The Lukens Family of Warren County, Ohio

JOSEPH LUKENS, retired; P. 0. Harveysburg; born in Virginia, Dec. 28.: ' 1797, is a son of Levi and Elizabeth (Cleaver) Lukens, natives of Pennsylvania. The paternal grandparents John and Rachel Lukens, were also native of Pennsylvania, the wnM ancestors of the Lukens family came from Germany. John and Rachel lived and died in their native State. The maternal grandparents were Ezekiel and Mary Cleaver; the! fSusan.

Cleaver ancestors came from Wales. Levi Lukens was raised to manhood in Pennsylvania, emigrated to Virginia and was married in Berkeley County, Aug. 8, 1793, and removed to Ohio and located in Warren County in December, 1807, erected a log cabin into which they moved Jan. 1, 1808, the floor of their cabin being made of puncheons, as there were no saw-mills in that early day; here they toiled and labored in opening out while their farm, living the true pioneer life, enduring the many hardships of that day, yet enjoying the kindness and sociability of those hardy and honored pioneers. * In making their journey from Virginia to Ohio they came through over the mountains in a wagon,1 (tied on and met with a severe loss on the way, their youngest son about two years of age, fell Penal) from the wagon, the wheels passed over him from the effects of which he died the sime night. When Mr. Lukens first came to Ohio he purchased 500 acres of land near Portsmouth, and 1,000 acres in Greene County, both of which tracts of land he soon after sold, and purchased 1,000 acres in Massie Township, Warren Co., upon which he located as above stated. After which he and his brother-in-law purchased 1,000 acres more land, thus Mr. Lukens became owner of a large amount of land. He built the first saw-mill ever erected in Massie Township. Upon the real estate which he first purchased, Mr. Lukens resided till his death, Jan. 3, 1860, in the 93d year of age, his wife having died Feb. 2, 1831, in her 68 year of age. They had seven children, six grew to maturity, three now survive — Joseph, John and Salathiel. Our subject was with his father till 24 years of age, was married Feb. 13, 1822, to Hannah, daughter of iarywe Clayton and Elizabeth Brown, natives of New Jersey, by whom he had five children, four now survive: Levi born Dec. 25, 1822, now a resident of California; Mary born Nov. 28, 1828; Clayton C., born March 20, 1831, and William S. born Aug. 9, 1834.

His wife died Feb. 29, 1868, aged 72 years. On June 30, 1870, he was united in marriage with Elsie, daughter of Soloman and Fanny Howland, natives of Dutchess Co., N. Y.; the Howland family being descended from one John Howland from England, who came to America in the “ Mayflower.” Mr. Lukens has always followed the honest and honorable occupation of a farmer, but being now advanced in years and possessed of an ample competency, has retired from his farm and all active aber and lives on a nice property in the pleasant village of Harveysburg.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

JOHN LUKENS, farmer; P. O. Harveysburg; born in Culpeper Co., Va.,

: i July 9, 1801; is a son of Levi and Elizabeth Lukens (see sketch of Joseph Lukens), Tin The subject of this sketch was 6 years of age when brought to this county by his a, tin parents, and here in the wilderness, as it was then, was raised and grew to manhood dijj ?uily initiated into the hardships and roughness of pioneer life; was married in 1825 r'tiijfco Susan, daughter of John and Margeret Fawcett, natives of Frederick Co., Va. Mr. Fawcett died in Virginia, but subsequently Mrs. Fawcett and family became residents rf Clinton Co. about°1822, where she died in 1823; they had nine children, all now deceased. John Fawcett, was a son of Thomas Fawcett, who it is believed was a native of Wales; he lived and died in Virginia. Mr. Lukens and wife by their marriage i bad one cl ild (deceased); Mrs. Lukens died Feb. 16, 1864, aged 69 years. In 1865, lie was married to Jane Fawcett, daughter of Elijah and Phebe Fawcett, (see in sketch if Salathiel Lukens); Jane was born in Virginia, Sept. 18, 1819. Mr. Lukens first settled on the old home place of his fathers, which is now owned by Lewis Carr. When about nineteen years of age, Mr. Lukens went to Springboro and served an apprenticeship at the cabinet-making trade, which business he followed only a short time; tiis father gave him 32 acres of land all in the wood, located on Jonah s Run, and there erected a saw-mill which he ran for twenty years; since which he has engaged in farming; has now resided on this farm since 1822, which he opened out right from the woods, a period of fifty-nine years, nearly threescore years; is now 80 years of age and has retired rom all active labor, having done his full share of pioneer work, and deserves quiet rest in his declining years.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

