Lucas - Charles
Source: H. W. Beckwith History, Montgomery County, Indiana (Chicago:
HH Hill, 1881) p 316
Charles F. LUCAS, a prominent merchant of Crawfordsville, was
born May 25, 1842 in Chambersburg, Fountain County, Indiana. His mother's
people, Fielding SMITH and wife, came from Pa to Fountain County, Indiana in a very early day and settled northwest of Chambersburg. Here
his mother, Catharine Smith Lucas, was born she being the first
white female child born in Fountain County.
His father, Joseph G. Lucas
was born Feb 14, 1803 in London, England. He came to America when
18 and settled in Flat Rock, Indiana and in an early day moved to Rob
Roy, Fountain County but soon settled in Chambersburg, where he has
lived for 40 years and is now retired from active life. He has
been twice married 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, Indiana where he carried on
business with 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. -- typed by kbz