Richard Lucas (1732-1791) and Rachel Else Duval Lucas (1736-1785) were born in Maryland and were the parents of six children. Richard was a sergeant in the Revolutionary war.
Two of their sons John (1760-1836) and Samuel (1764-1833) were each the parents of ten children. Samuel was a saddlemaker and John was a soldier in the Revolutionary War like his father. Minnie Lucas Lee wrote a letter about John – here is an excerpt:
“he was a lad of sixteen when the war was declared and served six years, He was taken prisoner by the Indians and taken to Kentucky and Ohio…”
The rest of the letter can be find in John Lucas’ entry.
Of the twenty children beween the Samuel and John (10 boys and 10 girls), there was one soldier in the Civil War, on the Union side.
Of the 159 grandchildren of Samuel and John (74 for Samuel and 75 for John), there were twelve soldiers in the Civil War, eight on the Union side and four on the Confederate side.
Of the great-grandchildren of Samuel and John, there were five soldiers in the Civil War, all on the Union side.
Amazingly, that is eighteen soldiers, fourteen on the Union side and four on the Confederate side from these two brothers. (Four married Lucas daughters)
The chart below shows the relationships, starting at the top with Richard and Rachel Lucas. The blue rectangles are Union soldiers and the gray rectangles are Confederate soldiers.
Following is a brief description of these soldiers.
Israel Lucas, August 12, 1804-May 5,1862. Born in Butler County, Ohio and enlisted as a private in Company G of the 71st Ohio Volunteer Infantry in 1861 at 57 years of age. He died of disease at Fort Donelson, Tennessee and was buried there.
Richard Lucas McCray, July 7, 1828-May 17, 1863. Born in Indiana. Lieutenant in Company G, 23rd Iowa Infantry. Killed by sharpshooters at the Battle of Big Black River Bridge, where the Union troops commanded by Brig. Gen Vaughn defeated the Confederate troops and the remaining Confederate troops retreated to Vicksburg and the next day the siege of Vicksburg began.
John Lucas Mills, June 29, 1823-March 26, 1884. Born in Butler County, Ohio. He enlisted on August 13, 1862 and was a sergeant in Company C, 86th Regiment, Indiana Infantry. He mustered out on December 15, 1862.
Francis Marion Lucas, January 9, 1842-January 13, 1906. Born in Butler County, Ohio. Was a seaman in the Navy on the USS Ouachita, (a steamer captured from the Confederacy that patrolled the Mississippi River and its tributaries); as well as in the army possibly. Was discharged on December 30, 1864.
Hamilton W. Lucas, October 27, 1840-September 19, 1864. Born in Darke County, Ohio. He enlisted in Company AB, 110th Regiment, Ohio Infantry. His occupation was listed as a cooper. He was killed in action at Winchester, Virginia.
Larkin Nelson Covert, married to Martha Daulton. He enlisted in Company G, 70th Regiment of the Ohio Volunteer Infantry (O.V.I.) He participated in the many battles in which that regiment was engaged, from Shiloh till his honorable discharge at Fort McAlister, December 31, 1864.
