Lockett, Andrew Moore

Submitted by Mike Miller

Lockett, Andrew Moore, well-known and representative business man, was born in Marion, Ala., Sept. 4, 1865, and son of Powhatan and Martha (Moore) Lockett. His father was born in Powhatan county, Va., about 1832, removed to Marion, Ala., when about 7 years old, grew up there and became a lawyer. Upon the breaking out of the Civil war, he wanted to have a part in it, but, being lame, he could not enlist, so he went to the war as a staff officer, paying his own expenses, and doing what he could. He died at Montgomery, Ala., in 1880, where he had lived only 2 years. Martha Moore was born in Marion, Ala., and was a daughter of Andrew Barry Moore, who was governor of Alabama when that state seceded from the Union. Before secession Gov. Moore had seized the munitions of war within the borders of the state and for this offense, after the war was over, he was imprisoned by the Federal government at Fort Pulaski, in the same prison in which Alexander H. Stevens and other prominent Southerners were confined. In a few months, however, he was released from prison and practiced law in Alabama until he died in 1873. S. H. Lockett, an uncle of Andrew M., graduated at West Point, and at the beginning of the war was captain of engineers in the Federal army, which position he resigned and reported to Gov. Moore. He was first engaged in military operations in the state of Alabama, but afterwards was an engineering staff officer under General Beauregard. As chief engineer for Gen. Pemberton at Vicksburg, he designed and constructed the fortifications there. After the war, this S. H. Lockett became professor of engineering at the Louisiana state university, and was recommended by Gen. Sherman to the Khedive of Egypt. He served in the Egyptian army for several years as an engineering officer, after which he returned to America and was assistant to Gen. Stone in the erection of the Bartholdi statue in the New York harbor. Subsequently he went to the United States of Columbia and engaged in engineering work there until his death in Bogota, about 1895. A. M. Lockett lived in Marion, Ala., until he was 13 years old; attended private school, also Howard college, and after his father's death in 1880, attended the University of Tennessee at Knoxville for 1 year. Following this he went to Texas and worked for a railroad company for 4 years, after which he attended Stevens institute at Hoboken, N. J., 1 year. In 1887, he entered the service of Henry R. Worthington Co., manufacturers of hydraulic machinery, in New York City. Mr. Lockett served an apprenticeship with that company and afterwards engaged in engineering work for them up to 1893, when he was transferred to the commercial end of the business and put in charge of the St. Louis office. In 1898 he was made assistant sales manager. In 1899 he came to New Orleans and went into business on his own account with some New York people, under the name of A. M. Lockett & Co., which firm was subsequently incorporated under the laws of Louisiana. Mr. Lockett is now president, and active in the business of the company, which is that of machinery merchants and contractors for mechanical installations. This concern has grown from 5 employees in 1899 to about 40, and now has a branch in Houston, Tex. It is still representing the Henry R. Worthington Co., also the Babcock & Wilcox Co. of New York, as well as several others. Mr. Lockett is a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and of the Louisiana Engineering society, having been vice-president of the latter organization. He is a member of the Boston, Chess, Checkers and Whist, Audubon Golf, and the Country clubs, the Auto league, the Association of Commerce, the Hoo Hoos, and the Jovians (an electrical organization). He is also a member of the New Orleans Board of Port Commissioners, the Contractors and Dealers' Exchange, and the campaign committee of the Good Government league. He is president of the New Orleans Well Drilling Co. In 1895, at Little Rock, Ark., Mr. Lockett was married to Miss Anna, daughter of B. B. Waddell, of Memphis, Tenn. To them, 2 children have been born, 1 son, Andrew Moore, Jr., and 1 daughter, Elizabeth. Mr. Lockett is one of the energetic and prosperous business men of his adopted city, and is highly esteemed in both business and social circles.

Louisiana: Comprising Sketches of Parishes, Towns, Events, Institutions, and Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedic Form (volume 3), pp. 261-262. Edited by Alcée Fortier, Lit.D. Published in 1914, by Century Historical Association.