Compiled by Teresa Martin Klaiber 2023
I wish to thank Dreama Calvo
donated this picture of Frank
Kane and Nancy Perkins Lucas. The picture is thought to be taken on their farm
on Long Branch Road, just across the Boyd County line into Carter County,
Kentucky.
Over
the years we had visits with Norman Franklin Lucas and Lottie Marie Jones his
wife. Many times we walked among those in Klaiber Cemetery, as Norman and
Lottie told us stories. Norman was one
of thirteen children of Frank Kane Lucas and Nancy Ann Perkins, his wife.
Norman’s
father, Frank Kane Lucas was born 4 July 1885 in Boyd County, Kentucky the son
of Henry Kane Lucas and Lucinda Sexton Lucas.
They lived on Garner as he was growing up. Farming was the primary
source of income, and living off the land.
When
Frank was twenty he married Nancy Ann Perkins, the daughter of James “Frank”
Perkins and Martha J. Cotton. Frank was
deceased by the time they married and Nancy’s mother Martha J. had remarried to
John “Jack” Combs. Frank and Nancy
married 17 January 1906 with the written permission of her mother, Mrs. Martha
Combs, because she was only eighteen years and four days old. Their marriage followed a miserable cold
spell for the area, though a bit warmer and damp, everyone wore heavier coats. Julina Sexton Klaiber, William Vincent Sexton
and William’s wife, Elizabeth “Trudi” Enyart Sexton were witness. They were married by J. W. Hedrick.
Tragedy
struck after the birth of Carl Douglas Lucas who was born 10 January 1918 and
died the 11th of September 1918 from gastro intestinal issues. His
death certificate is filed for Carter County just across the line on Long
Branch. He was laid to rest in Klaiber
Cemetery.
A
daughter Martha Edith Lucas was born 23 June 1919 in Boyd County. Julina Sexton
Klaiber kept a diary during this time frame and entered her death on 22 October
1923 but did not write down the heartbreaking details. Little Martha was playing with matches and
caught her clothing on fire. She was
buried in Klaiber Cemetery on the 24th.
Just
one year before Martha’s death, Frank had purchased 22 acres on Garner Creek
just over the Carter County line from his father and mother, Henry Kane Lucas[i].
Many of the farmers in our area made extra money by signing leases for oil and
gas throughout the years and still do. It was an easy way to make some extra
money when you owned the mineral rights to your property. Frank had a lease, in Carter County, with
Kentucky Fuel Gas Corporation. These
leases gave the company right of exploration and the possibility of sinking a
well. If the well produced the lease
stipulated either royalties or the free use of gas.[ii]
In
the late 1930’s Frank invested in 35+ acres along Williams Creek in Carter
County[iii].
Williams Creek winds around to Glancy Fork and Denton. Long Branch Road
extends, but dead ends, from Boyd County into Carter County. As I have stated
many times, there was a horse path across the hill from Long Branch to Denton
that was easily accessed. Frank’s World War II draft card, filed in Carter
County, describes Frank as five feet ten inches tall, with brown eyes and black
hair. Farming had left him lean at 125
pounds.
Other
children of Frank and Nancy that grew to adulthood but are buried in Klaiber
Cemetery include Laura Jane born 3 September 1910 in Boyd County and married 20
December 1929 Marion Emerald Jarvis. She
died 31 December 1942 in Columbus, Ohio and was brought back to Klaiber
Cemetery for burial. Marion remarried in 1943 Mary Brennan. When he died 6 March 1968 he was buried in
Klaiber Cemetery, as well.
Bessie
Juanita Lucas was born 4 June 1926, never married and lived most of her life on
Garner. She moved to Columbus in 1965
and died there 25 November 1966 and was brought back to Garner for burial[iv].
Their
son Ralph Clifton Lucas born 14 March 1914, married 22 October 1938 Elizabeth
Alexander. He was a member of Coalton
Community Church and had worked for Jeffery Manufacturing Company in Columbus,
Ohio. Ralph died 16 July 1977, Rush, Kentucky, of a heart attack. He was buried
in Klaiber cemetery 18 July 1977. His
widow Elizabeth died 27 November 1989 in Portsmouth, Scioto County, Ohio and
was brought back to Klaiber Cemetery for burial on the 30th.
Frank and Nancy’s daughter Amanda Marie born 28 October 1908, had two marriages. She married Herman Burke who died in 1930 and is buried in Rice Cemetery, Lawrence County, Kentucky. Amanda married second Thomas J. Maddox. Thomas was born 13 September 1895 in Elliott County, Kentucky died in 1960 in Columbus, Ohio. He was brought back for burial in Klaiber Cemetery. Amanda died 17 October 1994 and is buried in Klaiber Cemetery.
Other children of Frank and Nancy include Florence Lucas McKnight buried in Columbus, Franklin County, Ohio; Nora (no further info.); Lenora Irene Lucas Smith died Sandusky, OH; Hazel Lucille Lucas Davis died Greenup Co., KY and is buried White Chapel in Barboursville, Cabell, WV: Norman Franklin Lucas buried in Columbus, Franklin County, OH; Ruth Evelyn Lucas Caudill buried Franklin County, OH; Raymond Lucas buried Columbus, OH.
