Eunice Lockwood

Eunice Lockwood (1802-1867) was one of only four women who were original land patent owners in Rose Township. She held original land patents for 40 acres in Rose Township (section 31) and 40 acres in Highland Township (section 17). She purchased this land in 1839.

Eunice Lockwood’s husband, Daniel Major Lockwood (1801-1847), was also an original land patent owner of 415 acres of land in Rose Township (sections 5 & 32) and 180 acres in Highland Township (section 8). He had purchased a bulk of his land in 1837.

Daniel Major Lockwood (1801-1847)

Eunice Lockwood and her husband came to Michigan in 1835. An excerpt from a biographical sketch written about Eunice and Daniel Major Lockwood’s son Major D. Lockwood describes Daniel M. and Eunice Lockwood’s trip to Michigan in 1835.

After arriving in the Michigan Territory, Eunice Lockwood and her husband settled in Highland Township. In 1839, Eunice Lockwood’s husband purchased additional land in Rose Township at which time Eunice purchased acreage in her own name in both Rose and Highland Township. The reasons for Eunice Lockwood purchasing land in her own name is not known, but possibly it was for satisfaction from the economic and social status associated with land ownership. Had her reason for purchasing land been to protect her family economically, it would seem she would have had land in her own name for the earlier land purchases.

The story of Eunice Lockwood and her Rose Township Lockwood family members and other close relatives is a story of a family some of whom lived long full lives, while others appeared bigger than life, and a couple of families had lives filled with struggles and despair. This essay explores the life of Eunice Lockwood and her family members, especially those with Rose Township connections. Eunice Lockwood never lived in Rose Township, but her son, nephew, brother-in-law, and another relative did. Eunice and other family members were living nearby.

Eunice Lockwood (1802-1867) was born Eunice Ann Lord in 1802 in Saratoga Springs, Saratoga County, New York. Her father was William Lord (1772-1806) of Fairfield, Connecticut and her mother was Rachel Kellogg (1773-1840) of Bethel, Fairfield County, Connecticut. Eunice Lockwood died in 1867 and is buried in the West Highland Cemetery in Highland Michigan.

Eunice Lockwood appears to be the only immediate family member to have come to the Michigan Territory. She had three sisters, two of whom lived their lives in New York and one of whom moved away from New York to Illinois.

Eunice Lockwood’s Siblings

Eunice Lord married Daniel Major Lockwood (1801-1847) who was born in Sand Lake, Rensselaer, New York. Daniel died in 1847 and is buried in the West Highland Cemetery in Highland, Michigan. Daniel Major Lockwood was born to Major Lockwood (about 1774-1833) and Martha Wheeler Lockwood (1780-1843). This line of Lockwoods came from the Lockwoods of Greenwich Connecticut who originally arrived from England and had a family member who was one of the Massachusetts Bay Colony founders. Major Lockwood was a veteran of the War of 1812. He died prior to the family coming to the Michigan Territory and is buried in Monroe County, New York. Martha Lockwood is buried in West Highland Cemetery in Highland Township, Michigan, indicating she came to Michigan sometime after the death of her husband. It is not known when she came to Michigan. There are clues she resided in Highland Township, Michigan.

In addition to Eunice Lockwood and her husband being original land patent owners, several of her brother-in-laws (her husband’s brothers) described below were also original land patent owners in Rose and Highland Townships. Though the Lockwood family had land ownership presence in Rose Township, only a few Lockwood family members settled in the township. Lockwood family members are explored below.

Eunice Lockwood’s Brother-in-laws

Major Ferris Lockwood (1813-1864)

Major F. Lockwood (1813-1864) was a brother-in-law to Eunice Lockwood (her husband’s brother). He was an original land patent owner of 80 acres in Rose Township (section 32) as well as 80 acres in Highland Township (section 20 & 17). It does not appear that Major F. (Ferris) Lockwood settled on his land in Rose Township. In the 1840 census, he is reported as living in Highland, Michigan and in 1860 he was living in Waterford, Michigan. He was listed on census records as a master miller. He had two marriages, first to Florinda Baker Lockwood (1812-1843) and then to Mary Annis Dunham Lockwood (1822-1898) and had a number of children. Major F. Lockwood entered the service during the Civil War ,as a Captain in Battery H of the First Light Artillery in 1861. He then re-entered as First Lieutenant, Company K of the 9th Regiment, Michigan Cavalry in 1864. He was killed near Stone Mountain, Georgia in 1864 and has a memorial marker in the National Cemetery at Marietta, Georgia, where he is buried.

