John Lucas (1823 - 1901)

Born 24 Nov 1823 in Stone, Staffordshire, England, United Kingdom

Died 7 Aug 1901 at age 77 in Atlantic City, Atlantic, New Jersey, United States

Biography

John Lucas is Notable.

Father: Thomas Lucas 1795-1856

Mother: Ann Oakden 1799-1879

John Lucas was born in Staffordshire, England. As a young man he studied agricultural chemistry. At the age of nineteen he visited the United States. Mr. Lucas returned to England and in 1847 he married Mary Foster. Later that same year he emigrated to America with his wife, his brother William, and his sister-in-law Mary. In 1849, John Lucas settled in Philadelphia and began importing paint for his store at 33 North Front Street.

A shrewd businessman, John realized the potential for paint manufacturing in the United States and in April of 1852, together with his father-in-law Joseph Foster, he purchased a grist mill on Silver Lake in Gibbsboro, Waterford Township, New Jersey.

His wife Mary died in 1854. On September 6, 1854, he married Harriet Annie Bown who was to become very influential in the development of Gibbsboro.

John died in 1901. His company was then run by his sons until 1930, when it was purchased by Sherwin-Williams.^[1]

Family 1

• Mary Foster 1829-1854

Family 2

• Harriet A Bown 1835-1893

Children

• Caroline
• William
• James
• Anna
• Albert
• Harry S
• Joseph W
• Ellen B
• Robert S.
• Barton
• Elizabeth S.
• Fannie E.

Notes

"John Lucas, 1891.—Was born November 24, 1823, at Stone Staffordshire, England, and is at present the senior member of the firm of John Lucas & Co., manufacturers of white lead, paint, varnish, etc. He is a descendant of John Lucas, of Ash- bourn, Derbyshire, who was an intimate friend of the celebrated Izaak Walton. He received a liberal education at Field- place Commercial Academy, after which he entered the store and counting-room of his father, who was a grocer and tea dealer. During a visit to the United States in 1844 he was so much pleased with this country that he made arrangements for emigrating to America, which he carried into effect in 1849, settling in Philadelphia. For a time he was engaged in the foreign commission and shipping business, and his trade gradually became concentrated in the line of colors, paints, etc. His knowledge of chemistry enabled him to produce a substitute for the Paris or arsenical green, then much in demand, and it became a great success. In 1852 he became associated with Joseph Foster, a relative, an experienced color maker, and soon after they erected the " Gibsboro White Lead, Zinc and Color Works," in Camden co., N. J. Their Philadelphia office is at 322 Race street. In 1875-1876 he was President of the Camden and At-lantic Railroad Company, during which time he rebuilt all the bridges on that line, and started express trains. He is President of the Society of the Sons of St. George, of the North American St. George's Union, and of the United Societies, and is also connected with the Merchants' Trust Company, Union National Bank, Hay's Mechanics' Home and Franklin Institute. He is also a member of the Union League, of the Manufacturers' Club, the Board of Trade, the Commercial Exchange, the Art Club, and is one of the promoters of the Philadelphia Bourse. In December, 1890, he published a pamphlet on the subject of " Rapid Transit for Philadelphia." Messrs. Harry Spencer Lucas and Albert Lucas, hissons, and Mr. A. J. Lucas, his nephew, are associated with him in business. As President of the Sons of St. George, Mr. Lucas has had friendly relations with the officers of the Hibernian Society, leading to his election as a member."^[2]

Sources

1. ↑ http://www.gibbsborotownhall.com/gibbsborohistory.htm
2. ↑ History of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick and of the Hibernian Society for the Relief of Emigrants from Ireland. Author John H Campbell. Published 1892

• Birth Record

Name: John Lucas Gender: Male Birth Date: 24 Nov 1823 Baptism Date: 5 Dec 1823 Baptism Place: Stone, Stafford, England Father: Thomas Lucas Mother: Ann FHL Film Number: 1278870 Reference ID: item 9 p 222 Source Information England, Births and Christenings, 1538-1975. Salt Lake City, Utah: FamilySearch, 2013.

• Obituary: "New York Times", August 9, 1901 - Page 7

• 1870 US Federal Census

Name: John Lucas Age in 1870: 47 Birth Year: abt 1823 Birthplace: England Home in 1870: Philadelphia Ward 10 District 28, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Race: White Gender: Male Post Office: Philadelphia Value of real estate: View image Household Members: Name Age John Lucas 47 Harriet A Lucas 35 Caroline Lucas 17 Thomas Lucas 15 William Lucas 13 James Lucas 10 Anna Lucas 8 Albert Lucas 7 Harry Lucas 5 Joseph Lucas 3 Ellen Lucas 2 Mary Vaughan 23 Bridget Connaly 25 Kate Connaly 22 Anna Mcbride 30 Source Citation Year: 1870; Census Place: Philadelphia Ward 10 District 28, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Roll: M593_1395; Page: 238B; Image: 131641; Family History Library Film: 552894

• 1880 US Federal Census

Name: John Lucas Age: 56 Birth Year: abt 1824 Birthplace: England Home in 1880: Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Race: White Gender: Male Relation to Head of House: Self (Head) Marital Status: Married Father's Birthplace: England Mother's Birthplace: England Neighbors: View others on page Occupation: Paints W. Household Members: Name Age John Lucas 56 Harriet A. Lucas 45 Mary C. Lucas 24 John T. Lucas 24 Mary H. Lucas 24 Wm. E. Lucas 23 Jas. F. Lucas 20 Harriet A. Lucas 18 Albert Lucas 16 Harry S. Lucas 14 Jos. W. Lucas 13 Ellen B. Lucas 11 Robert S. Lucas 9 Barton Lucas 8 Elizabeth S. Lucas 6 Fannie E. Lucas 4 Source Citation Year: 1880; Census Place: Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Roll: 1172; Family History Film: 1255172; Page: 193D; Enumeration District: 171; Image: 0192

• Death Index

Name: John Lucas Birth Date: abt 1824 Birth Place: England Death Date: 7 Aug 1901 Death Place: Atlantic City, Atlantic, New Jersey Age at Death: 77 years 8 months Burial Date: 10 Aug 1901 Burial Place: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Gender: Male Occupation: Mamufacturer Street address: Broad St Station Cemetery: South Laurel Hill FHL Film Number: 1853175 Source Information Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Death Certificates Index, 1803-1915

• FindAGrave

• Burial Record

Name: John Lucas Birth Date: abt 1823 Event Type: Burial Death Date: abt 1901 Age at Death: 78 Burial Date: 10 Aug 1901 Burial Place: Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA Denomination: Episcopal Organization Name: Grace Church Episcopal Chapel Source Citation Historical Society of Pennsylvania; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Collection Name: Historic Pennsylvania Church and Town Records; Reel: 1078

• Probate Record

Name: John Lucas Death Date: 7 Aug 1901 Death Place: Philadelphia Probate Date: 25 Apr 1902 Registry: London, England Source Information Principal Probate Registry. Calendar of the Grants of Probate and Letters of Administration made in the Probate Registries of the High Court of Justice in England. London, England

• http://www.njht.org/dca/njht/funded/sitedetails/john_lucas_house.html