Choctaw Alabama Census - 1850
Appears as head of household on with Elizabeth, 36, wife; Mary A. 16; Joseph E., 8; John W., 9; Benj. F, 2; Geo. W., 5; Susan E., 14; Sarah M., 4. Occupation: Planter;
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LUKER, JAMES, 40, M, Planter, AL, # 158
Elizabeth, 36, F, S.C.
Mary A., 16, F, AL
Susan E., 16, F, AL
Joseph E., 11, M, AL
John W., 9, M, AL
Geo W., 5, M, AL
Sarah M., 4, F, AL
Benj F., 2, M, AL
Jas, 1/12, M, AL
Jas Luker born Ala; Elizabeth born SC36
According to 1850 Census, James B. Luker had the following children who lived to adulthood: Mary, Susan, John Wade, Joseph, George W., Benjamin Franklin, James B., Jr. and Sarah Melissa.

1870 US Census: Choctaw CO, AL, Township 13
George W., age 26, farmer
Frances, age 24
Benjamin, age 2
Alice, age 7

1880 US Census, Comanche CO, TX (June 18, 1880)
Luker, W. George M, 35, Farmer, Al, AL, SC
E. Frances, F, 28, wife, KH, AL, SC, SC
F. Benjamin, M, 12, son, Labor, AL, AL, AL
E. Margaret, F, 9, dau, AH, AL, AL, AL
F. Charles, M, 7, son, AH, AL, AL, AL
E. Laura, F, 5, dau, AH, AL, AL, AL
A. Sarah, F, 2, dau, AH, TX, AL, AL


1900 US Census, Comanche CO, TX
George W., 55 m 34 yr b. AL f.AL m. AL farmer
Francis E., wife 55 b. March 1845, m 34 yr. b. AL F SC 8 children/8 living
George, son Aug 1881 18 yr.
John T., Age 15
Malissa, dau Jan 1887 age 13

1910 US Census, Comanche CO, TX (Apr 15, 1910)
Dist 12, ED 11, Sheet 1A, 8J Pct, Page 275A
Luker, George W., Head, 65, m 43, AL, AL, SC
Luker, Frances E., wife, 65, m 43, SC, SC
Luker, Kate, dau., 23, TX, AL, AL

1920 US Census, Comanche CO, TX
C. F. Luker, age 47
Willie, age 48
Corene, age 21
GW, age 75, father, wd
Source Citation: Year: 1920;Census Place: Proctor, Comanche, Texas; Roll: T625_1789; Page: 10B; Enumeration District: 76; Image: 772.

1930 US Census, Comanche CO, TX
C Floyd Luker, age 58
Willie Mae, age 57
George W. Luker, father, age 84
Mack A., cousin, age 39, single

“Grandpa Luker was a small man, weighing about 150 pounds, He had blue eyes and fair complexion. So long as we can remember, he always had a “goatee” beard. He had an excellent sense of humor and enjoyed a good, clean joke.”146

George W. Luker and Frances Emma Graham

The Luker Family was in the Mississippi Territory by the late 1700’s. Joshua B. Luker, Sr., was a Methodist minister who traveled the countryside preaching the gospel, fighting Indians, farming and eventually ended up in Clarke CO, AL. One of Joshua’s sons by his first wiife, James B. Luker was born in Choctaw County, Alabama where his eight children were born. According to the 1850 Choctaw County, Alabama census, James B. and Elizabeth had the following children: Mary A. 16; Joseph E., 8; John W., 9; Benj. F, 2; Geo. W., 5; Susan E., 14; Sarah M. Five of those children migrated to Texas in the 1860’s and 1870’s: John W., George W., Benjamin Franklin, Susan, James B. All who moved to Texas, except James B., Jr., were living in Comanche County by 1875.

ALABAMA
George W. Luker, was born October 22, 1844 in Choctaw CO, Alabama. With the Civil War brewing, he enlisted in the Confederate Army in March 1862 at the age of 17. After serving in all the campaigns and battles of the Army of Tennessee up to Atlanta, he was captured and sent to Camp Chase, Ohio for eight months as a prisoner of war. George was exchanged at Richmond, VA , granted a thirty day furlough, during which time the South surrendered and the war was brought to a close. At Meridian, Mississippi, he took the oath of allegiance to the United States and ended his military service. George Luker married Frances Emma Graham January 10, 1867. Frances was born March 7, 1845 in Alabama. She was the daughter of Charles Pickett Graham and Margaret Edna Knighton.

GONE TO TEXAS:
The ravages of the Civil War left the South devastated, particularly the younger adults who had served in the Confederate Army. These young men were loathe to continue to live in an atmosphere of defeat with freed slaves in their midst. They had no plantations, nor had they lost any slaves. Texas offered a new beginning for those willing to make the long journey. Land was plentiful, virgin,cheap and fertiile. It offered fresh opportunities far removed from the ravages of war, disappointments and defeat.

So, the Lukers began preparations for their trek to Texas. Along with Capt. Wm. A. D. Ewing, they began the arduous journey to a new beginning in Comanche County, Texas. The group left Meridian Ms in December 1875. Eight wagons made up the caravan. “Three were pulled by oxen, three by horses and two by mules.” John Wade Luker was the Captain of the train. George W. Luker’s wagon pulled by oxen, carried his wife and four children: Benjamin Franklin, Margaret Edna, Charles Floyd and Laura Ella. The journey of a thousand miles took the group nearly three months. The George Luker family lived with brother, Benjamin Franklin Luker who had arrived in Comanche County before them.

In 1876, George W. Luker purchased 175 acres adjacent to land belonging to brother, John Luker. Over time he built three different houses for his family on the property.

Describing George Luker’s farming efforts, an itinerant journalist wrote of him “After raising one crop on rented land, he purchased his present farm, becoming owner of one hundred and seventy-five acres, to which he has since added until he now has two hundred and sixty-eight acres. He has made many excellent improvements upon the place, and although only twenty acres were broken when he came into possession of the place, he now has one hundred acres under cultivation and the well tilled fields indicate his careful supervision. He has a commodious frame dwelling, substantial outbuildings, two good tenement houses and a fine orchard. His home is pleasantly situated five miles southeast of Proctor, and he carriers on general farming and raises stock, not only for the support of the family but also some to sell, adding not a little to his income in this way.”

Later, George and Emma sold their place to son, Charlres Floyd and purchased a larger farm on Mercer Creek six miles south of Comanche. There he raised cattle and mules. Frances Emma died Sept 17, 1918. After her death George moved to Oklahoma and eventually back to Comanche County where he died January 29, 1937 at the age of 92.

Children of George W. Luker and France Emma Graham are: Benjamin Franklin (1868-1965); Margaret Edna (1871-1932); Charles Floyd (1873-1910); Laura Ella (1875-1982); Sarah Annabelle (1877-Dec); George Washington (1881-Dec); John Thomas (1884-1972); Melissa Kathryn (1887-1988)

George W. Luker, Frances Emma Luker are buried in the Luker Cemetery, Comanche County, Texas.

Sources:
1850 US Census, Choctaw Cc, AL
1870 US Census, Choctaw Cc, AL
1880 US Census, Comanche Co, TX
1900 US Census, Comanche Co, TX
1910 US Census, Comanche Co, TX
1920 US Census, Comanche Co,TX
1930 US Census, Comanche Co, TX

Bradley, Willo M. and Edith Lucille Robinson. Family Trails: Ancestral and Cotemporary, Stephenville Printing Co.

Luker, Julia. The Yeoman’s Daughter.