William R. Lucas was born in Franklin County, Pennsylvania. his mother's name was Nancy ( as noted in census record below ).

1850 United States Federal Census
Name: William Lucas
Age: 10
Birth Year: abt 1840
Birthplace: Pennsylvania
Home: Peters, Franklin, Pennsylvania
Gender: Male
Family Number: 994
Household Members:
Name Age
John Johnston 28
Jermima Johnston 23
Ann M Johnston 6
Nancy J Johnston 4
John G Johnston 2
Joseph Johnston 0
Nancy Lucas 58
William Lucas 10

1860 United States Federal Census
Name: William Lucas
Age in 1860: 21
Birth Year: abt 1839
Birthplace: Pennsylvania
Home: East Oakland, Coles, Illinois
Gender: Male
Post Office: Oakland
Household Members:
Name Age
Robert Goss 52
Mary Goss 38
Margaret A Goss 16
William Lucas 21

William enlisted into the War Between the States on 2 August 1861 at Littleton, Schuyler County, Illinois. He was reported as being age 21 years ; was 5 foot 8 inches tall, fair complexion, gray eyes, black hair and having been a farmer.

On October 20, 1863, William received a gun shot wound in his left elbow during action at Jackson, Mississippi. This injury placed him in a Jackson Hospital for treatment & when he was dismissed, the injury permanently disabled him by leaving him unable to raise his left arm & he could no longer perform Military duty.

Having returned to McDonough County following his honorable separation from the Union Forces, William became acquainted with Mrs. Harriet (Womack) Barber. She was the Widow of Samuel Barber and had 4 young children from that marriage.

On April 30, 1865, the couple were married and to this union the following children were born :
Armenia
Mary W.
Rose Bell
William A.
James Luther

1870 United States Federal Census
Name: William Lucas
Age in 1870: 27
Birth Year: abt 1843
Birthplace: Pennsylvania
Home: Lamoine, McDonough, Illinois
Race: White
Gender: Male
Post Office: Colchester
Household Members:
Name Age
William Lucas 27
Harriet Lucas 33
Nancy E Lucas 17
Millie Lucas 13
Christine Lucas 12
Armenia Lucas 4
Mary W Lucas 1

1880 United States Federal Census
Name: William Lucus
Age: 41
Birth Year: abt 1839
Birthplace: Tennessee
Home: Bardolph, McDonough, Illinois
Race: White
Gender: Male
Relation to Head of House: Self (Head)
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: Hariot Lucus
Father's Birthplace: Tennessee
Mother's Birthplace: Tennessee
Occupation: Farm Laborer
Household Members:
Name Age
William Lucus 41
Hariot Lucus 47
Armina J. Lucus 13
Mary M. Lucus 12
Rosa B. Lucus 7
William A. Lucus 5
James L. Lucus 2

When William passed away in 1897, he was buried in the Barber Cemetery. This is where Harriet had originally planned on being buried. This way, she would also be near her first husband, Samuel Barber with whom she had had four children.

Harriet lived in Bardolph and died in December 1908. She was buried in the Bardolph Cemetery, as the weather conditions were too bad in order to bring her to the Barber Cemetery to be buried. The Barber Cemetery is located several miles away from Bardolph. Considering the mode of transportation at the time, the time of year, weather and distance involved - Harriet was buried in the Bardolph Cemetery instead.

There is a Civil War Headstone with Lucas' name, rank & military info, located in Lot 42 of the Original Cemetery of Bardolph, McDonough County, Illinois, but William R. Lucas is actually buried in the Barber Cemetery & his wife is buried in the Bardolph Cemetery ( no Headstone noted ).

Janet K. Pease Newspaper Abstracts
Vol. VI 1895 - 1897
Friday, 17 September 1897 :
William R. Lucas died at his residence in Bardolph today aged 56 years. The funeral will be tomorrow with burial in the Barber Cemetery south of Colchester. He was a Civil War veteran and leaves 5 children.