El
Dorado County
Biographies
JAMES F. LUCAS
Among the residents of Placerville
who are the native sons of the town is James Franklin Lucas, who now occupies a
creditable position in business circles.
On the 22nd of December, 1853, he first opened his eyes to
the light of day, his parents being W. C. and Ellen (Johnson) Lucas. The father was one of the honored pioneers of
1849. He was born in the state of
Tennessee, and at Galena, Illinois, was united in marriage to Miss Johnson, a
native of Fredericksburg, Virginia. They
became the parents of five children during their residence in Galena.
When the news of the discovery of
gold in California was received W. C. Lucas became imbued with a strong desire
to try his fortune upon the Pacific slope, hoping to gain easily a competence
that would amply provide for his family.
He made the journey by way of the Isthmus of Panama, and arriving in El
Dorado County engaged in placer mining in White Rock Canyon, with excellent
success. In 1851 he returned by way of
the water route for his family, whom he brought to California, this time making
the journey across the plains, arriving September 9, 1852. On again reaching the Pacific slope he
renewed his mining operations and later engaged in teaming, at a time when that
business was profitable, hauling goods from Sacramento to Virginia City and
other points in the surrounding country.
During this time he made his home in El Dorado, locating there in
1860. He continued in the teaming
business through the greater part of his remaining days and his efforts brought
him a good financial return. In all
business transactions he was thoroughly reliable, and he not only enjoyed the
patronage but also the confidence of his fellow men. He was a worthy representative of that
pioneer class that came to California in 1849-50 and succeeded in establishing
the foundations of a commonwealth that is now second to none in the Union. Both he and his wife are valued members of
the Episcopal Church. He died in his
forty-first year and was buried at Mud Springs.
Mrs. Lucas still survives him and is now in the seventy-seventh year of
her age. They had eight children, five
of whom are living. James F. Lucas, the
fifth in order of birth, acquired his education in the public schools of El
Dorado. He and his brother walked from
Ed Dorado to Shingle Springs to see the first train of cars that ran into that
town. Mr. Lucas began work on the
railroad October 18, 1873, in the position of fireman, in which capacity he
served for four and one-half years, after which he was an engineer for three
years, and in 1883 he became a conductor. He has since filled that position on
the Southern Pacific branch running from Sacramento to Placerville and is one
of the most trusted employees of the corporation, his long service being a high
testimonial of his fidelity. He is also
the proprietor of a cigar manufactory in Placerville. Among other brands manufactured is the J. F.
L. cigar, which has found a ready sale on the market, owing to its excellence.
In 1886 Mr. Lucas married Miss M. C.
Burke, who was born in Folsom, California, and is a daughter of J. J. Burke,
one of the early pioneers of California who in early life took an active part
in reclaiming the state for the purpose of civilization. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Lucas have
been born three children: George T., Alice Ida and Mary Ellen. In politics Mr. Lucas is a Republican. In 1900 he was chosen as one of the aldermen
of his town for the first ward. He
belongs to the Masonic fraternity, in which he has taken the Knight Templar’s
degree. He is also a member of the Mystic
Shrine. For the past three years he has
enjoyed the honor of being the high priest of his chapter, and in the
commandery he is the senior warden. He
holds membership in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of
Pythias, and is the captain of the uniformed rank of the latter. His life stands in exemplification of the
principles of mutual helpness that form the basic element of these
fraternities. As a public officer he is
true to the public trust and at all times he has contributed as he could by
influence and aid to the promotion of those interests calculated to prove of
benefit to the general welfare.
Transcribed by
Gerald Iaquinta.
Source:
“A Volume of Memoirs and Genealogy of Representative Citizens of Northern
California”, Pages 128-129. Chicago Standard Genealogical Publishing Co. 1901.
© 2010
Gerald Iaquinta.
Golden
Nugget Library's El Dorado County Biographies