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by Mary Corcoran  Charles Locke was a Deputy Sheriff in Emmons County in 1892, under Sheriff James McGee. He at times had the contract for the ferry between Winona and Ft. Yates. He was also part owner of the daily stagecoach from Winona to Bismarck, as well as holding the mail contract for the Pierre-Winona-Bismarck mail route.
The Winona Times reported on 24 March 1892: "Charles Locke was on another tear, shot off lots of wind and profane language." It went on to suggest that in the next election, citizens should elect a more appropriate candidate. On February 25, 1892 it was noted that Ed Westcott, owner of The Winona Bank, which sold cigars and "samples," was selling his saloon fixtures to Charles Locke, so Westcott could return to farming. The Winona Bank was believed to be on Front Street in Winona.
Charles Locke was born in St. Lawrence, Ontario, Canada in 1860 and came to the US around 1876. By 1878 he was in Bismarck, running several freighting businesses. His father, John Locke, was a soldier at Ft. Yates, and was married by 1880 to Standing Rock Sioux Molly Locke, daughter of the elder (Frances) Ptesan White Buffalo, and sister to Tameca (John) Burke, part of Sitting Bull’s band. It was always believed in Sioux County history that Mollie was Charles Locke’s mother, but this is probably not true, as she was almost his same age; it more likely that Mollie was his father’s second wife.
Around 1885 Charles Locke married Alvinia Guderjahn, born in Germany in 1864. Emmons County history claims the earliest marriage in the county was Charles Locke and "Eliza Goodjohn." This might have been them, although other sources believe the marriage was in Bismarck, Burleigh County, ND. Their children, Hattie (1886), Eddie (1889), Franz Herman (1890), Norman (1885), and Frank Edward (1892), were all born in Winona.
The next newspaper notice claimed that Charles Locke was seen with another woman. The newspaper solemnly declared: "I am afraid it is true."
On May 05, 1892 Charles Locke was accused of using "dirty, filthy language," and was relieved of his duties as Deputy Sheriff by Sheriff James McGee of Emmons County.
On May 26, 1892, "On account of sickness in Mr. Locke's family, the river crossing has been quarantined at this place (Winona)." Three-year old Eddie Locke and brother Norman Locke, age seven, died in 1892 as part of a diphtheria outbreak.
The following year, on June 01, 1893 the case of Locke vs Locke, action for divorce, was heard in Williamsport, ND with Bismarck Attorney John Adams Stoyall for Mr. Locke and Attorney Philbrook for Mrs. Locke. Alvinia Locke received $20 a month in alimony and $50 attorney’s fees, which "if forthcoming, make the trip to Williamsport somewhat enjoyable to Mr. Philbrook." (Bismarck Daily Times, 01 June, 1893, p.3) "Mrs. Charles Locke has rented the building sitting between Jack Flynn's saloon and the Douglas and Mead Company store and moving her effects this week," the paper reported on June 08,1893.
One week later, on June 15, 1893, The Times reported that "Charles Locke made his disappearance last week."
Promptly, the following week, Alvinia Locke advertised for the whereabouts of her husband. The notice described him at five foot, twenty inches. (More likely, 5'2 or 5'10) The report said he was in the company of a "disreputable person," most likely a Winona dance hall girl.
In July, 1893 Jack Waldron, owner of the Merchant's Hotel, was appointed Deputy Sheriff in place of Charles Locke. While in Williamsport, on October 20th, a few months later, testifying against Charles Locke, someone burned down Waldron's barn in Winona, along with 100 tons of his hay. The newspaper then reported that Alvinia Locke was taken to the Insane Asylum in Jamestown, ND. "For an indefinite stay."
On July 20, 1893, The Times reported in the same article that Charles Locke had returned to Emmons County. Mrs. Locke had been discharged from the Insane Asylum and returned home. Two weeks later, on August 3, 1893, Charles Locke was charged with adultery.
In 1895, two years later, Alvinia married Leonard E. Brickley (August 1861-December 1926). Brickley farmed in Williston, ND in Williams County. They had two more children. Sadly, Alvinia died in 1900 at the age of thirty-six.
Charles Locke remarried, as well, to Maude Jamison in Mandan, Morton County in 1905. He became successful with many business enterprises. He died 05 February, 1935 in Corson County, SD. Maude, born in 1878, lived until 1981. Charles Locke’s obituary hailed him as one of the earliest pioneers who knew all the characters in early Emmons County history.
The Locke marriage, one of the first in the county, came to a sad end in a public and scandalous way that was unusual for an early frontier marriage.
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