Lincoln-Uinta County WY Archives Biographies.....Hocker, Wm. A. 
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Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 October 21, 2011, 3:03 pm

Source: See below
Author: A. W. Bowen (Publisher)

HON. WM. A. HOCKER, M. D.

   It is indeed a truism that "He serves God best who best serves his fellow
men", and there is no branch of human endeavor or profession existence wherein
its truth is so fully demonstrated as in the medical profession. The highest
type of man is the successful physician. vi ho through love of humanity gives
freely of his time and talents to the relief of the afflicted. Among this high
class Doctor Hocker stands out prominently, for he is one of the ablest
representatives of this noble profession in the state, having for a series of
years been identified with extensive medical practice in various portions of
Wyoming and also having been worthily intrusted with public office and
responsibilities of a grave and momentous character. He is now an honored
citizen of Kemmerer, where he is established in the practice of both medicine
and surgery. He was born in Lincoln county, Ky., a son of Tillman and Sarah
(Morrison) Hocker, natives of Kentucky but of Virginia ancestry. His father was
a farmer and stockman and his mother traces her lineage in a direct line to
William Tell, the hero of Switzerland. To the early educational training of
Doctor Hocker at the schools of Hustonville, Ky., a literary course was added at
the Christian College and thereafter he gave his definite attention to the
technical and scientific studies necessary to obtain a thorough medical
education at the celebrated Bellevue Medical College of New York City, from
which superior institution he graduated in 1868. Engaging in practice for his
initial location at Harrisonville, Mo., he soon demonstrated that he was well
and ably equipped for his high profession, five years thereafter changing his
location to Evanston, Wyo., and here there was but a brief passage of time
before popular recognition of his talents and professional worth was accorded
and his reputation as one of the representative medical men of the state stands
in evidence of his just deserts. He soon became the physician and surgeon of the
Union Pacific at Evanston and acquired a large patronage from the best citizens
of the community. After twenty-five years of residence in Evanston he removed to
Kemmerer, where he is now actively engaged in medical duties. In addition to a
large and increasing list of private patrons he is the physician and surgeon of
the Kemmerer Coal Co., and of the Oregon Short Line Railroad. A pronounced and
outspoken Democrat, he had not been long in the state before recognition of his
ability as a wise counsellor was shown, and he was elected as a county
commissioner and his two years' service in this office was followed by his
election to the lower house of the State Legislature, and lie was there
distinctively honored in his election to fill the dignified office of president
of the council. Thinking that his services to his constituents and state would
be of more advantage if given on the floor of the house he declined the high
honor and did faithful labor for two successive years as a working member in the
house. The results he obtained were so marked that the people of his district
elected him in due season to the Senate where he displayed the same
statesmanship and legislative qualities as in the house, winning high
commendations both as a speaker and as a far-seeing, conservative, yet
public-spirited legislator. His earnest efforts in helping to organize and
secure the establishment of the State Insane Asylum will long stand to his
credit with the people of Wyoming and its organization was very largely due to
his earnest efforts. Upon its creation he became its superintendent for two
years, doing excellent service in this formative period of its history by
placing its administration on broad and scientific foundations. He personally
attended to the removal of the state's insane wards from Jacksonville. Ill., to
Evanston, and although there were two full carloads of patients there was not an
accident nor a death while in transit. His party associates in Wyoming have held
him in high honor, for during his incumbency of the chairmanship of the
Democratic County Committee the party won every campaign, and he has been a
delegate to every state convention since becoming a citizen of the state, being
also a delegate from Wyoming to the Democratic National Convention at Cincinnati
where General Hancock received the presidential nomination. He also held the
appointment of register of the U. S. land office at Evanston for four years
during the administration of President Cleveland. Fraternally Doctor Hocker is
identified with the Knights of Pythias at Diamondville, is a charter member of
the lodge at Evanston and a past chancellor commander of the order. He is also a
member of the Eagles, the United Workmen and of the Home Forum. Dr. Hocker
wedded with Miss Alice Reynolds at Evanston on March 13, 1873. She is a daughter
of John and Alice Reynolds and was born at Galveston, Tex., where her parents
died of yellow fever when she was an infant. She was thereafter reared to
womanhood in the cultured home of her maternal uncle, Col. R. C. Wood, a
prominent Confederate officer. Their family embraces these children: Robert, a
popular dentist of Kemmerer; Woody, wife of Frank Manley, chief engineer of the
U. P. Coal Co., at Rock Springs; Edith, wife of Frank Lander of Evanston; Effie,
wife of Thomas Davis, the master mechanic of the U. P. mines at Cumberland;
Jennie, a student of the state university in the class of 1901 and 1902 and
Florence and Reynolds, who are attending the Evanston high school. Doctor and
Mrs. Hocker are acknowledged leaders in those social circles where refinement
and culture are in evidence and the entire family enjoy a marked popularity. In
the midst of the multitudinous demands placed upon him by the practice work of
his profession and the high official trusts he has held, the Doctor has never
failed in thoroughly reading the best literature of his profession, keeping
fully abreast of the wonderful advances in the sciences of medicine and surgery,
and personally contributing to such advances through his experiences in clinical
work and his original thought and investigation, though his innate modesty and
unpretentious attitude are such that he is signally free from self-adulation.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

PROGRESSIVE MEN OF THE STATE OF WYOMING

ILLUSTRATED

CHICAGO, ILL.
A. W. BOWEN & CO.
PUBLISHERS AND ENGRAVERS
1903


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