Members of the Lucas family were around Covington County before 1850, and some came into it a few years later. The earliest ancestor found by this writer was William Daniel Lucas who was born in 1800. The place of his birth is not known, but he died in the State of Alabama in 1860, which would have been a year before the onset of the War Between the States. William Daniel was married to a lady named Elizabeth.

It appears William Daniel and Elizabeth Lucas had a son named William Daniel Lucas Jr. who was born in 1827 in Alabama. This William or William Daniel was married to Marino F. ? who was born in 1827 in Georgia. William and Elizabeth also had a son named Westly/Wesley Lucas who was born in 1830. No additional information was found relative to Westly Lucas, but his brother, William Daniel Jr. and his wife, Marino, reared the following children: James William Riley, b. 1850, d. 1918, m. Celia Skipper (1873-1930); James, b. 1856; Elizabeth, b. 1862; and Almira, b. 1865.

In his Early History of Covington County, Alabama, 1821-1871, Wyley Ward lists a R.J. Leucas (Lucas ?) listed as a member of the Confederate Army. He served as a private in Company A, Covington County Reserves (First Class), from Beats 1,3,7,8,9 and 10. R.J. was 46 years of age when the roster was compiled. This writer has not been able to relate him to the Lucas family being reviewed in today’s narrative. It is possible he could be an older brother to James William Riley Lucas.

William Lucas became prominent in Covington County. He served in the 60th Regiment (Covington County) 11th Brigade, 5th Division, Alabama Militia, 1832-1848. He became a captain on October 27, 1834. In 1856 William Lucas acquired 80.95 acres of land in the Antioch Township. He was listed as a registered voter in Covington County in 1868. He lived until 1918 at which time he died in this county.

William’s son, James William Riley Lucas, was born in 1850 in Butler County, Ala., and was later married in 1873 in Crenshaw County to Celia Skipper, daughter of Samuel “Sam” Skipper. She was born circa 1853 in Crenshaw County and died in 1930 in Marengo County. According to Ancestry.com they reared the following children: James Riley W., b. 1877, d. 1952; Lonnie L., b. 1879; Westly L, b. 1879, d. 1940, m. Mary Ella King; James Henry, b. 1881, d. 1930; Lula, b. 1882; Alexander Sylvester, b. 1884, d. 1962, m. Sylvia V. “Della” Jackson (1885-1970); Lena, b. 1886, d. 1949; Hubert Powell, b. 1887, d. 1966, m. Callie Ezell Solomon (1890-1960); and Elliott.

The third oldest son, Westly/Wesley Lucas, was born in 1879 in Alabama and lived until 1940 at which time he died in Butler County, Ala. He was married to Mary Ella King, daughter of Elius Lawrence and Sara J. King. Sara was born in 1879 also. They reared the following children: Daniel, b. 1901, d. 1959; Maude, b. 1902; Lonnie, b. 1902, d. 1961; Louise, b. 1903; Allie, b. 1904, d. 1981; and Joe, b. 1907, d. 1980, m. 1933 Ettina (1917-2004).

The fifth son, Alexander Sylvester Lucas, was born in 1884 in Alabama. He was married to Sylvia V. “Della” Jackson. They had a daughter named Minnie Mae, b. 1912, d. 1989, m. James M. Royals (1910-1975). Sylvia was living in New Augusta, Perry County, Miss., at the time of her death.

Next to the youngest son, Hubert Powell Lucas, was born in 1887 in Andalusia. He was married to Callie Ezell Solomon (1890-1987), daughter of Reuben H. Solomon and Mary Danie (Williamson). They reared the following children: Beulah Mae, b. 1913, d. 1987; Ephram Grady, b. 1916, d. 1986; Gracie Gertrude, b. 1918, d. 1965, m. John Ephurm “J.E. or Joe” Brown Sr., son of Felder Crawford Brown (1874-1964) and Dollie Vina ? (1877-1920); and Bertha Leona, b. 1921, d. 1992. Gracie was born in Red Level, Ala., and died in Cool Springs, Miss. Her husband, John Ephurm Brown Sr. was born in Mississippi in 1905 and died there in 1981. Ephram Grady died in Hammond, La. Hubert Powell died in Mississippi, and Callie Ezell died in Beulah, Miss.

The frequent use of the same names among these Lucas families makes it a challenge to keep the lines correct. For instance, there was a James Wesley Lucas who was born in 1849 in Alabama whose identity is not clear. He may have been a brother to the above James William Riley Lucas. James Wesley was married to his first wife, Martha Adkins, in 1872 in Lowndes County, Ala. Martha was born in 1856. They had the following two children: William Daniel, b. 1876, d. 1954; and Lena, b. 1879. James Wesley next married in 1888 Emma Louise Baxley (1868-1910). They reared the following children: Bertha, b. 1890; Coleen A., b. 1892; Vera, b. 1894, d. 1970; and Cecil Gerald, b. 1898, d. 1964, m. (1) Fern Ormsby (1909-1977) (2) Betty Louise Hassell (1918-2007).

Cecil Gerald Lucas and Fern Ormsby, daughter of William Alfred Ormsby and Nancy Agnes (Dyer), resided mainly in Illinois and Tennessee. They had the following three children: Rita Jean, b. 1931, d. 1980; Robert Wayne, b. 1933, d. 2005; and Miriam Ruth, b. 1938, d. 1993. Cecil Gerald and his second wife, Betty Louise, reared one son and four daughters who were not named in Ancestry.com.

The sources for this story included postings several years earlier in the Covington County, Ala. egroups by Kat “BlackRaven” and Lisa along with Ancestry.com.

Much more research is needed on this Lucas family. Anyone who may find errors in the above writing or who might have additional genealogy on this family is requested to contact this writer, Curtis Thomasson, at 20357 Blake Pruitt Road, Andalusia, AL 36420; 334-804-1442; or Email: cthomasson@centurytel.net.