Major F. Lockwood, along with Jonas G. Potter, was associated with the small pioneer hamlet in Highland Township called Spring Mills. A plat of this area in Highland Township (section 22) was made for them. In 1846, they built a saw mill along the creek. After the mill burned down a few years later, it was never replaced. In 1856, a flouring mill was built and operated by Major F. for about 3 years after which it was sold to J. B. Baker of Detroit. (Highland Historical Society)

Stephen A. Lockwood (1815-1882)

Stephen Angevine Lockwood (1815-1882) was a brother-in-law to Eunice Lockwood (her husband’s brother). He was an original land patent owner of 40 acres in Rose Township (section 31) as well as 40 acres in Highland Township (section 7). Stephen A. Lockwood did not settle in Rose Township. On the 1850 and 1860 census records he and his wife Catherine Lockwood (1820-1904) and children were living in Highland Township. By the 1870 and 1880 census hs is listed as farming in Watertown Township, Clinton County, Michigan. Both he and his wife are buried in Wacousta, Clinton County Michigan.

Martin J. Lockwood (abt.1808-1854)

Martin J. Lockwood (abt.1808-1854) was a brother-in-law to Eunice Lockwood (her husband’s brother). He was an original land patent owner of 40 acres in Highland Township (section 19). On the 1840 census there is a Martin Lockwood living in Highland Township, Michigan. Based on the census name listings, he lived near his brothers and other relatives.

On the 1850 census, Martin Lockwood was living and farming in Rose Township with wife Sarah A. Lockwood and 6 children. He died in Rose Township in 1854.

Joseph G. Lockwood (1802-1862)

Joseph G. Lockwood (1802-1862) was a brother-in-law to Eunice Lockwood (her husband’s brother). He was an original land patent owner of 40 acres in Highland Township (section 6). Joseph G. Lockwood was found on the 1840 and 1850 census living in Highland Township, Michigan. On the 1860 census, he was listed as a farmer living in Southfield, Michigan. Living with him at this time was his nephew Stillman D. Lockwood and Stillman’s children. Joseph G. Lockwood was in the 4th Michigan Light Artillery, Company H. He died of congestion of the lungs in 1862 and is buried with his wife Philinda Lockwood (1801-1875) in Southfield, Michigan.

One of Eunice Lockwood’s brother-in-laws Theodorus W. Lockwood (1797-1829) died in New York before the family traveled to Michigan. His young son Stillman D. Lockwood (1821-1907), his sisters, and mother came to the Michigan territory. On the 1850 census, Stillman D. Lockwood was listed as living in Rose Township.

Stillman D. Lockwood (1821-1907) was born in Rensselaer County, New York. Stillman D. Lockwood was the nephew of Eunice and Daniel Major Lockwood. His father was Theodorus W. Lockwood (1797-1829) and his mother was Clarissa Stone Bugbee (1802-1865). Stillman D. Lockwood came to Michigan with his mother and sisters after his father Theodorus W. Lockwood died. His father had died when Stillman was 8 not long before the family made the trip to Michigan. It is not known where the family lived when they first arrived in Michigan. Likely they lived with family in Highland Township where most of the family was located. On the 1850 census, Stillman D. Lockwood was listed as farming and living with his wife LucyVan Alstine (1830-1863) and children Doras and James in Rose Township. More children were born after the 1850 census.

Soon after the death of his uncle Daniel Major Lockwood in 1847, a newspaper article indicates Stillman D. petitioned for some land from the estate. It does not appear he was ever conveyed land nor is it clear which parcel(s) of land were in question. Perhaps Stillman had been living on Rose Township land that had been owned by his aunt or uncle.