George F. DeLong, 1831-May 21, 1864. He was born in Montpelier, Vermont and was married to Sarah Daulton. Enlisted in Company B of the 34th Regiment of the Ohio Volunteer Infantry (O.V.I.). Here is an excerpt of a letter he wrote to his wife on August 5, 1863 “My Dear, I got your letter of the 18th, yesterday, it had been sent to Fayetteville and layed there till Capt. Boyd came back. Matthew Mahoney brought it, and one from friend Thomas of the same date. These are all the letters I have received since the 27th of July. I hope, love, to hear from you soon as the Raid is now at an end. God grant that the war may end as speedily as did Morgan’s Raid, as I am very anxious to be at home with those I have so ruthlessly deserted, but thank God I am in a good cause and through the providence of God, I have thus far been spared with life and health. Oh, may his arm protect me to the end of this wicked rebellion. Give my love to my children. Tell Medora she must try to improve in writing as I could hardly read her last letter, but was, nevertheless, glad to know she had not forgotten me. It will bother you to read this letter, as in turning the paper I commenced on the wrong page. I hope, love, we may meet soon as I long to see you and embrace that loved form. Live in hope, love, and persevere till the end, which must soon come. God bless you all, my ever dear ones. He was wounded May 9, 1864 at the Battle of Cloyd’s Mountain. Here is a description of the battle -There was an open field of about half or two-thirds of a mile in width and across this the Federal force had to advance, the Confederates in the meantime pouring a most galling fire upon the approaching lines. At the foot of the slope upon which the enemy was posted was a muddy stream waist deep, through which the charging troops waded, and after taking breath ascended the ridge, wavering in spots under the heavy fire, but on the whole keeping in good order. When close to the enemy’s breastworks the whole Federal line rushed forward with a yell and the impetuosity of the attack completely routed the Confederates behind the abatis. He was taken to Dublin Depot as a prisoner and died on May 11, 1864 from a gunshot wound through the bowel. He left four children and his wife Sarah who was expecting their fifth child. Sarah applied for a widow’s pension for herself and the minor children. She was awarded eight dollars a month for herself and two dollars for each of the children, until they reached age 16.
Henry M. “Harvey” Lucas , 1828-1876. He was born in Bracken, Kentucky, and enlisted in Company B, 40th Regiment, Kentucky Mounted Infantry.
Mason Wheeler Bigelow, December 29, 1840-December 4, 1924. Born in Kentucky, married to Susan Lucas. Enlisted on August 10, 1862 in Company E, 10th Kentucky Calvary.
Edwin Ruthvin Lucas Company K 11th Alabama Volunteer Infantry, Confederate Army. He became a captain and operated in Virginia under General Lee and was in 24 general engagements but was never wounded or captured. After the war he was a farmer, and also a state legislator.
Oscar Madison Lucas, October 31, 1838 – December 10, 1920. He joined Cahaba Rifles, Cahaba, Alabama, in April 1861. Rendezvoused at Montgomery, Alabama and the company became Company G, 5th Alabama. He wrote that “a spent minnie bullet struck him high on his forehead, burrowed just beneath the skin of his skull, and stayed in this path until it emerged at the rear of his cranium, leaving two holes and a lot of scar tissue, which looked a lot worse than they were.” The old minister was fond of contending, when he had something to be sorry about or apologize for, that the hole in his head was to blame. He eventually was designated as a chaplain of the 11th Alabama regiment, and after the war became a Baptist minister.
William P. Lucas, 1841-April 14, 1862. Born in Alabama, enlisted as a private in Company F, 5th Alabama Infantry, April 5, 1861. He was wounded in the Seven Days Battles in which General Lee kept the Union forces from taking Richmond, and died from the wounds in the hospital in Richmond, Virginia April 14, 1862.
William Pendleton Cameron, 1831-November 13, 1898. He was born in West Point, Georgia, and married Sarah Lucas. He enlisted in the Fulton regiment of the Georgia Infantry.
John H. Grogan, September 21, 1842-November 18, 1864. Born in Tennessee, he was a corporal in Company G, 7th Regiment, Tennessee Calvary. John H. Grogan and brother, Granville H. Grogan, were murdered by “bushwhackers” during the American Civil War in the vicinity of New Liberty Baptist Church, 7th District, Carroll County, Tennessee. “Murdered” is verified on grave markers of both soldiers at New Liberty Baptist Church. Military records provide information that John H. Grogan made Corporal in Company G, 7th Tennessee Cavalry (US). Military records have not been found on Granville Grogan even though his photograph was made in a U.S. Cavalry uniform. The family story is that the “bushwhackers” made the family watch the execution. I didn’t include his brother, Granville Grogan, because there are seemingly no military records for him, but he appears in a picture in a Union uniform so it’s unclear if he was in the military.
