My Genealogy Hound

JAMES LUKECART was born in Ross county, Ohio, August 14, 1827. His parents were Jacob and Rebecca (Chambers) Lukecart, the former being a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of New Jersey. They were married in Ohio, and moved to Illinois in 1849, locating in Coles county, where they remained till 1860, whence they moved to Marshall county, Iowa, where they remained for seven years. Both died in 1869. He was a miller, and followed his favorite vocation nearly all his life.

James Lukecart was married October 15, 1848, to Miss Nancy C. White, who was a native of Illinois. Soon after marriage they settled in Marshall county, Ill., where he was employed in a packing house. In 1858 he emigrated to Powshiek county, Iowa, and was among the early settlers. The nearest trading point was Iowa city, fifty miles distant. He killed wagon-loads of deer and took them to Iowa city, where he exchanged them for provisions. After four years of pioneer life in this wild country he removed to Strong county, where he remained about eleven years.

Mr. Lukecart enlisted, October 27, 1862, in the Ninth Iowa infantry, and his first experience in battle was at Nashville, Tenn. He was a participant in the engagements at Tunnell hill, Lookout mountain, Courtland, Ala.; Kingston, N. C.; Goldsborough and Raleigh, and was mustered out at Louisville, Ky., and, received his discharge July 27, 1865, at Clinton, Iowa.

Mr. Lukecart came to Phelps county, Nebr., in the fall of 1878, and located on a homestead in Laird township, and built a sod house when there was not another in sight. He had some live stock, but only $2.40 in money, but, nevertheless, has been a successful farmer from the first, always having good crops.

There have been born eleven children to Mr. and Mrs. Lukecart, viz. — John W. (deceased), Annie, Mary Jane, Barbara, Lavina, James (deceased), Sarah, Stephen D., Jacob (deceased), Sherman (deceased), and William C. Mr. Lukecart has eighty acres of well improved land, the soil of which is adapted to raising almost anything grown in this climate. He is a member of Glover Post, No. 111, G. A. R., of Holdrege, and has always affiliated with the democratic party.