In 1860, Stillman D. and his children were living with his uncle and aunt Joseph G. and Phylinda Lockwood in Southfield Township (Farmington mailing), Michigan. In 1861, at the age of 40, Stillman enlisted as a Union private in Battery H of the 1st Michigan Light Artillery and was discharged a year later with some type of disability. A newspaper article describes him as being an invalid. Stillman’s wife died in 1863.

In 1870 Stillman’s children were still living in Southfield with their widowed aunt, but Stillman D. was not listed on this census. His whereabouts is unknown. In the 1880 census, three of Stillman’s children Monroe, Vanalstine, and Josephine Lockwood were living together in Southfield, Michigan. On this census Monroe is listed as “sick” with a broken leg. Their aunt Philinda Lockwood had died in 1875. Records do not indicate where Stillman D. was living in 1880.

In 1900 Stillman D. was living with his second wife Sarah Graham Wilson (1835-1908) and was living in Farmington, Michigan. In spite of having been said to be in poor health, he died at the age of 86 in West Bloomfield, Michigan.

By 1900, Stillman’s daughter Josephine (1857-1957) was married to Volney A. Smith (m. 1880) and was living in Redford in Wayne County, Michigan. She later became widowed and lived with her children and grandchildren. She lived to be nearly 100 years old.

Stillman’s son Monroe P. Lockwood (1854-1918) married, farmed, and had one child. He died in 1918 in the Pontiac State Hospital. Cause of death was listed as ceregro-spinal syphilis (seizures) and chronic nephritis as a contributing factor. Nephropathy associated with syphilis was common in the past. The Pontiac State Hospital opened in 1878 was originally known as the Eastern Michigan Asylum for the Insane.

Charles D. Lockwood (abt.1821-1872)

Charles D. Lockwood (abt.1821-1872) was a brother-in-law to Eunice Lockwood (her husband’s brother). He was an original land patent owner of 80 acres in Rose Township (section 30). Charles D. was around 16 years old at the time of the original land patent purchase which would suggest the land purchase was arranged by a family member and likely may be the reason he does not appear to have settled in Rose Township. Likely he was living with family members after arriving in Michigan. The birth of his first child in Highland Township hints at where he may have been living. Charles D. Lockwood was born in Parma, Monroe County, New York, and died in Corunna, Shiawassee County, Michigan.

Records for Charles D. Lockwood and his children are sparse, limited, and sometimes conflicting or non-existent. Several records for this family had birthdate discrepancies requiring the use of other clues to piece together this family’s heartbreaking story. Charles D. Lockwood had three marriages, one divorce, one insane wife, and several of his children were raised by other people. Charles himself died a deaf pauper living in a poor house. Details of his life and family are described in this essay.

It is not known when Charles D. Lockwood married his first wife Charlotte G. Wheeler (1817-1846) nor is it known if she was related to Charles’ mother’s family (Wheeler). Prior to Charlotte’s death at the age of 19 in Highland Township, Michigan in 1846, Charles and Charlotte Lockwood had two sons; Charles B. Lockwood (1843-1900) born Highland Township and Lester Lockwood (1844-1903) born in Oakland County. The boys were very young (around ages 2 and 3) when their mother died. Their father Charles D. quickly married again in 1847 to Harriet L. Maynard (1818-1902). It does not appear Charles and Harriet Lockwood had any children together, but they divorced in 1853. Though they divorced in 1853, they appear to already have been living apart as indicated by the 1850 census, only 3 years after they were married. Charles D. Lockwood was not found in the 1850 census and did not appear to be living with his wife or children.

In the 1850 census, Harriet L. Maynard was found living in Southfield Michigan with her parents George W. and Anna Maynard and several siblings, as well as with her step-son Lester L. Lockwood. In the 1860 and 1870 census, Lester L. Lockwood is found living in North Plains Township in Ionia County, Michigan with his step-mother and her new husband Henry Perry. Lester married in 1876 and later lived in Gratiot County, Michigan, with his wife and 8 children. Lester L. Lockwood died in 1900 and is buried in Beechler Cemetery in Gratiot County, Michigan.

