN:
Burial: Locklin Cemetery, San Gabriel, Milam Co., TX
3. vi. DAVID WILLIAM LOCKLIN, b. May 26, 1888, Rocky Creek Ranch, Tom Green Co., TX; d. Jan 17, 1968, Tom Green Co., TX.
vii. HETTIE LOCKLIN, b. Dec 14, 1893, Irion Co., TX; m. (1) HIRAM OBIE WHITAKER; b. Dec 1891, TX; m. (2) LAST NAME RUTLEDGE; b. Abt. 1890.
Generation No. 2
2. ALVAH DONALD6 LOCKLIN (WILLIAM LAWSON5, WILLIAM LAWSON4, SAMUEL W.3, SAMUEL W.2 LACHLAND, SR., WILLIAM (LAUCHLINE)1) was born Apr 06, 1876 in Milam Co, Texas, and died Jun 25, 1967 in Upton Co., TX. He married JENNIE SMITH Mar 08, 1895. She was born Feb 25, 1877 in Bell Co., TX, and died May 14, 1914.
More About ALVAH DONALD LOCKLIN:
Burial: Sherwood Cemetery, Irion Co., TX
Draft Registration: Irion Co., TX
More About JENNIE SMITH:
Burial: Sherwood Cemetery, Irion Co., TX
More About ALVAH LOCKLIN and JENNIE SMITH:
Marriage: Mar 08, 1895
Child of ALVAH LOCKLIN and JENNIE SMITH is:
4. i. DEE7 LOCKLIN, b. Jan 18, 1896, Irion Co., Texas; d. Feb 21, 1983, Upton Co., TX.
3. DAVID WILLIAM6 LOCKLIN (WILLIAM LAWSON5, WILLIAM LAWSON4, SAMUEL W.3, SAMUEL W.2 LACHLAND, SR., WILLIAM (LAUCHLINE)1) was born May 26, 1888 in Rocky Creek Ranch, Tom Green Co., TX, and died Jan 17, 1968 in Tom Green Co., TX. He married STELLA STOKES. She was born Abt. 1890.
More About DAVID WILLIAM LOCKLIN:
Burial: Sherwood Cemetery, Irion Co., TX
Draft Registration: Val Verde Co., TX
More About DAVID LOCKLIN and STELLA STOKES:
Divorced: Per Death Listing Separated/Divorced
Child of DAVID LOCKLIN and STELLA STOKES is:
i. DAVEY DEAN7 LOCKLIN, b. Jan 12, 1928, Dallas Co., TX.
Generation No. 3
4. DEE7 LOCKLIN (ALVAH DONALD6, WILLIAM LAWSON5, WILLIAM LAWSON4, SAMUEL W.3, SAMUEL W.2 LACHLAND, SR., WILLIAM (LAUCHLINE)1) was born Jan 18, 1896 in Irion Co., Texas, and died Feb 21, 1983 in Upton Co., TX. He married NORA BERNICE GENTRY. She was born Aug 30, 1897, and died Dec 19, 1998 in Upton Co., TX.
More About DEE LOCKLIN:
Burial: Sherwood Cemetery, Irion Co., TX
Draft Registration: Irion Co., TX
More About NORA BERNICE GENTRY:
Burial: Sherwood Cemetery, Irion Co., TX
Last Residence: 1998, McCamey, Upton Co., TX
Residence: McCamey, TX
Child of DEE LOCKLIN and NORA GENTRY is:
i. WILLIAM DEE8 LOCKLIN, b. Jul 25, 1939, Wichita Co., TX; m. MARY LOIS HOWTON, Aug 10, 1966, Ector Co., TX.
More About WILLIAM LOCKLIN and MARY HOWTON:
Marriage: Aug 10, 1966, Ector Co., TX
Marriage license: Aug 10, 1966, 066933
