 | Gardner B. Locke Born: 1790 Died: 1859 |
Gardner B. Locke was mayor of Memphis from 1848-49. A merchant, Locke owned a major store that supplied almost any want from dry goods to clothing to coffins. Locke was a wealthy man who owned six slaves even though he lived in the city. He also sold slaves among many other fields of endeavor.
Born to Charles Locke and Mary Bath Locke in 1790, the family moved to Rutherford County, TN in 1805. Although it is unclear when Locke moved to Memphis, it is know that his father located here in 1939 and occupied a residence with his son.
Locke was mayor three times, but never consecutively. All told, his Memphis legacy centers around two things. Locke was town constable at the time of the Flatboatmen's War. He was chased from the river by a gang of flatboatmen. He later returned with the militia and made the point that wharfage fees would be paid. One flatboatman was killed and several arrested.
 | Locke's other claim to fame was the formation of a public school system. Along with veteran educator Eugene Magevney, Locke managed to pass a bill in 1848 that called for the formation of school districts and the appointment of a school superintendant. The system provided free education to white children too poor to afford private schools. 
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