CPRR lawyer, John Henry Lucas, Elko, Nevada
From: "John Humbert" vieilours@volcano.net
Attached is a photograph of John Henry Lucas, who was a lawyer for the CPRR in Elko, NV during the 1860's - 1870's.
He was elected as a judge (magistrate) in Elko, later moved to Tombstone, Arizona. where he played a part in some famous history there. ...
He was my greatgrandfather. My grandmother was born in Elko.
—John Humbert
Attached is a photograph of John Henry Lucas, who was a lawyer for the CPRR in Elko, NV during the 1860's - 1870's.
He was elected as a judge (magistrate) in Elko, later moved to Tombstone, Arizona. where he played a part in some famous history there. ...
He was my greatgrandfather. My grandmother was born in Elko.
—John Humbert
JOHN HENRY LUCAS
posted from CPRR Discussion Group at 8:23 PM
3 Comments:
" ... Because of Allen's and Behan's testimony and the testimony of several other prosecution witnesses, Wyatt [Earp] and Holliday's lawyers were presented with a writ of habeas corpus from the probate court and appeared before Judge John Henry Lucas. After arguments were given, the judge ordered them to be put in jail. ... "
—The World of Wyatt Earp – The Tombstone Years
Don't have a clear understanding of the work that a railroad lawyer would perform in a small town in Nevada in the 19th century. Would be just guessing that land sales, litigation over damaged shipments, or contracts for supplies needed for operating the railroad might have been part of the work.
From: "John Humbert" vieilours@volcano.net
John Henry Lucas (kind of an appropriate name for a railroad guy) came west from Ohio with his parents in 1842 and lived in Santa Rosa, CA. May have followed his brother-in-law (Christopher Columbus Green, for whom Greenville, CA was named) to Virginia City, NV prior to working for the CPRR.
My understanding is that a large part of his duties involved the activities of other people working for the CPRR, defending them or making good behavioral mistakes as it were. My information came from Carrie Lucas, my great aunt (b. 1865 – d. 1968). He no doubt was involved in real estate transactions as well, judging by his personal involvement in such things.
My grandmother, Ada Lucas, was born in 1875 in Elko, d. 1946.
John Henry Lucas was a judge in Tombstone, AZ, and with an office on the second floor of the courthouse there had a good view of the famous gunfight at the O.K. Corral (1885). Then there are two conflicting stories about his own involvement. One that he had the Earp brothers locked up for their part in it, the other that he was the one who got them out of jail. I suspect that he probably was the one who turned them loose. Aunt Carrie didn't know, she and the rest of the family were living in Los Angeles at the time. By then, they had houses in at least 3 cities, so he was doing pretty well.
Aside from a lot of real estate speculation, John Henry was also the owner (with his brothers) of Lucas Brothers Lumber. They sold lumber in the Santa Monica, Los Angeles areas and elsewhere. Owned some of their own timberlands in a couple of States, imported a lot of lumber from the north coast.
Attached is a photo of him as an older man.
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