Pg 309

         JOSHUA LUCKY, one of the leading farmers of Union Township, and an early settler of Louisa County, is a native of Athens County, Ohio, and a son of James and Nancy (Speed) Lucky, both of whom were born in Pennsylvania. The father was of Irish descent, and the paternal grandfather, William Lucky, was born on board a vessel while his parents were en route for America. The maternal grandfather, Simon Speed, was born in London, England, and was a silk weaver by trade. When a young man, prior to the Revolutionary War, he emigrated to America, settling in Pennsylvania, and when the Colonies could no longer submit to British oppression, true to his patriotic instincts, he enlisted in their defense, and served during a greater part of the war.

James Lucky, the father of our subject, was reared upon a farm, and when a young lad removed with his parents to Ohio, settling in Athens County. In that new and almost unbroken country he grew to manhood, and there wedded Nancy Speed. To them was born a family of sixteen children, fourteen of whom lived to be adults, and six are now living: William, born Oct. 31, 1807, is a blacksmith living in Eugene City, Lane Co., Ore.; Sarah, widow of Josiah Merritt, whose home is in Washington Territory; Joshua; Lucy, widow of Edward Palmer, now living in Michigan; Nancy F., who wedded David Hougland, of Adams County, Iowa; and James C., a farmer of Warren County, Iowa.

Our subject was born Jan. 27, 1817, and his boyhood days were passed upon his father’s farm. At the age of twenty he left the parental roof, and came to Iowa in 1837, locating in Des Moines County, where he worked in the mill in Augusta from March until October. Going to Vicksburg at the end of that time, he was there employed in chopping cordwood for about four months, after which he returned to his native State, and there remained until 1853. In the meantime he was united in marriage with Margaret Means, their union being celebrated Oct. 26, 1841. The lady was born in Washington County, Pa., Dec. 14, 1823, and is the only daughter of George and Agnes (Cubbison) Means, who were also natives of the Keystone State. By their union six children have been born: Jeremiah, who is a farmer of Cherokee County, Kan.; Mary Jane, now the wife of Reuben Fisher, a capitalist of Ottawa, Franklin Co., Kan.; James M., who is clerking in a bank in Melvern, Kan.; Joseph C., who is engaged in farming in Washington County, Iowa; William, a carriage manufacturer, of Washington, Iowa; Sarah E., wife of William McGuire, of Barber County, Kan.

After his marriage Mr. Lucky rented a farm in Ohio until 1853, when he emigrated to Louisa County, Iowa, settling on section 18, Union Township, where he bought 110 acres of raw land. Immediately beginning its improvement, and sparing neither expense nor labor, he has now one of the best farms in the county, and has added to his original purchase until at present it comprises 400 acres. Since 1862 Mrs. Lucky has been a devoted member of the Church of God, and is one of its most liberal contributors and active workers. Politically, Mr. Lucky is a Republican, having supported that party ever since its organization. He was always strongly opposed to slavery, and earnestly advocated its abolition. He is one of the prosperous farmers of the county, for success comes to those who earnestly labor for it. He commenced life as a day laborer, but by good management, fair dealing and enterprise, and the assistance of his estimable wife, he has gained a comfortable . . .

Pg 310

. . . competence. They have reared a family of children of whom they may justly be proud, as they are all respected men and women, and are a credit to the honored name of Lucky. As a citizen, Mr. Lucky is highly respected, and though his life has been quiet and uneventful, his years have been passed in honest toil, such as has won for him the confidence and good-will of the community.

The paternal grandfather of our subject was one of the early settlers of Pennsylvania, and often the settlers had trouble with the Indians. At one time his son Samuel, an uncle of Joshua, was captured by the savages when about eight years of age, and held in captivity for about ten years, but did not succeed in finding his father’s family until he was about twenty-four years of age.