120 HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OK WESTCHESTER. 



At the second session of the Illinois Legislature, which was held in 

 lalia in 182.1, Mr. Lockwood was elected Attorney General of the 

 State, and his acceptance of this office rendering another change of 

 residence necessary, he chose Edwardsville for his future home. 



In 1823 he was, very unexpectedly to himself, nominated by Governor 

 Cole to the office of Secretary of State ; but soon after accepting that 

 office, he was greatly surprised by receiving from President Monroe a 

 oission appointing him receiver of public moneys at the land office 

 in Edwardsville. This commission was, in itself, as undesired as it was 

 unsought j but the salary of Secretary of State was small and payable in 

 depreciated currency, where the salary of receiver was liberal and pay- 

 able in gold, and had attached to it a percentage on receipts. These 

 considerations induced him to resign the office of Secretary and accept 

 that of receiver. 



At the next session of the State Legislature, 1824-5, nc was > against 

 his expressed wishes, elected Judge of the Supreme Court, which office 

 he accepted and held until the State Constitution of 1848 went into 

 operation, under which new judges were elected by the people. 



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In 1829 he removed from Edwardsville to Jacksonville, and in 1S53 

 from that place to Batavia, Kane county, where he died. He was sent 

 from Morgan county as delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 

 1848, and in that Convention was chairman of the Committee on the 

 Executive. 



In 1 85 1 he was appointed by the Legislature trustee of the Land De- 

 partment of the Illinois Central Railroad, which office he held at the time 

 of his death. 



The position which he has held in the history of our State, is indicated 

 by the offices which have been conferred upon him. Having a natural 

 distate for everything like office-seeking, and never putting himself for 

 ward for any official position, he has still been kept in offices of high po- 

 sition and trust for over fifty years. 



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In Governor Fcrd's History of Illinois, are found the following notices 

 of Judge Lockwood: " In 1820 was fought the first and last duel in 

 Illinois. One of the parties fell mortally wounded, the other was tried 

 1 invicted of murder, and suffered the extreme penalty of the law 

 by hanging. Judge Lockwood was then the Attorney of the State, and 

 prosecuted in the case. To his talents and success as a Prosecutor, the 

 people are indebted for this early precedent and example, which did 

 more than is generally known to prevent the barbarous practice of 

 dueling from being introduced into this State * * * Judge Lock- 

 wood was an excellent lawyer, a man of sound judgment, and his face 

 indicated uncommon purity, modesty, and intelligence, together with 

 energy and strong determination. His face was the true index of his 

 character." 



Any account of Judge Lockwood's services to the State which should 

 fail to notice his connection with the educational, benevolent and 



