The full biographical sketch as printed, transcribed from the public-domain book. Spelling and wording are the original author’s; a few scanning errors may remain.
WILLIAM LUCIA.
William Lucia, a successful and enterprising agriculturist residing on sec- tion 31, Elk town.ship, was born in McHenry county, Illinois, April 23, 1873. His father. Eli Lucia, a native of Vermont, was there reared and in early man- iiood journeyed westward. Iiecoming one of the first settlers in JFcHenry county, Illinois. He had to haul his goods from Chicago liefore the railroad was built and experienced many of the hardships and privations of pioneer life. Subsequent to the death of his first wife he married Mrs. Angeline Deno, a widow, who was a native of Canada. He carried on agricultural pursuits in ]\IeIIenry county f(n- a number of years and his two sons and two daughters were all born there. In 1878. however, he came west to Iowa, pur- chasing one hundred and sixty acres of raw prairie, where his son now resides. He broke and improved the land to such an extent that it annually yielded golden harvests, and here reared his family ami sjieiit his remaining days, passing away in 188"). His wife, long surviving him, was called to her final rest in 1902.
William Lucia was reared on the old homestead farm in this county, ac(|uir('d a public-school education and assisted his father in the work of the fields until the latter 's death. Subsetiuently William and liis In-other. Nelson
Lucia, now of Los Angeles. California, eondnoted the place together for three years. On the expiration of that period our sul)jeet bought the interest of till' iitlior lieirs and has since remained in possession of the home farm, which lie has brought under a high state of cultivation and improvement. The place is enclosed with woven-wire fencing and is lacking in none of the accessories and conveniences of a model farming property of the twentieth century. In addition to the work of the fields he is also engaged in raising and feeding high grade stock, both branches of his business returning to him a gratifying annual income. He also operates another tract of eighty acres in addition to the home farm and is widely recognized as a progressive and up-to-date agriculturi.st, whose success is but the merited reward of his untiring industry and capable management. He is likewise a stockholder in the Farmers' Ele- vator Company.
On the 6th of January. 1898. in Cherokee comity, Iowa, ;Mr. Lucia was united in marriage to IMiss Hannah j\l. Henderson, a native of Hamilton county, Neljraska. and a daughter of Elias Henderson. The latter passed away in Cherokee county, and i\Irs. Lucia was subsequently reared by an uncle. By her marriage she has l)ecome the mother of two children, Lucile J. and Uwight W.
In his political views llr. Lucia is a stanch republican but has no desire for the honors or emoluments of offi^■(^ preferring to give his undivided atten- tion to his i>rivate business interests. Thirty years have passed since he came to liuena Vista county. This region was then a vast open praii-ie and seemed to liold fortli little promise of early developnuMit. but .Mr, Lucia has witnessed a most wonderful transformation as the wild tract has grMdually beciiini- ;i |)riiiliir1 ivi' and Ihirkly settled district.
Source: Past and Present of Buena Vista County, Iowa. See the original pages at the Internet Archive.
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