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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."
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