My Genealogy Hound

JOHN LUCE, a prosperous farmer in Gardner township, Buffalo county, was born in Wyoming county, Pa., November 20, 1831, and is the son of Abram and Amanda (Osier) Luce. The senior Luce was born in New Jersey, in 1804, and after marriage settled in Pennsylvania. He was a wagon-maker by trade, but devoted most of his time to farming. He died in 1869.

John Luce, the subject of this sketch, was the youngest of a family of six children. His mother, who bore the maiden name of Amanda Osier, died when he was but six days old, and he was reared by his grandparents. His youthful ambition was to be a carpenter and he began serving an apprenticeship at sixteen. After an experience of four years he was obliged to quit work on account of trouble with his eyes, and for two years he was entirely blind.

He regained his eyesight, however, in time to offer his services to the government before the war closed. He joined the Second Pennsylania heavy artillery, and saw some hard fighting in the battles of the Wilderness, Cold Harbor, Petersburg and Richmond. He helped tear up the Weldon railroad and was stationed at Petersburg for nine months after Lee’s surrender. He was discharged January 29, 1866.

In March, 1878, he emigrated from Pennsylvania to Buffalo county, Nebr., taking up a soldier’s homestead in Gardner township. His was the fifth family to settle in the township, and it was some time before there was any settlement to speak of in his immediate locality. He came to this country with very limited means and was compelled to practice economy in every way possible. He built a sod house and began breaking the prairie preparatory to planting a small crop the following season. He paid $2.50 per acre to have fifteen acres of sod broke, and worked, himself, at sixty cents a day to pay for it. There were no regularly laid out roads in those days, and every traveler selected his own route. He made frequent trips to the Loup for fuel, and during the long and severe winter of 1880-81 he was obliged to burn hay and cornstalks for fuel.

John Luce was united in marriage, October 17, 1858, to Miss Annie MaGee. She was born in Susquehannah county, Pa., October 5, 1838, and is the daughter of Ebenezer and Lucy (Root) MaGee, the former a native of New York and the latter of Connecticut. Her father died in February, 1876, and her mother in 1885. Mr. and Mrs. Luce have had six children — Riley W., Benny (deceased), Mary (deceased), Charley, George and Ella E.

In April, 1885, Mr. Luce was instrumental in establishing the Luce post office, and has since been the postmaster. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. and Farmers’ Alliance, and is independent in politics. He is one of the leading farmers in the township, and enjoys the confidence and esteem of all who know him.