Luce, Abner

Submitted by Tamara Kincaide

ABNER LUCE platted the town of Newburgh in 1829, A native of KY he was one of the first merchants of the town. He was born in Muhlenberg County KY and traveled to Indiana with his parents DAVID and ELIZABETH CARTER LUCE in the year 1807. The family first settled in Luce Twp in Spencer County ABNER was part of a large family raised by DAVID LUCE.

ABNER married JANE ROGERS on MAR 2, 1818 in Spencer County, They began married life as landowners in the county and established themselves as early members of Bakers Creek Church. By 1823 he deciding that Warrick County offered a more convenient way to merchant his produce and other wares he bought land on Water St in Newburgh.

Upon becoming a citizen of Warrick he built a steam mill, which was the first in the county. He and wife JANE made their home on Jennings St for several years a home he built, He later conveyed the home to son MATHEW in 1845.That home still stands and was sold in 1851 to MRS. MINERVA PETTIT ALEXANDER. COLONEL DANIEL BATES later purchased the home in 1863.

ABNER LUCE served as postmaster from 1829 to 1849 carrying the mail in his pocket and earning a salary of $8.12 a year for his duties. During a trip by boat to deliver goods in Texas it was decided that he wanted to take his family down south and make Texas his next home. In 1848 he sold his business and other properties to JOHN LYNN. He reported the wonders of the state of Texas to many neighbors and friends who themselves decided to make the trip by wagon train in late 1848.

ABNER and his family headed to Sequin, Texas in October 1849 by way of flatboats loaded with cattle, goods and produce. It?s said that he left the banks of Newburgh with three fully loaded boats. He and Jane had a son MATHEW and daughter MINERVA who lived in Newburgh among other children.

His daughter did not go along with her parents to Texas having married she opted to stay behind and make her life in Warrick County with husband MR. HAZEN.