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

Geo. Luker insisted that he was the “seventh son in succession” in his family. ..We do not know the names of the four brothers who must have died in infancy. As further evidence that James B. Luker fathered four more sons by his first wife, a letter from a descendant of his third wife states that James B. Luker was the father of seventeen children.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.

From "The Lone Star State - A History of Texas, Supplemented with Biographies of Many Prominent Persons and Families of the State"
Published 1896 by Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago. p. 41 (414)

GEORGE W. LUKER, an examplary citizen of Comanche County who is successfully engaged in agricultural pursuits, was born in Alabama, on the 22nd of October, 1844, and is descended from one of the old families of that state. His grandfather, Joshua Luker, made his home in Alabama, was widely and favorably known and was a local Methodist minister, engaging in work of the church as well as in farming pursuits. He served in the Seminole Indian war and was a Democrat in politics, but never aspired to office. his entire life was spent in the state of his nativity. The parents of our subject, James and Elizabeth (Edwards) Luker, were also born, reared and married in Alabama, and there remained until called to the eternal home. The mother was a member of the Baptist church and died in 1851. The father survived her several years and passed away in 1862. His religious views accorded with the doctrines of the Methodist church, and his political support was given the Democracy, although he never cared for the honors of public office. The family numbered eight children, as follows: Mary became the wife of L. Ingram and both are now deceased, her husband having died while serving in the late war; Susan became the wife of James Buckler, later came to Texas and is now deceased; Joseph E. yet resides in Alabama; John W. is a prominent farmer of Comanche county; George W. is the next younger; Sarah M. became the wife of Joseph Graham and died in Alabama; Benjamin F. came to Texas in 1872 and died in Comanche county; and James B., who arrived in this state the same year (1872), is now a Methodist minister of Cherokee county, Texas, belonging to the east Texas Conference.

Our subject ws reared on his father's farm and received but limited school privileges. He was a young man of only seventeen, when in March, 1862, he enlisted in the Twenty-second Alabama Infantry and went to the front with the "boys in gray." He served in all the campaigns and battles of the Army of the Tennessee up to Atlanta, where he was captured and sent to Camp Chase, Ohio, where he remained for eight months. He was exchanged at Richmond, Virginia, and ws granted a thirty day furlough, during which time General Lee surrendered and the war was brought to a close. Mr. Luker then went to Meridian, Mississippi, where he took the oath of allegiance to the United States, and thus ended his military record. He was a true and brave soldier, loyal to the cause which he espoused, and served continuously until his capture.

Mr. Luker at once returned to his home, and purchasing an interest in the old homestead, he managed that place (Choctaw, Alabama) untill 1872, when he moved to Sumter county, that state, where he followed farming until 1876, and then he came to Comanche county, Texas. He was married in January, 1867, to Miss Frances E. Graham, who was born in Alabama, March 7, 1845, a daughter of Charles and Margaret Graham. Her parents were natives of South Carolina, and in that state were married. Her father was a prominent farmer and followed agricultural pursuits throughout his entire life. He died in Alabama, and his wife, who survived him several years, passed away in 1876. Both were faithful members and active workers in the Methodist church. In their family were eight children: Dempsey, Moses, Elizabeth, Napoleon, Frances, Amelia, Charles and James, who died in infancy.

Upon his marriage Mr. Luker began business on his own account and purchasing an interest in the old homestead, he operated that land until 1876, when he came to Comanche county, Texas. After raising one crop on rented land he pruchased his present farm, beconming 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 dweling, substantial outbuildings, two good tenament houses and a fine orchard. His home is pleasantly situated five miles southeast of Proctor, and he carries on general farming, and raises stock not only for the support of the farm but also some to sell, adding not a little to his income in this way.

The home of Mr. and Mrs. Luker has been blessed with eight children, and the family circle yet remins unbroken by the hand of death. In order of birth they are as follows: Benjamin F., a farmer; Margaret E., wife of F.A. Tucker, a farmer and Methodist local preacher; Ella, wife of James Robinson, a teacher and agriculturist; C.F., a farmer; and Annie, George W., Thomas and Katie, - all at home. The parents are members of the "Holiness church," and their children, all carefully reared, are members of the Methodist church. Mr. Luker gives his political support to the Democrachy. His upright life has won him the confidence and esteem of all, and over the record of his career there falls no shadow of wrong or suspicion of evil.





Father: James B. LUKER b: BET 1810 AND 1815 in Dallas County, Alabama 
Mother: Elizabeth EDWARDS b: 12 DEC 1806 in Alabama or S.C.

Marriage 1 Frances Emma GRAHAM b: 07 MAR 1845 in Sumter County, Alabama
• Married: 13 JAN 1867 in Sumter County, Alabama 1
Children
1. Benjamin Franklin LUKER b: 08 APR 1868 in Choctaw county, Alabama
2. Margaret Edna LUKER b: 07 JUL 1871 in Sumter County, Alabama
3. Charles Floyd LUKER b: 16 SEP 1873 in Sumter County, Alabama
4. Laura Ella LUKER b: 10 JAN 1875 in Sumter County, Alabama
5. Annie Belle LUKER b: 29 DEC 1877 in Proctor, Comanche County, Texas
6. George W. LUKER Jr. b: 18 AUG 1881 in Comanche County, Texas
7. John Thomas LUKER b: 12 JUN 1884 in Comanche County, Texas
8. Melissa Kathryn LUKER b: 12 JUN 1887 in Proctor, Comanche, Texas

Sources:
1. Title: Sumter County Marriage Book 3, Number 117