It is unknown as to the reason Harriet L. Maynard only took her step-son Lester to live with her and her parents and not also his brother Charles B. Lockwood. In 1850, Lester’s brother Charles B. Lockwood was found living in White Lake Township with carpenter Harrison Parker (1814-unknown) and his wife Sarah McWithy Parker (1819-1902), their 10 year old son David Parker, and a 76 year old stage driver Isaac Kellogg. In this census, Charles B. Lockwood is listed as a Parker but there is a correction listed and his name is written correctly in the 1860 census.

It is unknown how the Parkers knew the Lockwood family and how Charles B. came to live with them. Charles (B.) Lockwood is found living with the Parker family in Flushing, Michigan, on the 1860 census.

It is unknown where the boys’ father Charles D. Lockwood was living in 1850 as he was not found in the census records.

By the 1870 census there was a C. B. Lockwood (presumed Charles B. Lockwood) listed as a store clerk and living in Chesaning in Saginaw County, Michigan, with his wife Elizabeth Helen Allen Lockwood (1849-1876). In 1871 a daughter Lottie Lockwood Bartlett (1871–1940) was born. A son Frederick G. Lockwood was born in 1874. By the time of the 1880 census Charles B. Lockwood was widowed and was living in Chesaning with his brother-in-law Dewitt Allen, sister-in-law Mary E. Allen and their two children. Charles B.’s children Lottie and Frederick G. went to live with their grandparents Luther and Emily Allen in Chesaning, Saginaw County, Michigan. Lottie and Frederick Lockwood eventually married and had families.

In 1900 Charles B. Lockwood died at age 57 in Saginaw, Saginaw County, Michigan, in the poor house. His cause of death was paralysis. See the vignette on Outdated Medical Terminology for Causes of Death for an explanation of this disease.

After his divorce in 1853 from Harriet Maynard, Charles D. Lockwood married Mary Jane Nicholson (1830-1884). An 1854 marriage record between Charles D. Lockwood (1821-1872) and Mary Jane Nicholson (1830-1884) placed them in Highland Township, Oakland County, Michigan at this time. Sometime prior to 1860, they moved to Shiawassee County where they had four children; Mary Lockwood (1855-unknown), Frances Elinor (Ella) Lockwood (1857-1939), Jerusha Lockwood (1859-unknown) and Abraham Lincoln Lockwood (1862-1936). The 1860 census lists a 39 year old laborer, “Charley” Lockwood, living with his 30 year old wife Mary J. Lockwood (1830-1884) and three children Mary Lockwood (age 5), Frances Lockwood (age 3), and Jerusha (age 1) in Venice Township, Shiawassee County, Michigan. Lincoln was born after the census took place.

By the 1870 census Charles D. and Mary Lockwood and only their youngest child, 8 year old Lincoln Lockwood, are listed living with Charles H. Powell and his family (wife, two children and a 15 year old domestic servant). The three Lockwoods (Charles D., Mary, and Lincoln) and 8 additional other people living with the Powell family are all listed as county paupers. The Powells were operating a county poor house “farm”. Charles D. is listed as being deaf and Mary is listed as being insane. But where are the other children Mary, Frances and Jerusha?

Records were not found for Mary or Jerusha Lockwood. It is unknown what happened to these children. It is unknown if they survived to adulthood or if they were taken in by another family. Frances Elinor (Ella) Lockwood, age 12, was found in the 1870 census working as a housekeeper for Joshua and Mary Moody in Antrim Township, Shiawassee County Michigan. By 1900 Frances was married to Stephen Atherton (1857-1942) with 6 children living in Rose City in Ogemaw County, Michigan. Based on the ages of her children she was likely married around 1880. One of her children was killed after being hit by an automobile. One of her daughters who was born in Rose City, Ogemaw County, Michigan was named Rose.

