PAGES OF THE PAST: A LEGACY OF LUCAS 1887-1987 by Carol Blackwell & Carolyn Schultz.
When Carol Blackwell was asked to research the history of Lucas, Kansas, and produce a weekly article to be printed in the Lucas-Sylvan News for the year preceding the city’s Centennial Celebration in 1988, she had no idea what she was getting into.
“I first went to the Lucas-Sylvan News office and asked to view their old newspapers. Some of those were located in a room above the office. As I stood there staring at those book bound back issues I thought I had better back out of this situation. It really seemed like a hopeless cause . . . Then someone said they thought the Russell Library [in Russell, Kansas] had old Lucas newspapers on microfilm. I drove to Russell nearly every week . . . researching the film for Lucas history. The articles appeared from July 24, 1986 through July 9, 1987. The column “. . . from the pages of the past . . . 1887-1987” were stories I found interesting. Many are ‘Lucas Firsts’ . . . Other articles give an abbreviated or condensed look at some of the many facets of Lucas history. A small “hamlet” growing, surviving and thriving . . . If you find even one of these stories interesting, learned some of our history or awakened even one memory, then I am pleased. Our little city has passed the 120-year mark and still surviving and thriving. I am proud to say I was born and raised in Lucas.” – Carol Blackwell.
What started as a column has evolved into a historical compilation that will be of interest to young adults and older. An excellent research source for small town urban history and just interesting reading for anyone.
“’Dr. Jim,’ as he was better known, was born near Vermillian, Clay County, South Dakota, August 10 1868. At the age of five, he and his family moved to Leon, Iowa. They moved to Russell County in 1878.
From South Dakota to Nebraska he worked as a cow puncher, developing his love for horses as he tended and cared for them on cattle drives and round-ups. Dr. Jim became especially interested in treating horses with bad teeth and rocks in their hooves.
Josephine Blazier and Dr. Jim married June 21, 1894. Six children were born to this union . . . Together they hopefully, courageously and happily faced difficult days of those full of adventure pioneer years. They lived northeast of Lucas, moving into town after a few years . . . Numerous barns and outbuildings, located on their property, were used for animal care; while another was his small office/medicine shop. His records show the average charge for treatment was from $2.00 to $5.00.
He also skinned dead animals and sent the hides to a tannery in Dubuque, Iowa for tanning and processing. He would take the measurements and orders for coats, vests, etc. from the owner. Their beloved old horse would become a beautiful fur coat.
‘Dr. Jim’ had no formal veterinary schooling but received his license by apprenticeship under Dr. M.J. Hammond, Luray, and Dr. Ward, Sylvan Grove. This groups of Doctors were known for several new operations and procedures for treating horses.
For nearly forty years, Dr. Jim served this community as their veterinarian. Although horses were his main interest, he had a genuine love for all animals. “His heart was in his work.”
Dr. James Sherman Smith passed away at the Devine Hospital, Salina, on November 24, 1938, and is buried in the Lucas Cemetery.” – Excerpt from Pages of the Past: A Legacy of Lucas 1887-1987.