William J. Lucas
Capt. William J. Lucas was for long years a merchant and banker at Columbus and when death closed his career, in July, 1901, he left a record as a gallant soldier of the Union, a successful business man and a man whose generous character and constant friendliness made him loved by everyone in his community. Captain Lucas was born in Shelby County, Indiana, February 3, 1837. His father, Joshua B. Lucas, was born in Pennsylvania, in 1802, of English ancestry, and when young was taken to Highland County, Ohio, where he grew up and where he married Elizabeth Taylor, of that county. She was a native of Delaware. From Ohio they came to Indiana, locating in Shelby County in 1828. Joshua B. Lucas was a member of the Indiana Legislature from Shelby County in 1839-41 and was an associate judge of the County Court from 1843 to 1850. He and his wife had three sons, Francis M., Isaac F. and William J., all of whom were soldiers in the Civil war, Isaac having been killed during the Vicksburg campaign. William J. Lucas grew up on a farm in Shelby County, attended common schools there and was only seventeen when he turned his attention to the mercantile business at Edinburg. Later he located at Franklin, Indiana, and left his Business there at the outbreak of the Civil war to enlist as a private in Company G of the Third Indiana Cavalry. He was made second lieutenant, then first lieutenant and promoted to captain. He was in the Army of the Cumberland and participated in many hard-fought battles and campaigns during the course of the war. At the close of the war Captain Lucas engaged in the mercantile business in Bartholomew County. In 1880 he became cashier of the First National Bank, a year later was elected vice president and the following year became president, a position he held until his death nearly thirty years later. Everywhere he was regarded as a financier of exceptional judgment and integrity. He was a Republican but never sought public office. He was also a director and treasurer of the Orinoco Furniture Company. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity, and was always seeking out worthy causes for his support, one of the chief objects of his interest and benevolence being the Y. M. C. A. Soon after the close of the war, October 10, 1865, he married Miss Elizabeth Crump, daughter of Francis J. Crump, a pioneer business man and merchant of Columbus, who was born in Richmond, Virginia, and came to Bartholomew County about 1818. Mrs. Lucas since the death of her husband has continued to live in the family residence in Columbus, and since 1927 has been president of the First National Bank. She is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and for a number of years was on the board of the Frances Comfort Thomas Orphan Home. To Captain and Mrs. Lucas were born five children, one of whom died in infancy and four grew to mature years: Francis C., now deceased, who married Jessie Lincoln; Mary, wife of William H. Lincoln; George H., treasurer of the Orinoco Furniture Company, who married Naomi Favorite; and Elizabeth L. Stevens, of Pasadena, California, widow of Francis E. Stevens.
This book has no cover, and no index, and no author, but it is full of Indiana biographies. Pages are in really rough shape, could be page 46 or 48. LR
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