| Biography |
- SOLDIERS ALBUM OF BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
FRANCIS LUCAS of Appleton, Wis., was born June 3, 1835 in Medina, Ohio. He came thence with his parents to Green Bay, Wis., in 1851. He had the training and instruction of a farmer's son, and in his native State was an assistant in a woolen factory. At Green Bay he went into the shingle business, in which he operated five years. From that date to the close of 1861 he was engaged as a sailor on the lakes. Dec. 23, 1861 he enlisted in Company G, 2nd Wisconsin Cavalry, at Green Bay, for three years. He was made Corporal after the formation of the company, and was discharged with honor Dec. 15, 1865, at Madison Wis. During one year of the time he was connected with the service, he operated as the private Orderly of General Daviess, District Commander, where his regiment was stationed. The 2ed Wisconsin Cavalry was organized and mustered into service in January, 1862. Company G was assigned to the 1st Battalion, which proceeded to Springfield, Mo., as escort for General Brown. The first action in which Mr. Lucas took part was at Cotton Plant, Ark., where he was in the skirmish line. The command was subjected to all the embarassment of mismanaging officials and was detailed to service which had little relation to the work necessary to be done, and for which it should have been hastened forward. In November, 1862, the first regular business as cavalry in general was entered upon, and the command did excellent service in Mississippi. In 1863 the battalion of Mr. Lucas went back to Missouri, and passed the time there for a few months, returning to Arkansas and back again and spending the summer. The work of scouting which he performed, was of the severest character. He took part in the siege of Vicksburg, and at Jackson, where the 2nd Wisconsin was the only cavalry regiment engaged. After veteranizing he was engaged in patrol work in Mississippi, and in August he proceeded with the regiment into Texas, marching several hundred miles to Hempstead. In October he went with the command to Austin, where they were mustered out Nov. 15th, Turning their horses over to other regiments. They made a foot march to Brennan, a hundred miles, and traveled the remainder of the distance to Madison by rail and steamer. After reaching Wisconsin again, Mr. Lucas went into the shingle business eight miles from Green Bay, where he and his two brothers owned a mill. They continued the work of manufacturing eight years and farmed afterwards until 1884. Then he was engaged as an engineer on a steam yacht two seasons (1884 and 1885). He went to Appleton in May, 1886. He was married July 11, 1863 to Sarah E. Davis and they have seven children---Minnie, Fay, Carrie, Evan, May, Ernest Albert, and Jessie. Daniel and Nancy (Kisner) Lucas the parents of Mr. Lucas were born respectively in Connecticut and Germany. The ancestors in the paternal line were in the Revolution and 1812. Abraham Lucas, his brother, has the gun carried by their grandfather in the former war. It is a smooth-bore rifle of the best make of that period, as it was made for him to order. The father of Mrs. Lucas was born in Monroe County, N. Y., of Welch parentage. Two of the brothers of Mrs. Lucas were in the same company and regiment with him, and came home safely, with the exception of a slight injury sustained by one of them while on provost guard duty. Their father was a recruit of the 32ed Wisconsin Volunteer Regiment, and died at Fort Howard in 1881.
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1835 - 1921 (85 years)
Military Service