Richard Larman Dawson, November 4, 1832-November 26, 1916. Born in Maysville, Kentucky, he was a blacksmith by trade. He was in Company H of the 1st Regiment of U.S. Veteran Engineers.
Robert J. Dawson May 2, 1836-July 18, 1903. Born in Maysville, Kentucky. Enlisted as a musician in Company H, 133rd Ohio Infantry. Mustered out on August 6, 1864.
William Blanchard Dawson, February 12, 1840-September 22, 1924. Born in Kentucky, he enlisted in Company C of the 16th Kentucky Infantry. After the war he was a blacksmith and then police chief and constable in Maysville. He was blind for the last 13 years of his life, and apparently watching baseball had been one of his favorite pasttimes until then, and was a Cincinnati Reds fan.
Charles L. Dawson, November 1846-September 2, 1916. Born in Kentucky, he enlisted in Company D, 10th Kentucky Cavalry.
Here are a few pictures of these soldiers.
George F. DeLong
Larkin Nelson Covert
Oscar Madison Lucas
John Grogan
Richard Larman Dawson
Richard and Rachel Lucas: 5th, 6th, 7th great grandparents
John and Jemima Lucas: 4th, 5th, 6th great grandparents
Samuel and Hannah Lucas: 5th, 6th, 7th great aunt and uncle
Israel Lucas: 4th, 5th, 6th great uncle
The other soldiers listed are 2nd, 3rd and 4th cousins 3 and 4 times removed.
Ruth Rehretta Lucas (1875-1960) was the second child of Newton and Barbara Lucas and was born in Timewell. She married Allen Fornwalt in 1929 when she was 49. She lived with her mother Barbara it seems like before that after her father died in 1917. Our grandparents Mabel and Clyde Roper (Mamie and Pappy) visited “Aunt Ruth” in Timewell in the 1950s and 60s.
Ruth
Ruth and Minnie
William Daniel (Willie) Lucas 1873-1950
Willie was the third child of Newton and Barbara. He was born in Scotland Missouri, but moved back to Timewell with his family as a child. He married Lizzie McPhail (1874-1956) in 1897 and they had two children, Laura Lucille (1898-1984), and Harold M. (1900-1990) Willie was a farmer his whole life in Timewell as was his son Harold. Laura moved to Alton, Illinois and was a school teacher there. Neither Laura or Harold married. Here is an excerpt about Willie and Lizzie when they were teenagers in a letter Barbara wrote to Minnie:
… he goes over some Sunday nights and takes Lizzie to church but has not been there for dinner for a long while …there was awhile he would take her some place one or two nights out of a week I told him that was entirely too often for as young a boy as he was … but he said he was going to get the inside track for there was two three other fellows ready to step in there and he wanted to keep ahead and did so now he has slacked off a little.
/
Willie
Ruth? Aunt Mary? Laura, Lizzie and Willie Lucas
Willie, Lizzie, Laura, Sadie, Ruth, Barbara at their house in Timewell
Blanche Lee and Laura in Timewell
Harold and Blanche Lee in Timewell.
Blanche was probably good friends with her cousins Laura and Harold as she was the same age as Harold and two years younger than Laura. Laura was a faithful postcard sender to Blanche when they were children. Here is a cute postcard sent by Harold to his grandpa Newton probably about 1910.
The following was written by Minnie Lucas Lee about her great grandfather, John Lucas.
The following is an excerpt from the book “Lucas Genealogy”. In the third paragraph starting “He was a Rev War soldier… it tells about his life after the war. His son was Daniel Robbins Lucas, the father of Newton Lucas.
Some postcards sent to Blanche Lee for Thanksgiving in the early 1900s.
A family dinner, possibly Thanksgiving, maybe around 1910 or so. I don’t know who the lady in the front is, but she looks like Mary Lucas, Newton’s sister. Next to her on the right side of the picture I believe is Barbara Lucas, and in the back on the left hand side of the picture is Newton Lucas. They are at opposite corners. The other man with the long gray beard might possibly be Ethan Allen Lucas, but that’s just a guess.
