Statesman, Jurist, Poet.
One of Jefferson County's ablest lawyers, was born near Halltown and was descended from a number of prominent statesmen. His father, William Lucas, and his uncles. Edward Lucas and Henry Bedinger, at various times represented the Lower Valley in Congress. His great uncle, Robert Lucas, was one of the four governors Jefferson County furnished to the State of Ohio. His mother was Virginia Bedinger, a daughter of Captain Daniel Bedinger, a Revolutionary soldier. After attending several private academies, Daniel Lucas entered the University of Virginia for the 1851-1852 session. While a student there, he excelled in oratory and was the valedictorian of the Jefferson Society of the University in 1856. Upon his graduation from this institution he entered the law school of Judge John W. Brockenbrough at Lexington, Virginia. Completng the law course there, he began to practice at Charles Town in the spring of 1859. As he moved the next year to Richmond, he was in that city when the Civil War began. Joining the staff of General Henry A. Wise in June, 1861, Lucas served with him in the Kanawha Valley campaign until October of that year. He left Richmond in January, 1865, for Canada to assist in the defense of his friend, John Yates Beall, charged with being a guerrilla and a Confederate spy. He was not permitted to defend Beall, however, before the military authorities. Lucas remained in Canada for the next few months and then returned to Jefferson County. He was barred from practicing law until 1870 because of the test oath required by West Virginia of attorneys after the war. When he was allowed to practice, he formed a partnership with Thomas C. Green, a later judge of the State Supreme Court of Appeals. In the Presidential elections of 1872 and 1876 he was Democratic elector for his Congressional district. In 1884 he was elector-at-large on the Cleveland ticket. Although unanimously chosen a professor of law at West Virginia University in 1876, he declined the honor. He did serve for eight years on the school's Board of Regents, however. In 1884 the University awarded him the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws. Lucas was elected to the West Virginia Legislature in 1884 and was re-elected two years later. When the Legislature was unable to decide on a United States Senator in 1887, Governor E. Willis Wilson on March 5 appointed Lucas. However, the state's lawmakers met in special session the next month and elected Charles James Faulkner. When the United States Senate was called upon to determine which one was to represent the state, it decided in favor of Faulkner. Upon the death of his former law partner, Judge Thomas C. Green, in 1889, Lucas was appointed to succeed him on the State Supreme Court of Appeals. He was re-elected by a handsome majority in 1890 and served on this tribunal until 1902. In addition to being- a lawyer of outstanding ability, Judge Lucas was also an able writer. In 1865 he published the memoirs of his friend, John Yates Beall, which included Beall's life and diary. Most of his other writings were poems. He was known as the Poet of the Shenandoah Valley. In 1865 he published The Land Where We Were Dreaming, in 1869 The Wreath of Eglantine and Other Poems, in 1879 The Maid of Northumberland, and in 1884 Ballads and Madrigals. His daughter, Virginia, was also a writer of ability. Judge Lucas was married in 1869 to Lena Tucker Brooke, a great niece of John Randolph of Roanoke. He died at his home "Rion Hall", near Halltown.
