Rio Blanco County CO Archives Biographies.....Hockett, Prior W. August 13, 1856 - 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Shelley Barnes shellbbco@prodigy.net October 27, 2010, 3:22 pm

Source: Progressive Men of Western Colorado
Author: Museum of Northwest Colorado

The thread of individual effort which runs through the great web of human life,
and which forms one of the strands of its most material substance, fashioned for
the wear of daily duty without reference to the special adornment of the
pattern, is one of the most useful and enduring factors of the fabric, and it is
this relation to the whole structure that the career of Prior W. Hockett, of the
Western slope in this state, a resident and progressive ranch and cattle man of
Rio Blanco county, is to be considered.  Without ostentation or self praise,
without aspiration to a position of leadership among his fellows, but with the
laudable desire to do his whole duty in the station to which nature has assigned
him and do it well, he has labored at whatever his hand has found to do, he has
passed his years from boyhood, providing for himself from an early age and
making steady progress in the effort over obstacles and in spite of
difficulties.  He came into the world on August 13, 1856, in Montgomery county,
Indiana, and is the son of Nathan and Hulda (McAllister) Hockett, natives of
South Carolina, who were early settlers in the Hoosier state.  The father was an
industrious farmer, a loyal and zealous Democrat, a good and useful citizen.  He
died in 1880 and his wife in 1872.  Their children numbered nine, five of whom
are living, William A., Sarah E., Prior W., Etta and James Prior, the third in
order of birth of the living children, attended the district schools in the
vicinity of his home and worked on the farm with his parents, as country boys
are wont to do all over the country, remaining at home until he reached the age
of twenty-one.  He then left the paternal roof-tree, and after passing three
years in various occupations in Kansas City, Missouri, came to Colorado in 1874
and took up a tract of land on Williams's fork in Routt county.  This he
occupied and worked for two years, making desirable improvements, then sold it
and bought the ranch which he now owns and lives on.  In addition to his
original purchase of one hundred and sixty acres, he has taken up a desert claim
of one hundred and twenty acres, and, with water sufficient for the cultivation
of one hundred and ninety acres of the whole body, he carries on a prosperous
and profitable general farming and cattle business.  The ranch is eight miles
west of Meeker, pleasantly located, well improved and steadily increasing in
value.  Since 1892 F. N. JoHantgen, a sketch of whom will be found elsewhere in
this work, has been associated with him in his enterprise.  Mr. Hockett is an
Odd Fellow in fraternal life and an earnest Republican in political affiliation.
 He has one child, Jessie B.  The success he has won in this state has been very
gratifying to Mr. Hockett, and has made him a firm believer in the commonwealth
as an excellent field of opportunity for proper effort and also as a place of
residence.  He looks forward to a great future for it and its people, who know
its wealth and are imbued with the spirit that will develop it.  In his
community he stands well as a man of integrity, a progressive citizen and a
useful and respected man.

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