Obituary of William S. Luce

William S. Luce, son of William and Hulda Luce, was born December 27 1840, at Cape Cod, Mass., and passed away at his home April 28, 1913, aged seventy-two years, four months and one day.

In 1858 he moved with his parents to Stark county, Illinois and on November 1, 1861, he was united in marriage to Jane C. McVicker.  Four sons and three daughters were born to this union namely C. A., L. G., A. M., E. A., Mrs. Andy Thompkins, Mrs. George Coon and Mrs. Will Karr.  Mrs. Luce died on September 19, 1881.  He was again united in marriage to Desta Webb on March 2, 1890, and to this union one child was born, Iva May.  Her mother passed away September 20, 1909.

Mr. Luce enlisted in 1862 in the 9th Ills. Cavalry, serving three years and three months.  Thirty-eight years ago last March he came to Clarke county, Iowa, and has made this his home ever since.  In 1891 he united with the Christian church in Illinois and has always been a consistent member of that church, having his membership at Leslie at the time of his death.  He was one of a family of eight children, five boys and three girls, all having gone before except three brothers and one sister.  He leaves to mourn his death besides his brothers, sister and children, sixteen grandchildren and six great grandchildren.

Funeral services were held from the home at eleven o’clock Wednesday morning, April 30th, conducted by Rev. W. C. Cole, and burial made in Maple Hill Cemetery.

– Published in The Osceola Democrat, Osceola, Iowa, Thursday, May 8, 1913

William S. Luce, Private, Co. K, 9th Illinois Cavalry: Pension Index Card

SOURCE:  Civil War And Later Veterans Pension Index at Footnote.com

William S. Luce

WILLIAM S. LUCE, an enterprising and industrious citizen of Knox Township, residing on section 3, is a native of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, where he was born December 27, 1840, a son of William and Huldah (Rugers) Luce, the father being a native of Maine, and the mother born on Cape Cod. William S. was the third of a family of nine children. When two years old he was taken by his parents to Maine, they locating near Bangor, where they made their home for twelve years, when the family removed to Stark County, Illinois. Our subject passed his youth on a farm, receiving a common-school education.

He lived with his parents in Stark County till the breaking out of the war, when, October 10, 1861, he enlisted in Company K, Ninth Illinois Cavalry. He took part in the engagement against General Price, at Waddell Farm, Arkansas, where he was wounded in the left shoulder by being struck by a rifle ball, which unfitted him for duty for six months. He was at Cotton Plant, Arkansas, Tupelo, Mississippi, Guntown and Franklin, Tennessee. The Ninth Illinois Cavalry was noted for the hard fighting in scouting and guarding, and for a time was engaged in guarding the Memphis and Charlestown Railroad. Mr. Luce received an honorable discharge at Nashville, Tennessee, December 10, 1864, when he returned to his home in Stark County, Illinois, where he remained till 1870.

He then came to Clarke County, Iowa, and after living a year in Green Bay Township, he settled in section 8, Knox Township, where he spent one year. He then removed to section 10, of the same township, where he resided four years. In 1875 he bought 120 acres of his present farm on section 3, which he has since improved and brought under excellent cultivation. He has added eighty acres to his original purchase, and now has a valuable farm of 200 acres, and is successfully engaged in farming and stock-raising.

Mr. Luce was married December 9, 1861, to Jane McVicker, of Bureau County, Illinois, who died September 21, 1882, leaving seven children -- Charles, Minnie, Leon, Archibald, Alice, Elgie and Elva. Mr. Luce is a comrade of Knox Center, Post No. 189, G.A.R. In politics he is a Republican. He is a member of the Christian church, and a respected citizen of Knox Township.

SOURCE: reprint of Clarke County Historical and Biographical Record, Lewis Publishing, 1886, p. 172

William S. Luce

Private, Co. K, 9^th Illinois Cavalry

Dec. 27, 1840

April 28, 1913

Maple Hill Cemetery

Osceola, Clarke County, Iowa

Medical Records of William S. Luce

William Luce, Rank Pvt, Co. K, 9th Reg’t Ills. Cav. Appears on list of Casualties of th Regiment at the battle of near Village Creek, Arkansas. Wounded Jun 12th, 1862. Nature of injury: Badly. Reported by Albert G. Brackett, Col. 9th Ills. Cav. Casualty List No. 296

Wm. S. Luce, Rank, Pvt. Co. K, 9 Reg’t Ill Cav. Complaint, Remi Fever. Admitted Jan 12, 1863, to U.S.A. Post Hospital, Helena, Ark. Ret’d to Duty Feb 1, 1863. Ark. Reg. No. 46; Hos. No. 195; Page 36

Source: National Archives & Records Administration, Washington, D.C

The Luce Brothers

Sons of William S. & Huldah (Rogers) Luce



Alonzo Luce, William S. Luce
Samuel M. Luce, Isaac D. Luce, and Richard R. Luce

Alonzo Luce – Company B, 19th Illionios Infantry: enlisted June 12, 1861. He was mustered in 5 days later at Chicago, Illinios and was there mustered out July 9, 1864.

Richard Rogers Luce – Company E, 93rd Illinois Infantry: enlisted August 13, 1862 at Tiskilwa, Illinois, where he was mustered in two days later. He was mustered out on June 23, 1865 at Louisville, Kentucky.

William S. Luce – Company K, 9th Illinois Cavalry : enlisted October 17, 1861 at Princeton, Illinois and was mustered in on October 26, 1861 at Chicago, Illinois. He was wounded at during an engagement at the Waddell Farm in Jackson County, Arkansas on June 12, 1862 and was mustered out on Decemer 10, 1864 at Nasvhille, Tennessee.

Isaac D. Luce - Company B, of the 112th Illinois Infantry: enlisted & mustered in on March 13, 1865 at Peoria, Illinois. He was transferred to Company F, 65th Illinois Infantry on June 19, 1865. He was mustered out on July 13, 1865,

Also pictured is the youngest brother, Samuel M. Luce, however he was too young to see military service during the Civil War.