lucase
Transcribed from "An Illustrated History of The Big Bend Country, embracing
Lincoln, Douglas, Adams and Franklin counties, State of Washington",
published by Western Historical Publishing Co., 1904.
ELMER E. LUCAS, a successful
hardware merchant of Davenport, Washington, is a native of Madison county,
Illinois, and was born May 19, 1868. He is the son of Joseph Lucas,
a prominent Grand Army man residing in Spangle. His mother was Catherine
(Altiza) Lucas, a native of Germany who came to the United States at the
age of eight years.
Upon the outbreak of the Civil War Joseph
Lucas enlisted as a private in the ranks of Company G, Forty-ninth Illinois
Infantry, serving with that command throughout the length of the Rebellion,
and receiving an honorable discharge at its close. Before the close
of the war, however, he had won a commission as second lieutenant of his
company. As a G. A. R. man at Spangle he has served his post as its
commander. Joseph and Mrs. Lucas have been parents of eight children,
an equal number of boys and girls; of the boys the subject of this sketch
is the eldest. The members of the family who are now living are;
Elmer E.; William P., a partner with Elmer E. in the hardware business;
Albert M., of Alberta, Canada; and Mrs. W. G. Elledge, of Spangle, Washington.
As a child Mr. Lucas went with his parents
to Jefferson county, Kansas, and thence to Lawrence, where his father engaged
in the hardware business. After remaining in Lawrence two years the
father transferred his business to Wakeeney, Kansas, remaining there four
years when he removed to Burlington, Kansas. In 1884 the family removed
to Spangle, where the father and mother have resided ever since.
During his youth Elmer E. Lucas received a
good business training from his father, and a fair grammar school education.
He finished his commercial education in the Spokane Business College, from
which institution he is a graduate. During five years of his residence
in Spokane county he held the position of deputy assessor under different
chiefs. In 1890 with his brother, William P., he succeeded O. W.
Ames in the hardware business at Spangle. Lucas Brothers continued
to conduct this establishment until January, 1903, when they sold out.
William P. then joined his brother in Davenport, who had gone there on
January 1, 1902. At that date they had purchased an interest in the
A. W. Turner Company in Davenport and at the close of 1903, they bought
over the entire business and assumed the name of Lucas Brothers again.
They have one of the largest and most complete stocks of hardware, stoves,
tinware, farm implements, mining machinery, et cetera, in the county.
On March 18, 1896, occurred the marriage of
Elmer E. Lucas to Miss Fannie E. Almquist, a native of Indiana, who came
to Rosalia, Washington, as a girl. Her parents are Charles and Hattie
Almquist. Prior to her marriage Mrs. Lucas was a school teacher in
Whitman county, in which vocation she was eminently successful. To
Mr. and Mrs. Lucas two children have been born, by name, Ellsworth Francis
and Dolph William.
Mr. Lucas is a member of the A. F. and A.
M. at Cheney, Washington, and of the Chapter at this home city. He
is a man of marked talent in music, having organized, and for a number
of years been leader of, the Spangle band, and he is now leader of the
Davenport band and orchestra. At the November election, 1904, he
was chosen mayor of Davenport, which is now a city of the third class.
He is a generous and public spirited citizen, which qualities have made
him a host of friends, and both he and Mrs. Lucas are prominently identified
with social affairs in their home city.
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