LEVI S. LUKENS, farmer; P. O. Harveysbnrg; born in Warren Co., Jan. 19, 1845; is a son of Benjamiu and Mary (Saterth white) Lukens; he was a native of Virginia, whose ancestral history is written in sketch of Joseph Lukens. Benjamin and Mary were parents of four children, two now survive — Sarah, now Mrs. Wilson Harvey md Levi S. Mr. Lukens was a farmer, and after his marriage located in Massie Township, where he resided till his death, in October 1875, aged 75 years; his wife died Feb. 17, 1865, aged 62 years. The subject of this sketch remained with his father till after his majority; was married June 8, 180, to Tacy Ellen, daughter of William and Martha (Burgess) Ham, he a native of South Carolina and she of Virginia. William Ham was a son of Rhoden and Abigail Ham, natives of South Carolina. Rhoden Ham vas a son of William and Eleanor Ham, who, it is believed, were natives of South Carjlina, and lived and died in their native State. They had three sons who grew to Maturity, married and raised families; the eldest of whom was Rhoden, who married Abigail McKinsey, whose ancestral history is given in sketch of Henry McKinsey, of Wayne Township, in this work. In 1808, Rhoden Ham with his family emigrated to 3hio and located in Wayne Township and there resided one year; thence to Clinton Co., iter

V? tji and in 1815 moved back into Warren Co., and purchased a farm embracing the land upon which the town of Harveysburg now stands, of which see history of Massie Township, and here he resided till 1828; he removed to Montgomery Co., Ind., where he died in 1850. His wife survived him about two weeks; they had ten children, three now survive — William, James R. and Mary, now Mrs. Ammerman, residing in Indiana; James R., is settled in Iowa, engaged in the practice of medicine, is a very active and prominent brother in the U. B. Church and is a Ruling Elder. William Ham is the only one remaining a resident of Warren Co. He has been thrice married, first to Leanna Edwards, by whom he had three children, one surviving, James R., whose residence is Kansas City, Mo. Mr. Ham’s wife died Nov. 2,1835; in December, 1837, he married Martha Burgess, issue three children — Thomas, Findlay and Tacy Ellen; his second wife died in fall of 1852. On April 18, 1853, he married Mrs. Rebecca Mills, a daughter of Archibald and Nancy Edwards, natives of North Carolina. Mr. Ham, when a young man, learned the blacksmith trade, located in Harveysburg and carried on his trade very successfully for twenty-five years; thence he entered upon the mercantile business, which he followed twelve years; four of which were in the dry goods and grocery trade, in which he was not so successful, meeting with heavy losses; the last eight years he was engaged in the drug trade, in which he very successful. In January, 1881, he sold out to his grandson Arthur L. Ham, and retired from all active business to pass the balance of his days in quiet and rest. Mr. Ham has spent a life of activity and usefulness, from which his labors have been abundantly rewarded by a good competency; has been an active Christian worker for more than forty years, and lives in faith to believe that when his Lord calls him hence, he shall reach that “brighter shore.” Mr. Lukens and wife have three children — Benjamin H., born June 12, 1871; Mary M., born Oct. 24, 1873; and Alice, born Jan 16, 1876. Mr. Lukens, after his marriage, located upon the place where he now lives and has since resided. This farm he purchased of Turner Welch; it consists of 105 acres of good land, most beautifully located, with good buildings and improvements, and is one of the prettiest locations in Massie Township. Mr Lukens also owns other real estate to the amount of 283 acres, making in all 388 acres, mostly improved land. He is comparatively young, but is a man of great general information and an industrious, active farmer; takes a great interest in education and all general public improvements and is one of the progressive and useful men of Massie Township.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.