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| William Lewis Lockwood "Honest and Trustworthy Through Life" October 21, 1836 - August 17, 1867 |
| Born: October 31, 1836 A.B., Miami University: 1858 admitted to the bar: 1860 recruited Company H, 48th Regiment, New York Volunteer Infantry, U.S. Army: 1861 First Lieutenant: 1861 Captain: 1861 A.A.G., Second Division, Tenth Army Corps, U.S. Army: 1864 resigned, entered manufacturing business, Usquepaugh, R.I.: 1864 Died: August 17, 1867 Buried: Greenwood Cemetery, Brooklyn, N.Y. |
| The "businessman" member of the Seven Founders was the astute William Lewis Lockwood.
He was the one who supplied the organizing ability which is supremely important and essential in forming any lasting structure. Without Lockwood, and the systematic way he organized the little group in 1855, it is doubtful if Sigma Chi would have survived more than three or four years. In fact, even after his graduation in 1858, practically single-handedly he chartered Lambda Chapter, the oldest continuous chapter in our history. Call it luck,fate, destiny -- or whatever you will -- the most important thing the six Founders who separated from Delta Kappa Epsilon ever did was to recruit Lockwood in the spring of 1855. He, for some unexplainable but fortunate reason for Sigma Chi, had not become a member of any fraternity. He brought into this group exactly what they needed and his handiwork is evident from almost the very day he joined them. Lockwood, co-designer of the badge, was the only one of the Founders born in the East. His birth took place in New York on October 31, 1836. Lockwood's father attained considerable wealth as an importer of cloth, embroidery, and fine clothes. From his father Lockwood not only inherited wealth, but what is more important, the ability to handle it. He instinctively knew how to set things up so they would "tick." Lockwood was elected treasurer of the group in 1855. The other six sensed that he knew how to handle money and he was the unanimous choice for treasurer, even though they had practically no money at the time. He continued in this job for the next two years. In the third, and for a long time, the final year of Old Alpha, the office passed into other hands, but Lockwood kept a watchful eye on the Chapter's financial affairs. As additional chapters were established, the treasurer of Alpha was really the Grand Treasurer or, as the office is now known, the Grand Quaestor of Sigma Chi. With his home established in New York City Lockwood began to study law. On May 17, 1860, he was admitted to the bar and formed a law partnership with a friend, Dudley W. Strickland. They leased desirable office space, bought a fine law library, and started to practice. They had made a good beginning when the War Between the States broke out in 1861 and the two immediately set out to recruit a company among their friends and associates. Their organization became Company H of the 48th New York Volunteer Infantry. Strickland, having had some military training, was appointed captain of the Company with Lockwood as his first lieutenant. As might be expected, Lockwood made a good officer. In June 1862 he was promoted to captain. He used his own resources, frequently and liberally, to supply needs and comforts for those who were sick or could otherwise be helped. The Tiffany Sword, later presented him by his company, witnessed the affection with which he was regarded by his men. On July 18, 1863, during the furious assault on Fort Wagner, he received a bad shoulder wound from which he never fully recovered. Later that fall, however, he was again back in active service. In February 1864, he went home to New York City on furlough, then on to Oxford, Ohio, where at the home of his wife's parents, she and his young son, Frank (named for Frank Scobey) were awaiting him. In Oxford he visited the literary halls and the old room where the Fraternity came into being and renewed his memories of the town's streets and Miami's buildings. He also went to Cincinnati and had a visit with Isaac M. Jordan. They talked over old times and had a most enjoyable reunion. Throughout May 1864, his company's campaigning was very strenuous. On May 16 came the 13-hour battle of Drewry's Bluff. This was Lockwood's final major action. His wound had completely drained his strength. June 26,1864 (two days short of nine years from the Founding date of the Fraternity), he was honorably discharged on account of disability. Being unable to practice law because of his health, he moved late in 1864 to Usquepaugh, Rhode Island. Here, with some associates, he bought the local woolen mills and organized the firm of Lockwood, Alpin and Company. He felt that he would have an opportunity to get out in the open air to benefit his health. Although he was making a great success of the business his health failed constantly. The wound he had received at Fort Wagner sapped his strength and he died from its effects as surely as if his death had come on the battlefield. On August 17, 1867, in his 31st year, he passed into the Chapter Eternal at Usquepaugh, the first of the Seven Founders to die. He was buried in the Lockwood family lot in Greenwood Cemetery, Brooklyn. Here, in 1932, was erected and dedicated a beautiful Founders' Memorial Monument, in memory of "Alpha's Businessman" and his most worthy virtue of integrity. |