In 1880, when Abraham Lincoln Lockwood (1862-1936) was 18 years old, he was living with the John Brookins family as a farm laborer and servant in Shiawassee County, Michigan. In 1892, Lincoln married Prudence Ann Fayette (1875-1945) in Rose City, Ogemaw County and had 5 children. Possibly Lincoln had moved to Rose City in Ogemaw County to be near his sister Frances who was living there. By 1910, Lincoln was divorced, farming, and living with 3 of his children and his mother-in-law Phoebe Fayette. He married again in 1911 to Harriet “Hattie” Diana Rice (1873–1956). In 1920, Lincoln was living with his wife Hattie and one of his children in Wellsboro, Tioga County, Pennsylvania and was working as a glass worker in a factory. Likely he moved there for work as Wellsboro was a large trade center in the early 1900s. Lincoln Lockwood died of pernicious anemia in a county home (likely a poor house) in Charleston, Pennsylvania, in 1936 His death records indicate a birthdate of 1858 which appears to be incorrect.

Charles D. Lockwood died in Shiawassee County on January 1, 1872. He died in the poor house and was buried in the Shiawassee County Poor Farm Cemetery. His cause of death was listed as St. Vitus dance (see the vignette on Outdated Medical Terminology for Causes of Death for an explanation of this disease). Perhaps this disease provides a hint as to the reason his step-mother Harriet Maynard did not take him to live with her and his brother in 1850 as this is a disease that may have started in childhood.

The picture of the plaque below showing the names of people buried in the county poor house cemetery has the correct death month and day for Charles (D.) Lockwood (January 1) and the correct age of 49, but the year of his death in 1916 on the plaque is incorrect.

In 1880, Mary Lockwood (wife of Charles D. Lockwood) was living in a poor farm/house located in Caledonia, Shiawassee County, Michigan. She was listed as a non paying at public expense patient with dementia. She was also listed as having epilepsy and was listed as insane and suicidal. Her condition warranted her being in a cell. If the interpretation of the records is correct she is listed as having been in this condition for about 20 years. She died in 1884.

Even though Eunice Lockwood and her husband both owned land in Rose Township, they did not settle on their land in the township. They had settled in Highland Township, Michigan. Three of her brother-in-laws owned land in Rose Township though only one of them and a nephew ever lived in the township.

One son of Eunice and Daniel Major Lockwood, Theodorus Wheeler Lockwood (1835-1890), and another presumed relative Erastus Lockwood (abt.1815-abt 1880) and his children settled or spent time in Rose Township on Lockwood family land. Eunice’s children and another presumed relative are explored below.

Children of Eunice and Daniel Major Lockwood

Major D. Lockwood (1832-1906)

Major D. Lockwood was born in Parma, Monroe County, New York, and came to Michigan with his parents when he was age 3. On the 1850 census he was living in Highland with his parents. He does not appear to have ever settled in Rose Township. He is buried in Kent County, Michigan.

The following except from a biographical sketch written about Major D. Lockwood describes a little about his life.

Johnson S. Lockwood (1837-1868)

Johnson S. Lockwood does not appear to have ever lived in Rose Township. He was born in New York and is buried in the West Highland Cemetery in Highland Township, Michigan. He was married to Lydia Malinda Hodge (1843-1923) and he had a daughter Effie A. Lockwood (1865-1916) who was born in Michigan. Johnson died at age 31 from typhoid fever. Lydia’s third marriage was to George Lewis (1839-1920) who had been married to Eunice Ann “Jeanette” Lockwood (1842-1895) until she died.

Rachel Ann Lockwood (1840-1851)

Rachel Ann Lockwood was born and died in Michigan. She is buried in the West Highland Cemetery in Highland Township, Michigan. She died at age 11 and likely lived her life in Highland Township, Michigan.

Eunice Ann “Jeanette” Lockwood Lewis (1842-1895)

Eunice A. Lockwood Lewis was born and died in Highland Township, Michigan. Her husband was George Lewis (1839-1920). They had a son Frank J. Lewis (1863-1878). She is buried in the West Highland Cemetery. After she died, her widower husband married the widow of her brother Johnson S. Lockwood.

William Mackendre Lockwood (1845-1920)

William Mackendre Lockwood was born in Highland and died in Pontiac, Michigan. He was married to Fannie D. Bowman (1849-1903) in 1868 in Holly and they had several children. He is buried in Highland, Michigan. He was a member of Battery H of the 1st Light Artillery. His brother Theodorus was a second lieutenant of this unit and his uncle Major F. Lockwood was the Captain. Stillman D. Lockwood (son of Theodorus who died in NY) was also a member of this unit.

