LUCAS-Charles F. - Fountain County INGenWeb Project

Charles F. LUCAS, a prominent merchant of Crawfordsville, was b. May 25, 1842 in Chambersburg, Fountain County, Indiana. His mother's people, Fielding SMITH and wife, came from Pa to Fountain Co IN in a very early day and settled northwest of Chambersburg. Here his mother, Catharine Smith Lucas, was b. she being the first white female child b. in Fountain Co. His father, Joseph G. Lucas was b. Feb 14, 1803 in London, England. He came to America when 18 and settled in Flat Rock, IN and in an early day moved to Rob Roy, Fountain Co but soon settled in Chambersburg, where he has lived for 40 years and is now retired from active life. He has been twice marr, having had 4 children by his first wife and ten by his second: Lewis A; Susan C; William H; Charles F; Thomas N; Louisa C; Harriet A; Emma J, an infant dead and America (both deceased). Both parents are members of the United Brethren Church. Charles F. Lucas experienced farm life during his first 18 years, yet was part of this time in the store. In 1860 he began for himself in the dry goods business in Chambersburg, in partnership with his father, continuing for 7 years. He then changed his location to Russellville, In where he carried on business wit Joseph O. REAR (sic --O'rear?) but shortly after he moved to Hillsboro, where he remained for 12 years and in 1879 settled in Crawfordsville, where, in partnership with his brothers, T.N. and W.H. Lucas, he carried on an extensive trade. W.H. Lucas retired from the firm in the fall of 1879, leaving C.F. owner of 2/3 interest in the business and F.N. 1/3. They are also proprietors of a large grocery establishment in Crawfordsville. C.F. Lucas owns a store at Hillsboro. W.H. Lucas is owner of the Waynetown store, so that the Lucas brothers, owning four stores, buy an immense quantity of goods annually, and as a consequence, can undersell establishments of less capacity. The Boston store, opposite the postoffice, is a two-story brick 40 x 70, in which is carried about a $15,000 stock, with yearly sales of about $40,000, in millinery and dry goods. Mr. Lucas was married Nov 16, 1861 to Elizabeth RYNEARSON, daughter of Rynear and Catharine (WHITENACK) Rynearson of Fountain County. They have one child, Ephra A, living and one, Frank E, deceased. Both Mr. & Mrs.Lucas are members of the Christian Church. He is solidly republican.