Individual Details

Death

He was appointed Postmaster of Chambersburgh, Indiana in Fountain County on June 23, 1836. He held this position until December of 1838.

"Joseph G. Lucas, retired merchant, Veedersburg, was born in London, England, in 1803, and is the son of John and Elizabeth Lucas. He was reared a merchant (the vocation of his father) till he was eighteen; then he came to America, landing here with a capital of $400. He located in Shelby County, Indiana, where he was married in 1825, to Sarah G. Jones, a native of Georgia, and farmed till 1835, when it was decided by himself and brother John to sell their farms, go to Chicago, invest a part of their money in land near that city, and the rest in the mercantile business at that place.

When they had reached Rob Roy the wife of Joseph G. took sick and died, at the age of twenty-seven, leaving four children, Amanda A., Joseph G., Angeline S., and Elizabeth M., to mourn her loss. His brother went on to Chicago, and then to Rock River, bought a piece of land, sold it, then joined his brother, Joseph G., at Rob Roy.

After some time they decided to locate at Chambersburg, and formed a partnership to carry on the mercantile business, in 1836, which lasted till 1846, when his brother John sold his interest to him and emigrated to Iowa and grew rich. The first goods they bought to Chambersburg were purchased in Cincinnati, near the close of 1835, and arrived at their destination in May 1836, after having been delayed by low water and once sunken in the Wabash.

Mr. Lucas continued to sell goods in Chambersburg till 1871, when he retired. He was married a second time in 1836, to Caroline Smith, the first white girl born in Fountain County, by whom he had nine children: Lewis N., Susan C., William H., Charles F., Thomas N., Louisa C., Americus (deceased), Harriet A. and Emma J. The latter exhibited a wonder faculty for painting. Lewis N. served in the army at the close of the late war.

During the many years Mr. Lucas has been engaged in business he has been successful, and not only accumulated wealth, but the respect of his many patrons and friends. When he retired, in 1871, his first capital of $400 was increased to $40,000, a great part of which he distributed among his children. He now lives in Sterling, enjoying the fruits of an active and well-spent life. His wife is a member of the United Brethren church. In politics he was formerly a Whig, but now a staunch republican. Following the organization of the township, he was a trustee, which office he filled three terms." - History of Fountain County, Indiana, 1881, by H.W. Beckwith