Thomas B. Lucas
Captain Thomas B. Lucas, dealer in agricultural implements and livestock, residing at Shabbona village, was born in Boone Co., Ind., July 2, 1843, and is a son of Henry and Jane (Montgomery) Lucas. He lived with his parents, assisting his father in the support of the family and attending the common schools, until he was 18 years of age. At this period in his life’s history, the rebel shot on Sumter awoke a patriot’s desire on his part to join the North in defense of the Union. He enlisted May 10,1861, in Co. E, 55th Ind. Inf., and served as a private until September, 1862. He was then transferred to the 116th Ind. Inf., and Sept. 8, 1862, commissioned Second Lieutenant of Co. G, and Dec. 1, 1863 was commissioned First Lieutenant. In May, 1864, he was transferred to the 135th Ind. Inf., and on the 10th of that month received his commission as Captain, in which capacity he served until the expiration of his term of enlistment, Nov. 28, 1864. Captain Lucas served in the Army of the Cumberland, under Gen. Thomas, and was in all the engagements in which his comrades participated, and escaped without any serious wound. Considering the age at which he entered the army, and his steady promotion from private to Lieutenant and from Lieutenant to Captain, his record is most certainly an honorable one.
After his discharge from the army, Capt. Lucas came to this county, in December, 1864, and located in Shabbona Township, where he engaged in farming until 1870. During that year he moved to Shabbona village, and was engaged with William Jackson in general merchandise until 1873. He then engaged in the business in which he is at present employed and has continued in the same every since except a portion of the year 1878, which he spent in Colorado to recover his health.
Capt. Lucas was married Sept. 4, 1865, at Shabbona Grove, to Miss Melissa E., daughter of Lemuel White. She died May 3, 1877, and Capt. Lucas was again married Sept. 4, 1879, at Shabbona village, to Miss Jennie, daughter of Dominicus and Catharine (Rennick) Mitchell. She was born in Comanche, Iowa, June 14, 1856.
Politically, Capt. Lucas is a Republican. He has been Collector of his township on two occasions. Socially, he is a member of T.S. Terry Post, No. 463, G.A.R.
Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of DeKalb Co.
