Jasper-Newton County MO Archives Biographies..... LUKE, James December 12, 1854 - June 3, 1925 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/mo/mofiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: William (Bill) Samuel BOGGESS http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00024.html#0005917 February 15, 2009, 9:15 am Author: William (Bill) Samuel BOGGESS      <>----------<>-----------<>       JAMES LUKE (1854ENG-1925MO) A prominent Carthage capitalist, property owner and veteran mine operator, migrating to southwest Missouri(ah) at age nineteen from Calstock, Cornwall, England. Obituaries of James Luke and second wife of 38 years, Jane Creech (1854IN-1915MO: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mo/jasper/obits/l/luke26ob.txt http://files.usgwarchives.net/mo/jasper/obits/c/creechlu27ob.txt    James Luke first worked the tin mines of his native Calstock living with his sister Ellen and husband James Scantlebury, then migrated to Granby, Newton county, Missouri, zinc mines, then Galena, Cherokee county, Kansas then to Jasper county, Missouri as labor in the mines and working up until he was owner/operator of many successful mines in the district. He partnered with Byron A Ash and the two of them did very well. James Luke carefully invested his earnings in real property such as good farmland and business buildings, such as Center building on west side of square, until he amassed a small empire. He graciously partook in public affairs donating time and money to worthy projects both in native Calstock and Jasper county.     In 1893, when visiting relatives in Calstock, England, returning with him was his niece, seventeen year old Kate Knight (1876ENG-1928MO), daughter of older sister Ellen http://files.usgwarchives.net/mo/jasper/obits/l/lukeknig25ob.txt married to 2nd husband, Samuel D Knight http://files.usgwarchives.net/mo/jasper/obits/k/knight24ob.txt in 1875. Kate lived with he and wife Jane four years then wed Samuel C Boggess 8 March 1898. Her uncle providing his home for the most elaborate wedding Carthage had seen for many years http://files.usgwarchives.net/mo/jasper/vitals/marriages/knight3mr.txt .     1906, James Luke brought Kate's parents over following death of sister's father- in-law, Samuel Knight and most likely was responsible for her three brothers, his nephews, moving to Carthage from Calstock, England. One sister, Annie, remained in England. Ellen's Scantlebury family remained in England, having five grandchildren at her death, including May Francis Scantlebury.     Kate's first born, April 1899, was my father, Luke J Boggess (1899MO-1974MO), born at his grandmother Boggess' home in Carthage while parents were at home in Galena until 1900 when they returned to Carthage, Missouri(ah) to a home at west end of Highland avenue on Hazel street.       The Luke House is one on "The Victorian Homes Driving Tour" which is a leisurely drive-by tour of some of Carthage's most beautiful and architecturally significant mansions. Erected between 1870 and 1910, many of these homes were built by stone quarry and mine owners. The tour begins and ends at the beautiful Courthouse square which covers twenty homes in town. A route brochure is available at the Carthage Chamber of Commerce which describs it to wit: "Georgian built in 1900 by James Luke who was engaged in mining. Typical features are a symmetrical facade, hipped roof, and chimneys placed to contribute to the over-all symmetry. The doorway is usually crowned with a pediment, but sometimes, as here, there is a portico with classical columns. Palladian windows are often used." Following newspaper articles are from Mornin' News archives; 1898       Fined $15.00 Each in Police Court. John Milless and Guerney Irwin, who got into a scrap last Saturday afternoon, during which Milless threw a stone through a plate glass window in the front of R.H. Rose's store, were this morning arraigned in police court, where they entered a plea of guilty to an affray. They were each given a fine, which with the costs, amounted to $15.00. The window which was smashed was about 7x10 feet, and the loss will be over $85, for which amount it was insured. The building is owned by Jas. Luke. --------- 1898       FIFTH STREET IMPROVEMENT. Where a Thoroughfare is to be Made of a Mere Path. Fifth street from Grant to Lyon is to be made into a thoroughfare, something it has not been these many years. Work was begun on the improvement yesterday, under the supervision of street commissioner Landrum. A new stone culvert is now being built diagonally across Fifth street at the corner of Main street. This will throw the water to the south side of the street, and the stone culvert covering along the Luke property will come up. A surface gutter will go down instead. The city will build the stone walls of a culvert along the south side of Fifth from Main to Lyon street and Judge Kerr will cover it over with slab stones as a sidewalk along his property. The culvert will also be extended across Fifth at Lyon, thus obviating a dangerous ditch there. Later the stone culvert will be extended east form main to Grant street on the south side of Fifth, B. A. Cassil putting in the slab covering for sidewalk purposes. Then the whole street from Grant to Lyon will be graded up, and thanks to the covered culvert, the street will be very materially widened.   ------------ 1898       Local Mining Operations. Great Activity Northwest of Town-North Carthage Plant Doing Good Work. Mining matters are decidedly lively at the "Maxmines" four miles northwest of Carthage where such a phenomenally rich strike of ore was recently made. The "Hayseed" company who are the original proprietors and own the main lease, are preparing to put in pumps at once to drain the ground. Max Weeks' farm was surveyed and platted into lots by City Engineer Edwards Tuesday. When it is to be opened to prospectors is not yet know, but there will undoubtedly be a big rush for lots. B.A. Ash is putting down shafts on each side of the "Hayseed" hole- one is on the Max Weeks land and the other is on W.E. Hall's farm. He is confident of striking the big run of stuff. A drill has also been put to work prospecting the Weeks home place a half a mile by a company composed of H. H. Beck with,B. A. Ash, James Luke, Julius Finke and Wm. Journey. --------- 1899       May Go To England. Jas. Luke is planning a trip to his old home in England, in the near future. He may be accompanied by Byron Ash. Mesdames Luke and Ash left this morning for a summer stay at Manitou, Colo. ----------- 1899       CHARGED WITH FRAUD. W. W. Calhoun and J. F. Harrison Bring Proceedings Against Jas. Luke. James Luke was last evening arrested on a warrant charging him with obtaining money by false pretenses. He immediately gave bond in the sum of $1,000 for appearance for a hearing before Justice Woodward on Wednesday. The complaining witnesses in the case are W. W. Calhoun and J. F. Harrison, who charge the defendant with "feloniously and designedly" contriving to "cheat and defraud" them. They recite that lots 58 and 59 of the Empire Zinc Co.'s lease at Joplin were owned by certain parties who offered the same for sale. The complainants say that Luke represented to them that the owners demanded $5,000 for the lots, and that they were deceived thereby into buying a one-half interest in the same for $2,500. In truth, they further state, the owners of these lots did not demand $5,000 therefor, but were willing to take and did take $3,200 for them; and that the defendant knew that the representations which he made were false. Mr. Luke was seen today by a reporter in relation to the above, and when asked for a statement said that the arrest was purely a piece of spite work. "These men are mad," he said, "because I made some money on the deal. Their claim is that we were partners in the purchase of the lots. There was nothing of the sort. Through B. A. I sold them a half interest in the lots for $2,500. As soon as they found I was making some money they began to kick and claimed I was overcharging them. I offered them a trade for the lots for $1,000 more than they paid, but they would not accept it. There is absolutely nothing in the charges as will be proven at the hearing next Wednesday." Mr. Luke has engaged Howard Gray and Thomas & Hackney to defend him. ---------- 1902       NEW FEATURES AT THE Y.M.C.A. The Y.M.C.A. [Dr W W Flora (my maternal grandfather http://community.webtv.net/billboggess-flora/DRWILLIAMWALTERFLORA ), president of the "Y"] is to inaugurate several new features in the very near future. A bible class, to meet weekly, will be organized next week, under charge of Judge W. H. Waters. The social committees met this afternoon to arrange a regular monthly social, the first to be held Friday night of next week at the rooms. Secretary Spencer is arranging for a course of his weekly evening lectures, to be given at the rooms by business and professional men of Carthage. James Luke, who owns the Y.M.C.A. building, put a plasterer at work today repairing and repapering the gymnasium, which has been more or less damaged by basketball, Indian clubs, etc. It is the intention of Physical Director Wood to organize four gymnastic classes at once. --------- 1903 James Luke today sold to S.C. Boggess a tract of land in the southwest part of town, lying next east of the Missouri Pacific railway for $4,500. The land consists of 161 acres and joins Mr. Boggess' home at the west end of Highland avenue. The land extends from the house west to the railroad and south to the old fair grounds. --------- 1903       New Carthage Mining Company. The Luke & Brown Mining Co., of Carthage filed articles of incorporation today with a capital stock of $50,000 dividing into shares of $100 each all paid. The stockholders, all of Carthage, are as follows: James Luke, $24,900; Jamot Brown, $24,900; Byron Ash, $200. ---------- 1904       LOST A $200 DIAMOND. Unpleasant Experience of James Luke While in New Orleans. James Luke returned yesterday from his trip to New Orleans. He reports the loss of a $200 diamond while in the "Crescent City." It was taken from his shirt front while he was riding on a crowded street car. It was not missed until he got to his hotel a few minutes afterward, but he is convinced that it was lost on the street car and that some thief plucked it, although he has no positive evidence that such was the case. The police authorities could not find it nor any trace of the thief. Mr. Luke reports otherwise a pleasant trip south. ----------- 1907       West Virginia Capitalist Here. B.B. Cholmondeley, of Sutton, West Virginia, who is interested in mining lands in this vicinity, is the guest of James A. Luke. Mr. Cholmondeley has just returned from a trip to Japan in company with his uncle, Sir Tatton Sykes, of England. He reports that trip and sojourn in that nation full of novel and interesting experiences. Mr. Cholmondeley will be here a week or ten days on business. He is interested with Mr. Luke in 166 acres of promising mining land adjoining the good producing mines by Grant Ashcraft and Ground & Irwin near Carterville, and while he is here arrangements are being made to thoroughly prospect and mine the ground. --------- 1908       Traded Land for a Lease. Dr. M. J. McClurg has traded 80 acres of land near Saginaw to G. W. Ash, James Luke and J. A. Mitchell for a 50-acre lease on the Regan mining land just south of Carterville. It was a $1,600 consideration. --------- 1908       James Luke's New Strike. James Luke has a fine prospect on the Bob Lanyon land just north of the Fox land. He has sunk 40 feet in dirt that will go half jack, and will put up a mill right away. - Carterville Record. --------- 3 July 1919, Carthage Evening Press, Page 6 (copy from Powers Museum)         James Luke and Bride Here James Luke and bride are here from Kansas City visiting the families of Byron Ash, S C Boggess amd other relatives and friends. They will leave within a few days for Kansas City and then will start a trip east, where they will spend the summer. In connection with their eastern trip they will visit two sisters of Mrs [Miriam Chappelle (1884NY-1959)] Luke in New York. It is their plan to take an automobile at Detroit, Mich, and from there make the rest of their tour overland. <~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~> Prepared by William (Bill) Samuel Boggess, 22 Feb 2009, grandson of Kate Knight & S C Boggess who created "Coolbrook" http://community.webtv.net/billboggess2/COOLBROOK