Fountain-Shelby-Orange County IN Archives Biographies.....Lucas, Joseph G. 1803 - 
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Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com September 23, 2007, 5:01 pm

Author: H. W. Beckwith (1881)

   Joseph G. Lucas, retired merchant, Veedersburg, was born in London, England,
in 1803, and is the son of John and Elizabeth Lucas. He was reared a merchant
(the vocation of his father) till he was eighteen; then he came to America,
landing here with a capital of $400. He located in Shelby county, Indiana, where
he was married, in 1825, to Sarah G. Jones, a native of Georgia, and farmed till
1835, when it was decided by himself and brother John to sell their farms, go to
Chicago, invest a part of their money in land near that city, and the rest in
the mercantile business at that place. When they had reached Rob Roy the wife of
Joseph G. took sick and died, at the age of twenty-seven, leaving four children,
Amanda A., Joseph G., Angeline S., and Elizabeth M., to mourn her loss. His
brother went on to Chicago, and then to Rock river, bought a piece of land, sold
it, then joined his brother, Joseph G., at Rob Roy. After some time they decided
to locate at Chambersburg, and formed a partnership to carry on the mercantile
business, in 1836, which lasted till 1846, when his brother John sold his
interest to him and emigrated to Iowa and grew rich. The first goods they
brought to Chambersburg were purchased in Cincinnati, near the close of 1835,
and arrived at their destination in May 1836, after having been delayed by low
water and once sunken in the Wabash. This partnership proved very successful.
During this time the firm engaged in packing and shipping pork, which was
discontinued in 1840. Mr. Lucas continued to sell goods in Chambersburg till
1871, when he retired. He was married a second time in 1836, to Caroline Smith,
the first white girl born in Fountain county, by whom he had nine children:
Lewis N., Susan C., William H., Charles F., Thomas N., Louisa C., Americus
(deceased), Harriet A. and Emma J. The latter exhibited a wonderful faculty for
painting. Lewis N. served in the army at the close of the late war. During the
many years Mr. Lucas has been engaged in business he has been successful, and
not only accumulated wealth, but the respect of his many patrons and friends.
When he retired, in 1871, his first capital of $400 was increased to $40,000, a
great part of which he distributed among his children. He now lives in Sterling,
enjoying the fruits of an active and well-spent life. His wife is a member of
the United Brethren church. In politics he was formerly a whig, but now a
staunch republican. Following the organization of the township he was elected
trustee, which office he filled three terms.

Additional Comments:

HISTORY OF FOUNTAIN COUNTY,

TOGETHER WITH
HISTORIC NOTES ON THE WABASH VALLEY,

GLEANED FROM EARLY AUTHORS, OLD MAPS AND MANUSCRIPTS
PRIVATE AND OFFICIAL CORRESPONDENCE, AND OTHER AUTHENTIC, THOUGH, FOR THE MOST
PART, OUT-OF-THE-WAY SOURCES.

BY H. W. BECKWITH,
OF THE DANVILLE BAR; CORRESPONDING MEMBER OF THE HISTORICAL SOCIETIES OF
WISCONSIN AND CHICAGO.

WITH MAP AND ILLUSTRATIONS.

CHICAGO: H. H. HILL AND N. IDDINGS, PUBLISHERS.
1881.


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