Clayton W. Locke, M. D. Biography


	This biography appears on page 967 in "History of South 
	Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. II (1904) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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CLAYTON W. LOCKE, M. D., of Garretson, South Dakota, was born 
January 24, 1862, near the town of Brockport, New York where his 
father, Elisha Locke, also a native of the Empire state, had 
long been engaged in agricultural pursuits. The maiden name of 
the subject's mother was Sarah Way, a member of an old and well-
known family of New York, who passed the greater part of her 
life on the home farm, near the place referred to above. The 
Doctor's childhood and youth, under the wholesome discipline of 
the farm, were similar in most respects to the experiences of 
the majority of boys reared in close touch with nature in the 
country, and he grew up strong in body and resolute in purpose. 
He received a pretty thorough mental training in the schools of 
his native place and after assisting his father with the work of 
the farm until his twentieth year, left home to take up the 
study of medicine, which he began in 1884. Subsequently he 
entered the Louisville Medical College, Louisville, Kentucky, 
from which he was graduated in 1888, and immediately thereafter 
he came to South Dakota, in search of a favorable opening, 
locating in due time in Minnehaha county, where he practiced 
with encouraging success until his removal in 1890 to Garretson. 
Since the latter year the Doctor has risen rapidly in his 
profession and now takes high rank among the leading physicians 
and surgeons in the eastern part of the state, having a large 
and flourishing practice.

Dr. Locke prepared himself for his life work by rigid 
discipline and critical research, and during his preliminary 
study and collegiate course neglected no favorable opportunity 
to increase his knowledge and fit himself for the practice. He 
has never ceased being a student, and ever since opening an 
office of his own his leisure has been devoted closely to study 
and original investigation, the result being a continued 
advancement in all branches of the profession. While making 
every other consideration subordinate to his chosen calling, Dr. 
Locke has not been a passive spectator of current events in his 
adopted state, but with a commendable public spirit, he early 
became an active participant in the same. As an ardent 
Republican and leader of the party, he has made his influence 
felt in a number of local, district and state campaigns, and in 
recognition of his services he was elected in 1901 to represent 
Minnnehaha county in the legislature of South Dakota. His record 
as a member of that body was eminently satisfactory to his 
constituents and to the people of the state, but, not desiring 
further honors in this line, his legislative experiences ended 
with the one term for which he was chosen. The Doctor served two 
terms as mayor of Garretson, and for several years has been a 
member of the city school board. By diligent attention to his 
profession and by the exercise of the business qualities for 
which he is also distinguished, he has been fortunate in a 
financial way, owning at this time in addition to his city 
property and the respectable fortune at his command, over nine 
hundred acres of fine land in South Dakota, which is increasing 
in value with each succeeding year.

Dr. Locke has been twice married, the first time in the fall 
of 1889 to Miss Edith Butts, of St. James, Minnesota, a union 
terminated by the death of the wife after a brief but happy 
wedded experience of one and a half years' duration. 
Subsequently, July 10, 1895, he contracted a matrimonial 
alliance with Miss Mary L. Conan, who has borne him the 
following children: Edith, Lillian, Clayton and Donald.