My Genealogy Hound

Hon. E. R. Lucas, farmer, Viola. No name is justly entitled to a more enviable place in the history of Fulton County than the one which heads this sketch, for it is borne by a man who has been usefully and honorably identified with the interests of this county, and with its advancement, in every worthy particular. He owes his nativity to Dallas County, Ala., where he was born in 1835. His parents, Harvey B. and Amy (Wilson) Lucas, were born in Kentucky, in 1808, and Georgia, in 1810, respectively. The father went to New York City when twenty-one years of age, engaged in merchandising, but was burned out in the fire of 1833. After this he went to Alabama, was married there, and began the study of medicine. He practiced in that State for some time, then graduated in his profession at Cincinnati, Ohio, after which, his health being very poor, he was advised to go to Europe, but died on the ocean, in 1844 or 1845, leaving a wife and four children, in poor circumstances. He was of Scotch descent, was a member of the Baptist Church, also a Mason, and was a very promising man. His widow is still living, and has been a member of the Baptist Church for over sixty years. She reared four children, Hon. E. R. being the eldest. He received very little education until grown, and then taught seven terms of school. His wife was formerly Miss Nancy Radford, whom he married in 1859. Her parents, Reuben and Sarah Radford, were natives, respectively, of Alabama and Kentucky, and passed their last days in the former State, Mrs. Radford dying in 1853, and Mr. Radford some years previous. To Mr. and Mrs. Lucas were born ten children, three sons and four daughters living. Mr. Lucas served through the war, having enlisted in Company K, Eleventh Alabama Volunteer Infantry, Confederate Army; the first year he was a private, then third lieutenant, and afterward first lieutenant, and finally captain. He operated in Northern Virginia with Gen. Lee, and was in twenty-four general engagements, among them Seven Pines, seven days’ fight before Richmond, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Wilderness, Spottsylvania, etc., and was never captured nor wounded. He received a furlough, and was at home during the final surrender. He then returned to tilling the soil, and in 1869 came to Fulton County, Ark., where he has since lived, residing on his present farm for the past six years. He has been a close student all his life, and is at present one of the best informed men in Fulton County. In 1874 he was a member of the constitutional convention that framed the present constitution of Arkansas, and in 1882 was elected to represent the county mentioned in the State legislature, holding the position for two years. He has been a life-long Democrat, and his first presidential vote was for James Buchanan, in 1856. He has been a Mason since 1861, now belonging to Viola Lodge No. 399, and has held nearly all the offices, and was Master two years. He is also a member of the Agricultural Wheel. He and wife belong to the Missionary Baptist Church, in which he has been a deacon for a number of years. His maternal grandfather, William Wilson, was a native Virginian, and died in Georgia. He was of English descent, and a soldier in the Revolutionary War. Mr. Lucas has one brother, Rev. Oscar M. Lucas, who has been a prominent Baptist minister for about twenty-five years. He was educated principally at Mountain Home, in Baxter County. William P., another brother, served about fourteen months in the Confederate army, and was wounded at the seven days’ battle, in June, 1862, and died from the effects July 9, of the same year. A sister, Sarah F., is the wife of William P. Cameron, and is also a member of the Baptist Church.