JOHN H. LUCAS – A self-made native son who, thought those qualities so often predominatingly characteristic of the California pioneer, has been remarkable successful, especially as one of the wide-awake partners in the Chico Meat Company, and who is fortunate in having, in his talented wife, an able helpmeet who has contributed much to his attainments, is John H. Lucas, who was born on the Humboldt ridge, fourteen miles east of Chico. His father was Paul Lucas, a native of St. Louis, who crossed the plains to California in 1849, and followed mining in different parts of the state. In 1852, he returned to Missouri, and once more crossed the plains to reach the Pacific. This was in 1853, and he drove his ox-teams into Chico Canyon. There he went into the stock business, and soon made his brand, 24, well known and duly respected. He bought land fourteen miles out, and started butchering on his own place; supplying his products to saw mills and mining camps where a good deal of meat was required, and those needing it and were willing and able to pay well for what they got. He died on April 12, 1879.

The wife of Paul Lucas was Ellen Callahan before her marriage, and she was a native of Ireland, who came to California by way of Panama in the early sixties. She now resides on the ranch, and with her is the youngest living son. Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Lucas, although only four have thus far survived. The second oldest is Charles F., now at Laredo, Tex.; the next is Catherine, Mrs. R.L. Cameron, of Chico Vecino; and George W. who lives on the home ranch.

The eldest of the children and born June 6, 1866, J.H. Lucas was brought up on the Lucas ranch, and rode the range from a lad. He attended the public school, and when he had completed all the courses there, and his father had died which he was only thirteen, he remained with his mother and accepted the responsibility of looking after things. He took up stock and hay-raising with the aid of his mother's capital, which amounted to some two thousand dollars; he helped her all he could until 1896.

During this time he was married in Chico on April 12, 1889, to Miss Helen May Wilson, a native of Missouri, who came to California with her parents when she was five years old. She was the daughter of James H. and Julia A. (Goodelle) Wilson, the latter a native of New York State, as was her husband, both having moved to Illinois, where they were married, when they were young. Her father was in an Illinois regiment in the Civil War. He married and moved to Missouri. Then he came to California and settled in Ventura County, and there he ran a large dairy. In 1886, he located in Butte County, on the Forest ranch, and at Chico he died, generally honored and a much respected member of the G.A.R. Mrs. Wilson resides in Chico, the mother of nine children, seven of whom grew up.

After his marriage Mr. Lucas continued at home until 1896, when he located on a ranch on the Humboldt ridge, buying the farm area and going for cattle-raising and butchering. In February, 1906, while he continued the management of the ranch and stock, he located at Chico and bought an interest in the Cramer Meat Packing Company. He ran a market at Second Street, between Main and Broadway, and thus continued for about fifteen months, when he bought the title and changed the name and managed the business alone.

Later he took Ira R. Morrison as a partner and the firm was known as Lucas and Morrison, but after five years he bought him out and then tried the management awhile himself. His next partner was K. D. Crowder, and for eighteen months the firm was Lucas and Crowder, but after that time they sold out the market to Lynch and Snow, and Mr. Lucas worked for the firm for three months and then bought an interest in it again. It was now known as the Chico Meat Company, and he has charge of the buying and slaughtering. He still attends to these departments of the trade, while he runs his stock-ranch independent of the company. About 1896, when he acquired the ranch—about two thousand five hundred acres between Big and Little Chico creeks—he erected a house and lived there until moving into Chico. Some of this acreage he devotes to grain and some to stock-raising, and here he has twelve acres of prunes.

A Democrat in national politics, and a public-spirited citizen, Mr. Lucas was elected, in 1915, city trustee, to serve as the representative from the second ward for a period of four years. He was chairman of the finance committee, and his experience and enterprising spirit have proven of much service to the community. He was also school trustee for the Chico Canyon district, which he helped establish.

Twelve children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Lucas; Hazel, Mrs. S.F. Brown, who lives at Susanville; Ella, Mrs. H. Cummings, is her neighbor; Nellie is Mrs. J.H. Smith, of Chico Vecino; John Henry, Jr. was on the home ranch until enlisted for service and is with the United States Expeditionary forces in France; Alice Julia and May are in high school; Paul James, Ernest B. and Carrie Pearl are on the home ranch; and there are Charles, Arthur and Helen. This interesting family participates to the customary extent in the social life of the community. Mr. Lucas is a member of the B.P.O.E., Woodmen of the World, the Independent Order of Foresters and Chico Parlor, No. 21, N.S.G.W. Source: "History of Butte County, Cal.," by George C. Mansfield, Pages 873-874, Historic Record Co, Los Angeles, CA, 1918.