David Ross Locke, an American satirist, born at Vestal, Broome co., N. Y., Sept, 20, 1833. He received a common school education, and learned the printer's trade in Cortland. After being connected with several western papers as a local reporter, he was successively editor and publisher in Ohio, from 1852 to 1860, of the Plymouth " Advertiser," Mansfield " Herald," Bucyrus "Journal," and Findlay " Jeffer-sonian." In the last named he published in 1860, under the signature of "Rev. Petroleum Vesuvious Nasby," a letter purporting to come from an ignorant and penniless Kentucky democrat, who was devoted to free whiskey and the perpetuation of slavery, and who desired to be a postmaster. The development of this character, with various dramatic incidents, was the gist of the long series of " Nasby " letters, which were soon transferred to the " Toledo Blade," of which their author became a proprietor and editor. They were continued regularly for several years. Mr. Locke has lectured in all the northern states, generally on political topics.

He has published the following works, consisting chiefly of the Nasby letters: "Divers Views, Opinions, and Prophecies of Yours Truly " (Cincinnati, 1865); " Swingin Round the Cirkle " (Boston, 1867); "Ekkoes from Kentucky" (1868); and " The Morals of Abou ben Adhem, or Eastern Fruit in Western Dishes " (1874).

Fig. 21.

Fig. 22.