My Genealogy Hound

MANLIUS LUCAS is a native of Kentucky and was born January 20, 1849, a son of Thomas and Minerva Lucas. His parents located in Woodford county, Ill., in 1852, and removed to Phelps county, Nebr., in 1879. Manlieus Lucas came to Phelps county, Nebr., in the fall of 1872, when there were perhaps not to exceed a half-dozen actual settlers in the entire county. He filed on a homestead and a tree claim in the Platte bottom and remained by them. Buffalo, elk, deer and antelope were plenty then and Indians lined the banks and islands of the historic stream. The old California trail, along which many a weary traveler had passed, runs across his land. A lonely grave, occupied by the bones of some poor fellow who fell by the wayside while crossing the “Great American Desert,” is situated on his homestead.

Mr. Lucas was a victim of the famous grasshopper raid in 1875, and has not forgotten how his promising crop of corn disappeared before the ravenous insects. Indeed, those were discouraging times, when the crop which the pioneer depended on for his own, as well as his stock’s food, was wiped out.

Mr. Lucas did not believe at first that this country would ever be adapted to farming. His idea in coming here was to raise stock, to which he has since largely devoted himself, but he has also farmed quite extensively. He set out a large number of forest trees, which are now quite large and serve as a splendid protection to his stock.

Mr. Lucas has been assessor of Cottonwood township for four years and is now the treasurer. He has always been identified with the democratic party, although he is no politician.