The Palace @ sinisterlunchmeat.com -- Valentine Stover Lucas, Biography 1890

Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas Historical and Biographical (1890)

Valentine S. Lucas, horticulturist, Quindaro, Kas.

Mr. Lucas came to this county May 1, 1857, from Bureau County, Ill., and located just a little west of Chelsea Park. He is one of the old settlers, and a man who is held in high esteem by his many friends. His father came out in 1855, but owing to troublous times in the year following, had to leave, and came back again in 1857, bringing his family, consisting of his wife and nine children. He rented land, and farmed until his death, which occurred in 1865. The following year his widow sold the stock and goods, and went to live with her children, remaining with them until her death, which ocurred in 1878.

Valentine S. Lucas received the usual amount of education given the country boy, until his removal to Wyandotte County, Kas., and after that he attended but three terms of school. After the death of his father, he went to the southern part of Johnson County, bought forty acres of land, and after remaining there two years, sold his stock and returned to Wyandotte County. After this he worked on the Kansas Pacific Railroad, and then went direct to breaking on the same road. Later on he began selling groceries in Olathe, and still later gained a position on the Fort Scott & Gulf Railroad, remaining on the same for fully a year and a half. He was then on a railroad running out from Atchison for some time, after which he returned to the Union Pacific again, but only remained with this for a short time, when he was tendered the responsible position of yard master at Armstrong, remaining there for eleven years. After this he was city marshall for one year, and then was given the position of assistant yard master at the State line, where he remained four years. Having purchased thirty-nine acres of land where he now lives, 1885, the next spring he moved on this, where he has since devoted his attention to fruit-growing and gardening. He has been fairly successful, and aside from this, is the owner of some property in Kansas City, Kas.

He has been twice married, first in 1874, to Miss Anna Hederman, who bore him three children, two now living: Flora May and Lottie J. A. Mrs Lucas died in 1880, and he espoused Miss Dora Bernhard, of Wyandotte County, two years later. They are the parents of three children, all sons: Lowel, Lawrence and Oral. Mr. and Mrs. Lucas are members of the Methodist Church, and socially he is a member of the I. O. O. F. and the K. P. of Wyandotte. As he was a member of the State Militia during the war, he and six of his brothers helped to repel Price during his raid here, and were in the fight at Blue and Westport.