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Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas W. & Gertrude (Schmitt) Lucas

LUCAS, RIES, WEBER, JOHANNES, SCHMITT

Posted By: Cheryl Locher Moonen (email)
Date: 1/23/2019 at 13:17:06

Holy Cross, Ia., March 1 – Included among the real pioneers of Dubuque County are Mr. and Mrs. N. W. Lucas of Holy Cross. Mr. Lucas has been a resident of this county for more than 80 years, and has just passed his eighty-sixth birthday. Mrs. Lucas is less than a year younger and came to Dubuque County at the age of eight years. The couple was married in 1868 by Fr. Johannes on Jan. 14, 1868, now being married over sixty-two years.

Mr. Lucas was born in Belgium Feb. 18, 1844, and came to America when five years of age. The family spent 40 days on the water, crossing in a sailboat. Dubuque was a village with few homes when they reached this county. A tract of land one mile east of Luxemburg was the site selected for the new home and the family lived in a small log house and underwent all the hardships common to pioneers, the family was later purchased by a younger brother, Peter Lucas.

At the age of 17, N. W. Lucas enlisted in the army, 16th Iowa Regiment, and served for three years during the Civil War. He was in the battles of Shiloh, Savanna, Vicksburg, Chattooga and Atlanta and was with Sherman on his famous march to the sea. He received an honorable discharge on Oct. 28, 1865.

After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Lucas lived on a farm at Cottage Hill. The land was mostly timber and many days of hard labor were necessary to clear the soil for farming. Nine children were born, but only one son, Peter Lucas, survives. There are four grandchildren Mrs. John Weber, Mrs. A. Ries, Marie and Clarence Lucas, all of Holy Cross. There are also seven great-grandchildren.

Mrs. Lucas was born in Prussia, Germany, and came to America at the age of eight years. She and her parents and other members of the family settled five miles from Holy Cross on what is now the Joe Pfeiler farm.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Lucas are in good health and are retired, and living in Holy Cross.

History of Holy Cross; Author: Donna Sweeney

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/71610592/gertrude-lucas
 

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