BIO: John T. LUCAS, Centre County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by JRB Copyright 2009. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/centre/ http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/centre/1picts/commbios/comm-bios.htm _____________________________________________________________________ Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania: Including the Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion: Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, Etc. Chicago: J. H. Beers, 1898. _____________________________________________________________________ JOHN T. LUCAS, who is prominently identified with the commercial and industrial interests of Centre county, is pre-eminently a self-made man. He began life with a definite purpose in view, worked faithfully, honestly and with a will for its accomplishment, and is now enjoying a comfortable competency. He is now the efficient and popular postmaster of Moshannon, where he is also engaged in general merchandising, operates both a saw and flouring mill, and is interested in the lumber business. He is a man of good executive ability, fair and honorable in all his dealings, and has thus gained a liberal share of the public patronage. Mr. Lucas was born at the Eagle Iron Works, Centre county, September 9, 1842, a son of William H. and Margaret (Bathurst) Lucas, also natives of Centre county, where the father worked at his trades of a mill and wheel wright throughout life. The family was founded in America by Benedict Lucas, a native of Ireland, who located in Pennsylvania, where his son, Charles, the great-grandfather of our subject, was born. The grandparents, Joseph and Abbie (McMullen) Lucas, were both natives of Centre county, where they spent their entire lives. Henry and Margaret (Tate) Bathurst, the maternal grandparents, were born in England, but at an early day came to the United States and located in Centre county, as did also the great- grandfather, Lawrence Bathurst, who was disinherited for aiding the Colonies in the Revolutionary war. Our subject is the eldest of five children, the others being: Margaret, who died in infancy; Nelson, who is in the Pension Department at Washington, D.C.; Andrew J., a retired machinist of Altoona, Penn.; and William H., a farmer of Snow Shoe township, Centre county. The mother of these children died in 1852, at the age of twenty-eight years, and the father afterward wedded Mrs. Elizabeth (Price) Watson, who now resides in Milesburg, Centre county. He died in 1876, at the age of fifty-nine years. He was a firm Democrat in politics, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, as was also the mother of our subject. During his boyhood and youth John T. Lucas attended the local schools and assisted his father in his work, remaining with him until September, 1861, when he enlisted in Company D, 45th P. V. I., under Capt. Curtin, for three years' service. He participated in many important battles and skirmishes, including those of Fredericksburg, Vicksburg, Jackson (Miss.), Blue Springs, the siege of Knoxville, and the battle of the Wilderness, where he was wounded in the right shoulder, May 6, 1864, but remained with his company, though for two months he was unable for active service. On the expiration of his term of service he was honorably discharged and returned home, where he was employed in the iron works with his father until his marriage, June 16, 1866, in Huntingdon county, Penn., to Miss Annie P. Isenberg. To them were born eleven children, as follows: Edith L., at home; Harry, who died at the age of twenty years; Clyde C., a merchant of Clearfield county, Penn., who married Minnie Edmond, of Chicago; Carrie E., John F., James W., Clarence T. and Anna I., who are with their parents; Marion, who died in infancy, and Jennie M. and Albert C., at home. Mrs. Lucas was born in Emlenton, Venango Co., Penn., December 25, 1843, a daughter of COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 333 Daniel and Caroline T. (Taxis) Isenberg, natives of Huntingdon and Centre counties, respectively, who removed to Emlenton shortly after their marriage, which was celebrated in Venango county. On coming to Centre county in 1870, they located at Milesburg, where they remained until 1884, when they removed to Moshannon. The father, who was born in March, 1815, died in Moshannon, February 6, 1893. He was a cooper by trade, a Republican in politics, and a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, to which his wife also belongs. She was born August 15, 1820, and now finds a pleasant home with our subject. Their family consisted of two daughters: Annie P., and Jennie E., wife of William Lucas, a brother of our subject. The Isenberg family was founded in the New World by Amick Isenberg, a native of Germany, whose son, George, was born in Huntingdon county, Penn., and married Anna Wise, also a native of that county, where they made their home upon a farm throughout life. They were the paternal grandparents of Mrs. Lucas, while her maternal grandparents were John B. and Jane (Stump) Taxis, natives of Germany, but who were married in Centre county, where the grandfather worked at his trade of cabinet making. In their family were the following children: Joanna married John Mim, but both are now deceased; Mrs. Isenberg is next in order of birth; Penniah married John Cripps, and after his death wedded John McGwin, a stone mason of Indiana county, Penn.; Priscilla, deceased, was three times married; Gideon is a retired cabinet maker of Joliet, Ill., and has served as circuit clerk of his county; John B. is a practicing physician of Gardner, Ill.; Maria wedded Hugh Carson, but both are now deceased; Irene married John Eckler, and after his death wedded William Dunlay, a merchant of Pepin county, Wis.; and Harriet married William Eckler, and after his death wedded L. Place, a farmer of Wisconsin. After his marriage, Mr. Lucas worked in the iron works of McCoy & Linn, and was also employed in the lumber woods until 1870, when he was appointed assistant superintendent of iron works, which position he continued to fill until 1873. He then served as superintendent of the Curtin works until 1881, in which year he came to Moshannon, where he first operated a gristmill. As his financial resources have increased he has added to his business until it has assumed its present extensive proportions and embraces several lines of trade. The success of his life is due to no inherited fortune, or to any happy succession of advantageous circumstances, but to his own sturdy will, steady application, studious habits, tireless industry and sterling integrity. Mr. Lucas gives his unwavering support to the principles of the Democratic party, and has served his fellow citizens as school director and auditor. In religious faith, he is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church; fraternally, he is affiliated with the Royal Arcanum, belonging to the lodge in Bellefonte. He is a man who has ever been found in the foremost ranks of citizens who are devoted to their country's best interests and to the welfare of their fellowmen, and he well deserves the high regard in which he is universally held.