The
above named firm of funeral directors entered into business at Columbia
City in November, 1904, as successors to Maine & Whitney, Mr.
Luckenbill buying the former's interest. They occupy commodious
quarters in the Adair building and keep a full supply of everything
appropriate to this line of business. Rev. Lewis A. Luckenbill, the
junior member, was born in Miami county, Indiana, May 30, 1867. His
father was a native of the Keystone state and served nearly four years
during the civil war as a member of the Ninety-third Regiment
Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. Shortly after the close of
hostilities, he removed to Miami county and located at Denver. Lewis A.
spent his boyhood on the farm and when of age began teaching in the
common schools, which occupation he followed for eight years. When
thirty years old he came to Columbia City, to take charge of the Oak
Grove and Evergreen congregations of the Church of God. For two years
he served the Blue River circuit besides the two above mentioned. He is
now serving his second term as pastor of the home Church of God, in
connection with Oak Grove and Evergreen. They have prospered under his
care and have a fine membership. The local church is out of debt, was
recently re-decorated and now enjoys the luxury of electric lights and
other improvements. Mr. Luckenbill is quite active and influential in
connection with the general business features of his church
organization. What is known as the general eldership consists of about
one hundred and forty members elected as delegates from each of the
subordinate elderships and it meets every four years. The general
eldership elects an executive board of five members, which meets each
year for a week at the commencement of the college of the church, at
Findlay, Ohio. This board has charge of all business of the general
eldership and is of great importance in the affairs of this religious
organization. Mr. Luckenbill was twice elected as a delegate to the
general eldership and in June, 1905, was chosen as a member of the
executive board, and was made secretary by that body. He has also for
eight years been financial secretary of the eldership composed of
Indiana and part of Michigan. The executive board is in control of the
editorial staff of the church paper published at Harrisburg,
Pennsylvania, and in fact has supervision of all the church work. Mr.
Luckenbill is secretary and treasurer of the Inter-state Assembly of
the Church of God and it is hardly necessary to add that he is one of
the busiest men in Columbia City, as well as one of the most useful.
August 18, 1889, Mr. Luckenbill was
married to Miss Laura Alspach, of Miami county, and they have had five
children. Charles G., Ulysses S., Jennie Lind, Lewis A., who died when
two years old, and Argel Rudyard.
Charles G. Whitney, the senior member
of the firm, was born in Washington county, New York, July 28, 1861,
being a son
of E. G. Whitney, a teacher at the
Fort Edward Institute. He spent his boyhood on a farm in Franklin
county until his father's death, and then attended school at the
Franklin Academy. At the age of nineteen he began to teach and spent
four years in this occupation, two in New York and two in Vermont,
being subsequently engaged for twelve years as a contractor and
builder. In 1894, he entered into the undertaking business, preparing
himself with a course in embalming. He was for two years at
Noblesville, Indiana, and in 1902, came to Columbia City. He was in
partnership with J. M. Maine until 1904, when the retirement of the
latter brought about the firm of Whitney & Lukenbill. Mr. Whitney
was married in 1886 to Miss Grace H. Barnard, who died ten years later,
aged twenty- eight. By this union there were four daughters, Ethel E.,
a teacher, in Whitley county, Mary E., a pupil in high school, Grace
A., and Gladys. In December, 1896, Mr. Whitney married Miss Bertha A.
Hudson.