lucef
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.
HON. FRANK H. LUCE was born at
Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, May 23, 1859. His parents, Edward A. and
Sarah (Normington) Luce, were natives of Oneida county, New York.
Mr. Luce was reared in Springfield, Illinois,
where as a boy he attended the public schools. Later he was a student
of Racine college, Racine, Wisconsin, and after graduation from this school
he went to New York city where he completed a course in medicine in the
University of New York, graduating in 1882. Returning to Springfield,
he engaged for a time in the practice of medicine, and in January, 1887,
he came west, locating at Tacoma. The following year he came to Davenport
and engaged in the operation of real estate and mines. In 1889 he
was elected joint state senator for the counties of what are now Lincoln,
Adams, Franklin, Douglas, Okanogan, Ferry and Chelan, and enjoys the distinction
of having been the first senator elected in this district on the Republican
ticket. His election was by a large majority, and upon the expiration
of his term he was elected lieutenant governor of the state, 1892, which
office he filled, with credit both to himself and his electors, until 1897.
He also has served his town as mayor. He has been and is interested
in mining operations and in real estate, also owning an interest in the
Big Bend National bank, of which institution he is vice president.
His mining interests are principally in Stevens, Okanogan and Chelan counties.
Mr. Luce was married December 5, 1883, to
Miss Nellie B. Mathers, daughter of Hon. John Mathers, the first mayor
of Jacksonville, Illinois, in which city he was a very prominent man.
Her mother is Mrs. Julia A. Mathers, and is still living on the old homestead
where Mrs. Luce was born, in the house built over fifty years ago.
Hon. John Mathers is dead. Like her husband, Mrs. Luce possesses
a finished education, having been graduated from the Illinois Woman's College
at
Jacksonville.
Mr. Luce is prominent in the circles of Freemasonry,
having been made a Mason at the age of twenty-one in Springfield Lodge,
No. 4; he now is a member of Accacia Lodge, No. 58, of Davenport, of which
lodge he has been grand master.
Mr. Luce has ever been an active and energetic
man, deeply interested in the upbuilding and the development of the resources
of the country, and his successes, financial and political, are convincing
evidence of the high esteem in which he is held, and the confidence reposed
in him by his fellow citizens and neighbors.
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