Mini Bios of People of Scots Descent
Samuel S. Lockhart Biography

Samuel S. Lockhart, member of the bar of Milbank and county judge of Grant county, was born in Tarbolton, Ayrshire, Scotland, November 20, 1850, a son of John and Agnes (Gray) Lockhart, who were also natives of Tarbolton. The father, who was born January 21, 1828, is now living at Clear Lake, South Dakota, but the mother, v ho was born in August, 1821, died March 6, 1900. They were married in 1849 and had a family of ten children, of whom seven are yet living, as follows: Samuel S., of this review; John L., of Pierre, South Dakota, who is engaged in the real-estate business, is also active in the ranks of the republican party and was formerly commissioner of school and public lands; James G., a blacksmith of Milbank; Andrew J., of Clear Lake, who is engaged in the real-estate and banking business and acts as president of the Eastern Investment Company; Robert S., who is in the employ of the International Harvester Company at Watertown; Margaret, with whom John Lockhart now makes his home and who is the wife of John Tower; and Thomas F., who was successfully engaged in agricultural pursuits throughout his active business career and is now living retired at Portage, Wisconsin. The father has been an active factor in the local ranks of the republican party and held a number of town offices. His religious faith is that of the United Presbyterian church. 

Samuel S. Lockhart acquired his education in the common schools of Caledonia, Wisconsin, and the High School of Portage, from which he graduated. He then taught school about for four years, after which he pursued the study of law under private instruction, being admitted to the bar in 1881. Previous to this time he was called to the office of clerk of the court at Portage, Wisconsin, accepting that position in 1879 and serving until 1883. During the winter of 1883 he was clerk of the senate at Madison, Wisconsin, and in May of that year he removed to Milbank, South Dakota, where he entered upon the practice of his profession In this field he has since been active and now has an extensive practice which is indicative of the wide trust reposed in his professional ability. He has again and again been called to public office along the line of his profession. In 1885 and 1886 he was district attorney for Grant county and in 1895 and 1896 he was states attorney, having served in the meantime as city attorney in 1893 and 1894. In 1890 he was made special United States agent for collecting mortgages and indebtedness for the United States census bureau. In 1900 he was elected county judge and has occupied the position continuously since save for a period of two years. He has made an excellent record as a fair and impartial judge upon the bench and his decisions are characterized by a masterful grasp of the various problems presented for solution. 

On the 29th of March, 1879, at Randolph, Wisconsin, Mr. Lockhart was united in marriage to Miss Harriet L. Marvin, a daughter of George G. Marvin, a farmer and a member of the Wisconsin legislature in the year 1871. Mr. and Mrs. Lockhart are the parents of five children, namely: Harriet M., who has for a number of years been a teacher in the public schools of Duluth; Agnes G., who follows the profession of teaching in Seattle; John G., engaged in the wholesale lumber business at Sheboygan, Wisconsin; Marvin, an agriculturist of Saskatchewan, Canada; and Margaret Janet, who is attending school. 

The parents are members of the Congregational church and Mr. Lockhart gives his political allegiance to the republican party. He is also a very prominent Mason. He was initiated into the order on the 24th of November, 1874, and on the 8th of May following became a Master Mason in Fort Winnebago Lodge, No. 33, of Portage, Wisconsin. He was demitted therefrom and affiliated with Milbank Lodge, No. 20, of Milbank, South Dakota, March 19, 1891. In 1895 he was elected junior warden, became senior warden in 1902 and worshipful master in 1903 and 1904. In June, 1902, he was appointed grand pursuivant and in 1906 junior grand steward, while in 1907 he was elected junior grand war en, becoming senior grand warden in 1908. The following year he was made deputy grand master and in June, 1910, at Pierre, he was chosen most worshipful grand master. He became a Royal Arch Mason in 1880 at Portage, Wisconsin, and following his removal to the west joined Milbank Chapter, No. 15, R. A. M., on the 20th of February, 1884. He was elected scribe in 1895, king in 1897, serving until 1904, and in 1906 was chosen high priest. In 1907 he was elected secretary and has since occupied that position. In 1880 he joined Ft. Winnebago Commandery, No. 4, at Portage, Wisconsin, but afterward demitted and joined the commandery at Aberdeen, South Dakota, in 1910. In 1895 he joined the Royal and Select Masters and was thrice illustrious master of the council at Milbank. In April, 1912, he became a member of the consistory and in October, 1904, joined the Shrine, of which both he and his wife are members. He is a recognized leader in Masonic circles in his part of the state and exemplifies in his life the beneficent spirit of the craft. He is now serving as president of the board of education of Milbank, having been connected with that board for about twelve years and at the same time he is upon the bench as county judge. No one questions his fidelity to duty. It is well known that South Dakota has in him a loyal champion, that he has faith in her future and that he does everything in his power to advance her interests, promote her material and moral progress and uphold her political and legal status.