James Walter "Walt" Lucas 1857-1939

LUCAS, FREY

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 8/22/2010 at 13:09:01

Walt Lucas, Long Time Resident, Gone

Another of Estherville’s pioneer citizens passed away last Monday [April 3, 1939] morning when Walter Lucas succumbed to an illness of short duration.

“Walt” Lucas, as he has been known for 77 years in this community, was one of Emmet county’s residents of longest duration. Probably none living here now have been in the city as long as Mr. Lucas.

Mr. Lucas has been in good health and worked in the Oak Hill cemetery as custodian almost to the last. He was very active for his age.

The writer has known Mr. Lucas during almost his entire life and has been a close friend during all these years. When a mere baby we became acquainted with Mr. Lucas in a manner we will never forget. He was drilling wells at the time and we were bothering him. He picked the writer up and held him over the well which made a life-long impression on us. We have enjoyed joking about this many times in later years.

Walter Lucas was the son of Mr. and Mrs. John A. Lucas. He was born in Winneshiek county on Aug. 23, 1857. He came with his parents to Emmet county when he was but five years of age and has remained here constantly since that time.

He is survived by a son, Chas. Lucas, of Ava, Mo., D. W. Lucas of Motley, Minn., Haviland of this city, Mrs. Simon Frey of Maple Hill. (Estherville Enterprise, Estherville, IA, April 6, 1939)