Biography by Millard K. Bushong A.M., Ph.D. courtesy of stars&bars,
One of Jefferson County's ablest lawyers, was born near Halltown and was descended from a number of prominent statesmen. His father, William Lucas, and his uncles. Edward Lucas and Henry Bedinger, at various times represented the Lower Valley in Congress. His great uncle, Robert Lucas, was one of the four governors Jefferson County furnished to the State of Ohio. His mother was Virginia Bedinger, a daughter of Captain Daniel Bedinger, a Revolutionary soldier. After attending several private academies, Daniel Lucas entered the University of Virginia for the 1851-1852 session. While a student there, he excelled in oratory and was the valedictorian of the Jefferson Society of the University in 1856. Upon his graduation from this institution he entered the law school of Judge John W. Brockenbrough at Lexington, Virginia. Completng the law course there, he began to practice at Charles Town in the spring of 1859. As he moved the next year to Richmond, he was in that city when the Civil War began. Joining the staff of General Henry A. Wise in June, 1861, Lucas served with him in the Kanawha Valley campaign until October of that year. He left Richmond in January, 1865, for Canada to assist in the defense of his friend, John Yates Beall, charged with being a guerrilla and a Confederate spy. He was not permitted to defend Beall, however, before the military authorities. Lucas remained in Canada for the next few months and then returned to Jefferson County. He was barred from practicing law until 1870 because of the test oath required by West Virginia of attorneys after the war. When he was allowed to practice, he formed a partnership with Thomas C. Green, a later judge of the State Supreme Court of Appeals. In the Presidential elections of 1872 and 1876 he was Democratic elector for his Congressional district. In 1884 he was elector-at-large on the Cleveland ticket. Although unanimously chosen a professor of law at West Virginia University in 1876, he declined the honor. He did serve for eight years on the school's Board of Regents, however. In 1884 the University awarded him the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws. Lucas was elected to the West Virginia Legislature in 1884 and was re-elected two years later. When the Legislature was unable to decide on a United States Senator in 1887, Governor E. Willis Wilson on March 5 appointed Lucas. However, the state's lawmakers met in special session the next month and elected Charles James Faulkner. When the United States Senate was called upon to determine which one was to represent the state, it decided in favor of Faulkner. Upon the death of his former law partner, Judge Thomas C. Green, in 1889, Lucas was appointed to succeed him on the State Supreme Court of Appeals. He was re-elected by a handsome majority in 1890 and served on this tribunal until 1902. In addition to being- a lawyer of outstanding ability, Judge Lucas was also an able writer. In 1865 he published the memoirs of his friend, John Yates Beall, which included Beall's life and diary. Most of his other writings were poems. He was known as the Poet of the Shenandoah Valley. In 1865 he published The Land Where We Were Dreaming, in 1869 The Wreath of Eglantine and Other Poems, in 1879 The Maid of Northumberland, and in 1884 Ballads and Madrigals. His daughter, Virginia, was also a writer of ability. Judge Lucas was married in 1869 to Lena Tucker Brooke, a great niece of John Randolph of Roanoke. He died at his home "Rion Hall", near Halltown.
Biography by Millard K. Bushong A.M., Ph.D. courtesy of stars&bars,
Statesman, Jurist, Poet.
One of Jefferson County's ablest lawyers, was born near Halltown and was descended from a number of prominent statesmen. His father, William Lucas, and his uncles. Edward Lucas and Henry Bedinger, at various times represented the Lower Valley in Congress. His great uncle, Robert Lucas, was one of the four governors Jefferson County furnished to the State of Ohio. His mother was Virginia Bedinger, a daughter of Captain Daniel Bedinger, a Revolutionary soldier. After attending several private academies, Daniel Lucas entered the University of Virginia for the 1851-1852 session. While a student there, he excelled in oratory and was the valedictorian of the Jefferson Society of the University in 1856. Upon his graduation from this institution he entered the law school of Judge John W. Brockenbrough at Lexington, Virginia. Completng the law course there, he began to practice at Charles Town in the spring of 1859. As he moved the next year to Richmond, he was in that city when the Civil War began. Joining the staff of General Henry A. Wise in June, 1861, Lucas served with him in the Kanawha Valley campaign until October of that year. He left Richmond in January, 1865, for Canada to assist in the defense of his friend, John Yates Beall, charged with being a guerrilla and a Confederate spy. He was not permitted to defend Beall, however, before the military authorities. Lucas remained in Canada for the next few months and then returned to Jefferson County. He was barred from practicing law until 1870 because of the test oath required by West Virginia of attorneys after the war. When he was allowed to practice, he formed a partnership with Thomas C. Green, a later judge of the State Supreme Court of Appeals. In the Presidential elections of 1872 and 1876 he was Democratic elector for his Congressional district. In 1884 he was elector-at-large on the Cleveland ticket. Although unanimously chosen a professor of law at West Virginia University in 1876, he declined the honor. He did serve for eight years on the school's Board of Regents, however. In 1884 the University awarded him the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws. Lucas was elected to the West Virginia Legislature in 1884 and was re-elected two years later. When the Legislature was unable to decide on a United States Senator in 1887, Governor E. Willis Wilson on March 5 appointed Lucas. However, the state's lawmakers met in special session the next month and elected Charles James Faulkner. When the United States Senate was called upon to determine which one was to represent the state, it decided in favor of Faulkner. Upon the death of his former law partner, Judge Thomas C. Green, in 1889, Lucas was appointed to succeed him on the State Supreme Court of Appeals. He was re-elected by a handsome majority in 1890 and served on this tribunal until 1902. In addition to being- a lawyer of outstanding ability, Judge Lucas was also an able writer. In 1865 he published the memoirs of his friend, John Yates Beall, which included Beall's life and diary. Most of his other writings were poems. He was known as the Poet of the Shenandoah Valley. In 1865 he published The Land Where We Were Dreaming, in 1869 The Wreath of Eglantine and Other Poems, in 1879 The Maid of Northumberland, and in 1884 Ballads and Madrigals. His daughter, Virginia, was also a writer of ability. Judge Lucas was married in 1869 to Lena Tucker Brooke, a great niece of John Randolph of Roanoke. He died at his home "Rion Hall", near Halltown.
