Andrew J. Lockhart Biography


	This biography appears on pages 100-103 in "History of Dakota Territory" 
	by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. IV (1915) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

	This file may be freely copied by individuals and non-profit 
	organizations for their private use. 

	Any other use, including publication, storage in a retrieval 
	system, or transmission by electronic, mechanical, or other 
	means requires the written approval of the file's author.

	This file is part of the SDGENWEB Archives. If you arrived here inside
	a frame or from a link from somewhere else, our front door is at

	http://usgwarchives.org/sd/sdfiles.htm



			HON. ANDREW J. LOCKHART.  

	On the pages of South Dakota's history the name of the Hon. 
Andrew J. Lockhart is written large, because of his close and prominent 
connection with the upbuilding and development of his locality. He has 
also figured prominently in political circles as a leader in republican 
politics and has been a member of the state senate. He makes his home 
in Clear Lake, but his business activities cover a wide territory, as 
he is the president of the Eastern Investment Company and president of 
the Bank of Clear Lake, the Farmers Exchange Bank of Toronto, the 
Exchange Bank of Gary, the Altamont State Bank of Altamont and the 
State Bank of Bemis.  

	Mr. Lockhart has always been a resident of the middle west, his 
birth having occurred upon a farm in Columbia county, Wisconsin, on the 
28th of March, 1863, his parents being John and Agnes (Gray) Lockhart 
They were born, reared and married in Ayrshire, Scotland, and came to 
America in 1849. After spending eighteen months in New York, they 
removed to Wisconsin, where their remaining days were passed. The 
father devoted his life to agricultural pursuits.  

	While spending his youthful days under the parental roof Andrew 
J. Lockhart attended the public schools and also a high school in 
Wisconsin. When his school days were over he entered the employ of a 
sewing machine company, spending a short time in that way at Baraboo, 
after which he went to Stevens Point, Wisconsin, where he was engaged 
in the same business. On the 1st of April, 1884, he removed to 
Brookings, South Dakota, where he was employed in a lumberyard, and in 
1884, when Clear Lake was founded, he removed to this place and became 
manager of a lumberyard in the new town, so continuing until the 
following May, when the yard of which he had charge was consolidated 
with another business and thus he was left without a position. The 
recognition of his energy and ability, however, did not leave him long 
in that condition, for he entered the employ of an elevator company at 
Watertown, of which he was made manager. After nine months there spent 
he returned to Clear Lake, where he was manager of an elevator for a 
year and then entered the grain and agricultural implement business on 
his own account. In order to do this he borrowed capital at a rate of 
thirty-six per cent interest, payable in advance. In 1889 he took up 
the real estate business but remained in the grain and implement 
business until 1894, when he became manager of the Eastern Investment 
Company, with offices at Clear Lake although the business was owned by 
people of Toronto, Canada. In 1898 Mr. Lockhart purchased their stock 
in the business and has built it up to its present proportions, making 
it financially the largest and strongest real-estate concern in South 
Dakota. Its present condition is attributable entirely to the efforts 
and energy of Mr. Lockhart, who is a man of keen sagacity, sound 
judgment and indefatigable diligence. Each step in his career has been 
a forward one, bringing him a broader outlook and wider opportunities, 
and from time to time he has been connected with other interests which 
in their extent and importance place him among the leading financiers 
of the state. Of six different financial concerns he is the president 
and the banking interests of his section of the state have largely been 
promoted and extended through his efforts.  

	On the 31st of May, 1893, Mr. Lockhart was united in marriage to 
Miss Clara M. Goddard, a daughter of Joseph C. and Agnes (Hunter) 
Goddard. Hers was an old-time family that arrived in Deuel county in 
1876, settling at Goddard's Lake, where the father secured sixty acres 
of heavy timber, surrounded by water. This is one of the prettiest 
spots in all South Dakota. Both the parents have now passed away and 
Mrs. Lockhart recently purchased the old estate. By her marriage she 
has become the mother of four children: Edith M., Beatrice Gray, Fern 
Irene and Florence May.  

	Mr. and Mrs. Lockhart hold membership in the Congregational 
church and are interested in upholding and promoting the moral 
standards of the community. Mr. Lockhart is a prominent Mason, having 
taken the degrees of the York Rite and of the Mystic Shrine. He also 
has membership with the Elks and the Modern Woodmen of America. His 
political allegiance is given the republican party and in early days he 
served as county commissioner to fill a vacancy and he was mayor of 
Clear Lake as long as he would consent to accept the office. He has 
thus left the impress of his individuality upon the history of the 
city, its upbuilding and development. In 1909 he was elected a member 
of the state senate and made such an excellent record during his first 
term that in 1911 he was reelected. During the second term he was 
chosen president pro tem without opposition, a fact which indicates the 
confidence reposed in his integrity as a citizen and his public spirit, 
even by those who do not hold similar political views. It is well known 
that he is fair and just on all occasions, that he never takes 
advantage of another and that he seeks with singleness of purpose the 
best interests of the community at large.