Henry Lee (1863-1935) was born in Crawfordsville, Indiana to Henry Bruce Mulroy Lee and Phoebe Long Lee. He had three sisters, Minnie, Carrie, and Mary Alice; and two brothers, Fred and Charles. We’ve got lots of photographs of Henry.
Henry married Minnie Lucas in 1888.
Henry and his wedding party. Henry is seated at the left and his brother Fred is seated on the bottom right, and brother Charles I think is standing with his arm on Henry’s shoulder
Henry was a telegraph operator for the railroad. When he and Minnie were first married, they moved to Bakersfield, California, where his brother Charles lived.
Henry’s telegraphy book
Later they lived in Watrous and Maxwell, New Mexico, near La Junta, Colorado, and Dodge City and Richfield, Kansas. They ended up in Trinidad, Colorado.
Stagecoach stop in Richfield, Kansas, managed by Henry Lee. He is on top of the stagecoach – here is another picture apparently taken at the same time.
Henry Lee on left
Grace, Henry, Barbara Lucas, Blanche, Ethel Cupp?, Minnie seated, Mabel and Harlan Lee. This might have been a photograph taken when they made a visit to Timewell.
Minnie Lucas (1868-1948) was the first of three children of Newton and Barbara Lucas. She was born in Timewell, Illinois, and had two siblings, Ruth (1875-1960), and William (Willie) 1873-1950. It seems as if they were very doted on children judging from number of photographs of them we have.
Minnie
Ruth and Minnie in the 1880s
Minnie married Henry Lee in 1888 (her 2nd cousin once removed I think). That means that Amassa and Elder Lee are both our 3rd great aunt and uncle and our 4th great grandparents. They are Henry’s great grandparents and Minnies’s great aunt and uncle. Very confusing!
Minnie and Henry on their wedding day in 1888
Minnie’s wedding dress
After Minnie and Henry married they moved quite a bit – Bakersfield, California, northern New Mexico, southern Colorado, and Dodge City, Kansas. He was a telegraph operator for the railroad and they lived right next to the railroad stations.
They had eight children, Henry Claude (1888-1898), Mamie Edith (1890-1891), Carl Lucas (1892-1895), Harry Sterling (1894-1896), Mabel Ruby Isabel (1896-1989), Grace Elmyra (1898-1980), Minnie Blanche (1900-1988), and Harlan Newton (1904-1967). The first four children all died in childhood.
They bought a house in Trinidad on Tillotson in the early 1900s, where they lived the rest of their lives. Henry died in 1935.
Gram (Joan Roper) went to stay with Minnie in Trinidad every summer- she had happy memories of staying with her “Gramma”.
She remembered that Minnie was very devout – she read the Bible at the dining room table every night, and she walked to the First Christian Church every Sunday (at least a mile or two). She walked everywhere, to the grocery, post office, wherever she needed to go.
She especially loved her grandchildren, Edgar, Joan, Mildred, Mary Lee, Claudia and Norton. She writes in one postcard to her daughter, Mabel:
“Dear Mabel, Edgar’s pictures are just splendid. I just keep looking at it how many times I have seen just that same look on his face so natural”
Making a leap from Barbara Frank Lucas’ ancestors to Newton Lucas’ more recent ones – Mattie (1878-1942) , Sadie (1879-1965) and Jessie (1883-1973) Lucas.
Mattie, Sadie, Jessie
They were the daughters of Ethan Allen Lucas, Newton’s brother, and his wife Leora. They lived their whole lives in Timewell, IL, and I believe they were close to Barbara, Ruth, and Lizzie Lucas as they appear in many pictures together. Sadie was a schoolteacher, but I don’t know if Mattie and Jessie were. Their mother died when they were little and their father married Mary Ratcliff.
