Obituary of Colonel Constant Luce, 17th Michigan Infantry

WAS A PIONEER OF MONROE

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COL. CONSTANT LUCE, WHO DIED THERE YESTERDAY.

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APROMINENT BUSINESS MAN AND A LEADING CITIZEN.

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No Immediate Member of His Own Family Now Living.

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Monroe, Mich., February 28.—Col. Constant Luce, one of the most prominent business men and pioneers of Monroe county, died this morning at his resident corner of Second and Macomb streets after an illness of only a few weeks.

Col. Luce for over three-quarters of a century was a resident here and for over fifty years one of the prominent men of the section. He was born in Pittsfield, Mass., in March 1819 and was very nearly 84 years old at the time of his death. He came to Monroe in his childhood, reaching here in 1826. He was one of the earliest abstractors in the west, and early began to make up the abstracts of Monroe county, beginning shortly after Michigan became a state. For four terms he served as register of deeds of the county, and while holding that office perfected the system of abstracts which later came into general use throughout Michigan.

At the outbreak of the war he became colonel of the Seventeenth Michigan Regiment and served with distinction throughout the war of the rebellion. Upon his return to Monroe he again engaged in the abstract business, under the firm name of Redfield & Luce. The name of his partner, Hon. Heman J. Redfield is prominent in the history of the city and county. After the death of Mr. Redfield the firm became Luce & Landon, and has thus continued to the present day.

Col. Luce is the “last of his race,” so far as his own family is concerned. Two brothers and a sister have preceded him into the silent land, and his only son died shortly after the close of the war. His aged wife died recently, and since her death he has made his home with a niece. He was a man of wonderful vitality, and until his last illness was a well known figure here in the city, being as hale and active as the ordinary man of 50. Mr. Luce was a member of Monroe Lodge, No. 27, F. & A. M., and had been on the emeritus roll for twelve years. He was a Knight Templar and one of the oldest Masons in Michigan. His funeral, on Monday, will be under Masonic auspices.

SOURCE: The Detroit Free Press, Detroit, Michigan, Sunday, March 1, 1903, p. 3