Theodorus Wheeler Lockwood (1835-1890)

Theodorus Wheeler Lockwood was the only child of Eunice and Daniel Major Lockwood to live in Rose Township. Theodorus ended up owning land in section 5. His father was the original patent owner for that parcel of land.

Theodorus W. Lockwood was born in Parma, Monroe County, New York, in 1835. Likely he was named after his uncle Theodorus W. Lockwood who had died in 1829. He was young when he moved to Michigan where he initially lived in Highland Township. In 1850 he was age 16 and living with his recently widowed mother Eunice in Highland, Michigan. In 1856, he was married to Miss Tryphena Woodworth (1838-1911) of Rose Township. They had a daughter born in the township in 1859. On the 1860 census, they were living and farming in Rose Township. By 1869, when their son was born, they were living in Holly, Michigan, but still owned the land in Rose Township. While living in Holly, Theodorus W. was engaged in the mercantile business, was county clerk for two years and also ran for sheriff (article below). In 1882, Theodorus W. Lockwood and his family moved to Vermillion, South Dakota. He died in South Dakota about 8 years after moving there. His obituary from the Dakota Republican best tells the story of his life.

Theodorus W Lockwood first enlisted in the Civil War as a second lieutenant in the Battery H of the 1st Light Artillery. His rank out was first lieutenant. His uncle Major F. Lockwood was the captain of this unit. It appears Theodorus W. Lockwood enlisted again as a captain in the 9th Michigan Cavalry unit and was in this unit until the end of the war. He was honorably discharged.

Theodorus W. Lockwood applied for an Invalid pension on August 29, 1890, but it was not approved. Likely he had completed the paperwork, but it was not filed (likely by a pension attorney) until after his death on August 19, 1890. His wife applied for a widow’s pension on December 22, 1890. The certificate number indicates it was approved.

Other Lockwood Relatives Living in Rose Township

Erastus Lockwood (abt.1815-1880)

Erastus Lockwood (Lackwood) is likely related to Eunice and Daniel Major Lockwood due to his having ended up owning one of the parcels of land in Rose Township (section 32) that was once owned by Daniel Major Lockwood. One family tree entry on Ancestry.com suggested Erastus Lockwood was another brother-in-law to Eunice Lockwood, but this was not able to be verified due to records being sparse and confusing. It is unclear how he is related to these Lockwoods.

On the 1850 census Erastus Lockwood was living with his wife Ellen (also seen as Helen and Eleanor) (1805-1867), two children Ann Lockwood (1832-1901) and James Lockwood (1848-1946), and father-in-law Daniel Joshlin (Joslin, Joselyn). On the 1860 census Erastus was listed as a farmer in Rose Township with his wife (Helen) and son James. On the 1870 census, widower Erastus and his son James are living with his married daughter Ann Kyser and her family. Erastus and James are listed as farm laborers. By 1880, census records show the Kyser family moved to Nebraska. Erastus accompanied them as he died and was buried there sometime in 1880. It is unclear as to where his wife is buried.

Sometime prior to 1896, likely after the death of his father Erastus Lockwood, James L. Lockwood became owner of his father’s land in Rose Township where he continued farming. James Lockwood eventually sold this land which became a part of Camp Ohiyesa*, a YMCA camp which is still in existence.

In summary, Eunice Lockwood and her husband did not settle on their land in Rose Township, but they lived in Highland Township and had relatives living in the Township of Rose. On the 1850 and 1860 census Eunice Lockwood was living with her children in Highland Township, Michigan as her husband died in 1847. A son of Eunice and Daniel Major Lockwood, Theodorus Wheeler Lockwood (1835-1890), a nephew Stillman D. Lockwood (1821-1907), brother-in-law Martin J. Lockwood, and another presumed relative Erastus Lockwood (abt.1815-1880) and his children lived for a time in Rose Township on Lockwood family land.

Copyright © Maura Jung and Carol Bacak-Egbo. The content on this page is released with the Creative Commons BY-SA 4.0 License