I remember our grandparents Mabel and Clyde Roper (Mamie and Pappy), visiting them often in the 1950’s and 60’s. Sadie was the namesake of Gram’s donkey, and Jessie of one of her dogs.
The picture above is so sweet of them as young ladies. I wonder if they had a bolt of the plaid fabric and made their dresses – so creative and well-made.
Jessie Lucas, Blanche Bratcher, Mabel Roper, Ruth Lucas Fornwalt (behind), Lizzie Lucas, Sadie Lucas (in back). Probably in the early 1960s
Newton Lucas driving his new auto with Ruth and Barbara in the back seat
The postcard sent by Barbara’s sister Sarah Frank to her when she heard about the car.
Newton Lucas must have been an adventurous person, with his trip to the Rocky Mountains in his twenties, and buying a car at age 71 in 1909! Henry Ford introduced the Model T in 1908.
Here is a timeline of his life: 1860 Trip to the Rocky Mountains
Dec. 25, 1860 While cutting firewood, a tree fell on him, crushing his hip and making him a cripple for life*
1866: Went with his brother William to Texas, bought 600 head of cattle and drove them back to Illinois. They crossed the Red River on April 22, and reached Quincy on Sept. 20, 1866. Apparently it was not a financial success.*
1872-1876 in the hay and grain business with his brother William, also operated a sawmill during these years.*
1882-1883 Operated a steam thresher in Mt Sterling*
1883 Bought his farm of 220 acres in Pear Ridge Township, Ill.*
1892 Was a delegated to the Republican State Convention. He had cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln in 1860*
Barbara was born in Davidson County, North Carolina to William and Sarah Winkler Frank. She was the oldest of eight children.
She married Newton Lucas in 1865 when she was 23, and they had three children, Minnie, Ruth and Willie.
Ruth, Newton, Willie, Barbara, Minnie
We have three letters from Barbara to Minnie, one written August 29, 1861. Her letters are chatty, and in this letter she talks of hair pins and dress fabric she has seen, also the state of Willie’s buggy which has gotten muddy. She writes:
Ruth sent you a letter today. I told her it would have been very good if she had left somethings out – I want you to be sure and Burn it – she had no business to say anything about P____ she don’t like Elmer very well and is a lttle jealous of Lizzie because Willie takes her more than he does Ruth”
I wonder what Ruth had spilled in her letter that left Barbara so concerned? I guess we will never know! Lizzie is Willie’s future wife. Barbara also asks about Minnie’s two children, Mamie, age one, (not our Mamie) and Claude, age three:
Ma would like to know if Mamie ever gets spanked, hope she don’t…I do want to see them so bad.”
Ma is Sarah Winkler Frank. Sometimes Barbara looks stern in her photos, but I don’t think that was her nature at all. She seems warm and caring.
Newton and Barbara on their wedding day, August 29, 1865
Father of Newton Lucas. He was born in Butler Ohio, and grew up on the farm there. He moved to Crawfordsville, Indiana in 1833 where he earned his medical degree. In 1836 he moved to Mt. Sterling, Illinois where he taught school and practiced medicine. He also had a lumber and mercantile business, and later bought his farm 1 1/2 miles south of Mt. Sterling, along with other land in the area. He had over 1000 acres and an estate worth about $30,000 at the time of his death.* He was married to Sarah Ann Keith, 1817-1890, and they had 12 children. Sarah was born in Hardin County, KY and died in Brown County, IL.
They named many of their children after famous people: George Washington, Henry Clay, John Hardin, Ethan Allen, and Daniel Webster Lucas. The ones with “non-famous” names are Newton, William, Martha Ann, Mary Elizabeth, Helen, James Edward and Rosa Roat (adopted child). Newton may have been closest to Ethan Allen – they had neighboring farms and Ethan was the executor of Newton’s will. The only other sibling we have a photograph of is Mary Elizabeth (1843-1940).
Duke City Roots 