Edwin Craig Locke
In 1822 Edwin Craig Locke built a log house for his bride, Sabra Jane Stanley, five miles south-west of the location that later became the pioneer town of Marceline, Missouri, in 1888. Born in Chariton county, their grandparents came to Missouri in a covered wagon with the first settlers. The farm was one mile west of the location where the Santa Fe railroad was to be built, also near the over-head bridge, that’s still in use. Wagons came from a distance of 10 to 15 miles with tents, cots, shovels, picks, and slips to work on the construction of the new railroad. Ed Locke opened the gate to his farm lot and yard for the use of setting up tents for shelter, water and feed for the horses of fifteen men. Sabra Locke and two nieces, Lena and Maude Simpson, cooked breakfast, filled lunch buckets and cooked supper for these men six working days a week. They cooked on a wood stove in a summer kitchen, making bread and pies late into the night. The only groceries bought were coffee and sugar. Vegetables, fruit, and meat were all grown on the farm. It was Ed Locke, using the slip, and Wm. De Long driving his team of horses, that turned the first dirt to start that part of the Santa Fe railroad. There were three girls at this date, Anna May (Mrs. Harry Othic), Sue (Mrs. Chas. Payden), Lucille (Mrs. John McAllister). United with this family later, Blanche (Mrs. Rich Freeman), Emma Locke, Duncan Locke, and Edna Locke Thomas De Long. Descendants of this pioneer family now living in Marceline, Missouri, helping to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee 1963 are two daughters, Emma and Edna, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great great-grandchildren. They are as follows: Harold Payden, Furniture and Western Auto, store owner, Mayor of City, 1945-49. He has a son, Jim, a daughter Anne. Charles Payden, Davis Paint Store, owner, president of the Chamber of Commerce. Howard Freeman, policeman. He has two sons, Gary and David. Clifford Freeman, Mayor 1962-63. His children are Jennie, Rickie, Clay, and Kerry. Miss Louise Freeman, office manager for Walsworth Publishing Co. for 25 years. Russel, Homer, and Miss Helen Othic are living on the same farm of their parents and great-grandparents. George Edwin Thomas, in the work of Color photography, is a Litho photographer. Miss Emma Locke, has been a sales clerk 45 years, Edna Thomas DeLong is the wife of Otis De Long, an engineer on the Santa Fe railroad. Other members of the family that lived in Marceline until they completed their high school education are as follows; Mary Othic Hayen, Frances Othic Martin, Robert Payden, Kenneth Freeman, and Mike Payden. There were nine generations that have lived in or within five miles of Marceline in 145 years.
Erastus Taylor
The Taylor family first came to Missouri in the fall of 1867. Erastus Taylor moved his family from East Elba, Genesee County, New York to the farm where J. P. Taylor now lives, which is located at the north city limits on Highway 5. Here he lived and raised his family until 1885 when his father passed away in New York. He then took his wife and youngest son, William, and went back to his old home, leaving two sons, M. H. and W. S. on the farm here in Missouri. In February 1887, M. H., the oldest son, was married to Bertha E. Phillips and continued to live on the old farm until 1895 when he moved three-fourths of a mile west to the home of his father-in-law, which is now the home of M. H. (Slick) Taylor. In the summer of 1896 he fitted a covered wagon and went to Oklahoma with the thought of homesteading there, but after driving over much of the state, he came back to Missouri and in the fall of 1896, he bought a half interest in the hardware business with Henry Brown. Here he remained until the spring of 1920 when he sold his share of the business back to Mr. Brown and retired to the old Phillips farm until his death on March 15, 1940. M. H. and Bertha Taylor were the parents of five children, all of whom are living at this time. J. P., Don B., and M. H. (Slick), all of Marceline; Kenneth C. of Oklahoma City; and Mrs. C. B. McAllister of Marceline. It’s interesting to note that on what is known as Broadway, north city limits, of Marceline, the Taylor boys have been living for 96 years, a period which comprises three generations.