BIO: Zachariah K. LOUCKS, York County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Abby Bowman

Copyright 2005.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
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History of York County, Pennsylvania.  John Gibson, historical editor.
Chicago: F. A. Battey Publishing Co., 1886.
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Part II, Biographical Sketches, York Borough, Pg 30

ZACHARIAH K. LOUCKS is a grandson of John George Loucks, who was one of the 
early emigrants from Germany that settled in the beautiful region of Berks 
County, known as Tulpehocken, where he purchased a tract of land.  About the 
year 1780, hearing of the fertile lands west of the Susquehanna, he immigrated 
to York County to continue his chose occupation of farming, and purchased land 
southwest of York.  May 13, 1805, he purchased the mill and farm where Z. K. 
Loucks now lives.  George Loucks, son of John George Loucks, father of the 
subject of this sketch, was born August 18, 1787, and died October 29, 1849, 
aged sixty-two years, two months and eleven days.  He followed the two 
occupations of miller and farmer at the Loucks' homestead.  He purchased a great 
deal of real estate, and at his death owned the mill property.  He was married 
to Susanna Weltzhoffer, of Hellam Township, and had three sons and four 
daughters.  Zachariah K. Loucks, the subject of this sketch, was born March 14, 
1822, on the place where he now resides.  He received his education in the York 
County Academy, under Rev. Stephen Boyer.  For a number of years was a class-
mate of Prof. Kirkwood, now the famous astronomer and mathematician.  He 
commenced business in York first as a clerk with the firm of Schriver, Loucks & 
Co., and afterward was a clerk for Loucks & Becker at the old Manor Furnace in 
Chanceford Township, where he remained one year.  He then entered the store of 
Henry Becker in York, until 1839, when he returned to his home in Spring Garden 
Township, and attended to the duties of the grist-mill and farm until his 
father's death.  After this event he and his brother, Henry I., succeeded their 
father in business at the old homestead, where they still reside, about one mile 
north of York, along the line of the Northern Central Railroad.  In his new and 
elegant mansion, built in 1881, with its large piazzas, porticoes and beautiful 
lawn around it, he is afforded all the comforts, conveniences and enjoyments of 
rural life.  For many years he turned his attention closely to farming and 
milling.  Here, on this site, was erected one of the first grist-mills west of 
the Susquehanna.  The old two-story mill, distillery and saw-mill were destroyed 
by fire on April 29, 1864.  The present commodious, five-story brick mill was 
built during the fall of 1864, at a cost of $30,000.  It contains the latest 
improvements of milling machinery, and has a capacity of 150 barrels of flour in 
twenty-four hours.  During the past twenty years it has been leased by P. A. & 
S. Small, of York.  Cars are pulled by water power to the mill, over a switch 
from the Northern Central Railway to load flour.  In connection with milling and 
farming, Mr. Loucks has been largely engaged in other business.  At the time of 
the organization of the First National Bank of York, in 1863, he was elected a 
director.  He was afterward elected vice-president of that institution, and now 
occupies that position.  He was a director and general financier of the York & 
Peach Bottom Railway when it was built; for many years a member of the board of 
directors of York County Agricultural Society, and is a life member of the same; 
one of the projectors and is now president of the Chanceford Turnpike Company 
and a director; was a director of the York City Market until its completion, 
when he resigned; is vice-president of the Penn Mutual Horse Insurance Company 
of York, and is largely engaged in the real estate business.  Mr. Loucks was 
married January 5, 1843, to Sarah Ann, daughter of Col. Michael Ebert, of Spring 
Garden.  She was born March 18, 1822.  Their eldest son, Alexander, resides in 
Manchester Township, and was married to Catharine Wambaugh.  They have four 
children:  Harry, William, Annie and Isabel.  George E., the second son of Z. K. 
and Sarah Ann Loucks, was married to Susan Jane Myers.  He resides at Hellam 
Station.  Edward, the third son, is at home.  Z. K. Loucks, Jr., the fourth son, 
is a law student in Philadelphia, and graduated with high honors from the 
College of New Jersey, at Princeton.  Isabella, the only daughter, was married 
to John W. Kohler, and died at the age of twenty-seven, leaving two children:  
William I. and Edwin.  Mr. Loucks, as a business man, has had an active and 
prosperous career.  He is possessed of good judgment, keen discrimination and 
excellent financial and executive abilities.  In politics he was originally an 
active Whig, cast his first presidential vote for Gen. Harrison, and was an 
enthusiastic advocate of Henry Clay's election.  He is now an ardent advocate of 
the principles of the Republican party.