About 1840 John moved to Pleasants Co., VA with his parents. He farmed and timbered; had a farm on McKim Creek.140

The first school John attended was in a little log house near Pine Grove; his teacher was Aaron DeLong.140

1880 Census, McKim Dist., Pleasants Co., WV, p. 128A359
Lock, John, 44, b. PA, father b. NJ, mother b. PA
Margret, wife, 40, b. VA, parents b. VA, housekeeper
J. R., son, 8, b. WV
J. O., son, 5, b. WV

1910 Census, McKim District, Pleasants Co., WV, family 19022
Locke, John, head, 74, married 47 years, farmer, b. PA, father b. NJ, mother b. MD
Margaret, wife, 71, 4 children, 2 survive, b. WV, parents b. WV