Thomas J

Thomas J. Lucas

Among the old families of Grant County, that bearing the name of Lucas has been identified with this region since the days when the wilderness and the Indians prevailed. Its members have followed farming chiefly as their occupation, though the name is also represented in the profession and in public affairs. Mr. Thomas J. Lucas of Fairmount has for many years been a successful farmer, and is now active in public affairs as County Commissioner from the Third District of the County.

The family ancestry goes back to early Scotch settlers of America. The first home of the family in America was in the State of Virginia where the Lucases and related families lived for several generations. The grandfather of Thomas J. Lucas was Basil Lucas, a native of Virginia, who married a Miss Milburn. A recent investigator of the family records has shown that Mr. Lucas is a direct kinsman of General Thomas Jefferson Lucas, who was a soldier in the War of 1812, and also in the War with Mexico during the 40's. General L. J. Lucas was a son of General Lucas who gained distinction as a soldier under Napoleon in the French Wars. Basil Lucas was also related to William Penn, the founder of the Pennsylvania Colony.

After his marriage in Virginia, Basil Lucas emigrated to Highland County, Ohio, where he was one of the early settlers, and where he followed farming. He died when about eighty years of age, and his wife was probably about the same age at the time of her death. They were Methodists in religion, and the father voted the Democratic ticket. The children of these parents were:

Basil, Jr., a farmer, who came to grant County, where he died. He reared two daughter who grew to maturity.
Joseph Lucas located in Randolph County, Indiana, married, and had a family of six children of whom one is still living.
John, married in Ohio, then came to Randolph County, Indiana, later to Grant County, where he died.
Rev. Simeon came to Randolph County, and spent all his active career as a preacher for the Methodist Church. He was married in Ohio, and he and his wife left a family of children.
Noah, lived and died in Ohio, where he was married and had two sons.
Thomas Milburn was the father of Thomas J. Lucas, and his family record is given at greater length hereafter.
William was a veteran of the Mexican War, and for his services in that conflict received a grant of land in the old Indian Reserve in Grant County. After improving this estate he moved to Ohio and died in Allen County of that State. He was a devout Methodist, and a great worker for his church. He was married but had no children. William Lucas was also distinguished as a powerful athlete, and in the early days often wrestled with the Indians.
Sarah married a Mr. Allison, and they lived and died in Illinois, leaving two daughter.
Anna married a Mr. Bragg, and they spent their lives in Ohio as farmers. In their family was one son who proved his bravery as a Union Soldier during the Civil War.
Amos, was married, lived in Ohio, and left one son.

Thomas Milbur Lucas, the father, was born in Highland County, Ohio, June 10, 1814. Growing up on a farm, he was one of a number of children, and owing to such a large family and the pioneer circumstances of the times, it was often difficult for the parents to provide all the necessities of life. The children went barefoot throughout the summer season, and as the procuring of shoes was not an easy matter some of the children often went without until well into the winter season. Shortly after he became of age, Thomas M. Lucas was united in marriage on May 23, 1839, in Ohio, to Mary Moore Shoemaker. She was born in New Jersey, March 30, 1813, and was a child when she came over the Alleghany Mountains in wagon and team to Highland County with her parents. Her father, George Shoemaker, married a Miss Moore. Both her parents lived and died on a farm in Ohio, and reached advanced age. The Shoemakers were all Methodists.

In Ohio was born George M. Lucas, the first child of Thomas M. and wife. After his birth the family moved to Grant County. The father had come to this county in 1840, locating a tract of government land on Barren Creek in Jefferson Township. He then rode all the way back to Southern Ohio, and after entering and making his first payment on the land at the land office at Fort Wayne, finally set out in 1842 with his young wife and child across country to their new home. The settlement of the Lucas family in Jefferson Township was in the midst of the green timber, and their first home was a primitive log cabin, with greased appear for window light, with a puncheon floor, and with a door made of slabs hung on wooden hinges. Practically all the experiences which have been described as a portion of the early settlers of Grant County were participated in by the early Lucas family. Among other things they had to pay a pound of pork for a pound of all the salt used in their establishment. Thomas M. Lucas prospered as a farmer, and eventually owned three hundred and twenty acres of land, having put three hundred acres of this under cultivation and improvement. His death occurred in March, 1874, while his wife survived him several years. Mrs. Lucas, the mother, as a housewife in those pioneer days probably had no superior. She was noted for her excellent cookery, and her children rem4ember that she was as fussy about the cleanliness of her puncheon floor on the old cabin as any modern housewife is about the hardwood floors which are now found in so many Grant County homes. Both father and mother were life-long Methodists, and took part in the first organization of the church in their section of the county. Thomas M. Lucas was an Official of the church, a Class Leader, a Trustee, and Superintendent of the Sunday School.