Biography by Millard K. Bushong A.M., Ph.D. courtesy of stars&bars,
One of Jefferson County's ablest lawyers, was born near Halltown and was descended from a number of prominent statesmen. His father, William Lucas, and his uncles. Edward Lucas and Henry Bedinger, at various times represented the Lower Valley in Congress. His great uncle, Robert Lucas, was one of the four governors Jefferson County furnished to the State of Ohio. His mother was Virginia Bedinger, a daughter of Captain Daniel Bedinger, a Revolutionary soldier. After attending several private academies, Daniel Lucas entered the University of Virginia for the 1851-1852 session. While a student there, he excelled in oratory and was the valedictorian of the Jefferson Society of the University in 1856. Upon his graduation from this institution he entered the law school of Judge John W. Brockenbrough at Lexington, Virginia. Completng the law course there, he began to practice at Charles Town in the spring of 1859. As he moved the next year to Richmond, he was in that city when the Civil War began. Joining the staff of General Henry A. Wise in June, 1861, Lucas served with him in the Kanawha Valley campaign until October of that year. He left Richmond in January, 1865, for Canada to assist in the defense of his friend, John Yates Beall, charged with being a guerrilla and a Confederate spy. He was not permitted to defend Beall, however, before the military authorities. Lucas remained in Canada for the next few months and then returned to Jefferson County. He was barred from practicing law until 1870 because of the test oath required by West Virginia of attorneys after the war. When he was allowed to practice, he formed a partnership with Thomas C. Green, a later judge of the State Supreme Court of Appeals. In the Presidential elections of 1872 and 1876 he was Democratic elector for his Congressional district. In 1884 he was elector-at-large on the Cleveland ticket. Although unanimously chosen a professor of law at West Virginia University in 1876, he declined the honor. He did serve for eight years on the school's Board of Regents, however. In 1884 the University awarded him the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws. Lucas was elected to the West Virginia Legislature in 1884 and was re-elected two years later. When the Legislature was unable to decide on a United States Senator in 1887, Governor E. Willis Wilson on March 5 appointed Lucas. However, the state's lawmakers met in special session the next month and elected Charles James Faulkner. When the United States Senate was called upon to determine which one was to represent the state, it decided in favor of Faulkner. Upon the death of his former law partner, Judge Thomas C. Green, in 1889, Lucas was appointed to succeed him on the State Supreme Court of Appeals. He was re-elected by a handsome majority in 1890 and served on this tribunal until 1902. In addition to being- a lawyer of outstanding ability, Judge Lucas was also an able writer. In 1865 he published the memoirs of his friend, John Yates Beall, which included Beall's life and diary. Most of his other writings were poems. He was known as the Poet of the Shenandoah Valley. In 1865 he published The Land Where We Were Dreaming, in 1869 The Wreath of Eglantine and Other Poems, in 1879 The Maid of Northumberland, and in 1884 Ballads and Madrigals. His daughter, Virginia, was also a writer of ability. Judge Lucas was married in 1869 to Lena Tucker Brooke, a great niece of John Randolph of Roanoke. He died at his home "Rion Hall", near Halltown.
Biography by Millard K. Bushong A.M., Ph.D. courtesy of stars&bars,
Inscription
Under his wings thou shalt trust