The children of Thomas M. Lucas and wife are given the following records on these pages:

George died when twelve years of age.
Lavina is the wife of Levi Moorman, and lives at Matthews in Grant County. They are the parents of one son, Albert.
Albert Lucas, a retired farmer in Jonesboro, of Grant County, married Louisa Kidner, and their children are Otto and Armenta.
John, lives in Jefferson Township, a prosperous farmer, and married Clementine Jenkins, and their children are Lona, William, Florence, Daisy, Inez, Albert, Charles, and Elizabeth.
Anna M. is the wife of William P. Roush, living in Mill Township, where they are substantial farming people. Their children are Nettie and Walter, both the children being now deceased. Walter was a student of Purdue and went with a party of students to Indianapolis to a football game, but the train was wrecked and he was killed.
Thomas J. was the youngest of the family.

Mr. Thomas J. Lucas was born in Jefferson Township at the old homestead, December 18, 1849. His early training was received in the public schools. Taking up the career of farming he early accumulated some property, developed a good homestead, and still has his old farm of one hundred and thirty-five acres in Jefferson Township. It is improved with an excellent barn, a comfortable dwelling, and on its feed lots and pastures run a number of horses, hogs and sheep. He raises corn, oats and wheat, and feed practically all his crop to his stock. Mr. Lucas continued a resident on the home farm until 1892, when he moved to a house in town, at 117 South Sycamore Street. This is now one of the attractive homes of Fairmount.

September 25, 1872, in Jefferson Township, Mr. Lucas was united in marriage to Amanda Dunn. She was born in Jefferson Township, December 13, 1852, and received her education in the same locality with her husband. Her parents were Harmon and Mary (Minnick) Dunn. Her father was born in Delaware County, Indiana, about 1822 or 1823. Her mother was a native of Rockingham County, Virginia. They were married in Grant County, and started out as farmers in the midst of the wilderness. They hewed a home out of the woods, and were among the substantial pioneer settlers in this section of the state. Mr. Dunn died during the last year of the Civil War in 1864, being in the prime of life. His widow died some years later, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Joseph W. Littler, when seventy-six years of age. The Dunn's were Presbyterians in religious faith. The children of the Dunn family were:

Elzina, widow of Robert F. Careins, and lives at Matthews, and has three sons;
Amanda, is Mrs. Lucas.
Loretta is the widow of I. H. Shoemaker, and has one son and two daughters, and lives in Oklahoma City.
Calvin died at the age of twenty-two.
Elizabeth is the wife of J. W. Littler, living in Jefferson Township, and the mother of four daughters.

The family of Mr. and Mrs. Lucas comprise the following children:

Dr. Wilbur was born June 22, 1872, was liberally educated and prepared for his profession in the Northwestern University at Chicago, where he was graduated M. D. in 1903. He is now in successful practice at Pueblo, Colorado, and was married October 7, 1908 to Edith M. Johnson of that city, and they have one daughter, Edith Lenore, born December 26, 1910.
Carl Dunn Lucas, D. D. S., was born October 24, 1879, graduated from the dental college of Indianapolis, in the Class of 1902, and has a high rank as a practitioner of dentistry, and also through his other professional relations. He is a member of the faculty of the Indianapolis Dental College, and has gained a great reputation as a lecturer on dentistry throughout the central states and the west. He married Effie Janet Carter, of Arcadia, Indiana, and they have a son, Carl, Jr.
Mabel, was born November 14, 1884, was educated in the Fairmount Academy, and married Dr. L. D. Holiday. Their children are Murrey L. and Philip L.
Georgia was born November 9, 1889, was educated in the city grammar and high schools, studied music in the Marion Conservatory, under Professors Owen & Nusbaum, and was later a student under Miss C. Louise Dunning of New York City, but now at Portland, Oregon. Miss Lucas is now taking a normal course, and as a student of great ambition and talents is preparing herself to teach the Dunning course of music.

Mr. and Mrs. Lucas are attendants at the Congregational Church. Mr. Lucas is now serving his second term as County Commissioner of Grant County from the Third District, having been chosen on the Democratic ticket. He has also served a term on the Fairmount City Council, and as a successful business man his services to the public have been greatly appreciated by the local citizenship. He is affiliated with Lodge No. 383, I. O. O. F., and with Lodge No. 381, Knights of Pythias, at Fairmount. He has passed all the chairs in these orders. In politics he is regarded as one of the leading Democrats of Grant County and has served as Chairman of the Township Committee, and has frequently attended as a delegate the county, state and congressional sessions.

Source: Centennial History of Grant County Indiana 1812-1912. The Lewis Publishing Co., 1914, page 870, 871, 872, 873.

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