Joe Lacy Lancaster -- Building Contractor

 

Joe Lacy Lancaster, Sr.

Joe Lacy Lancaster was born on September 27, 1922 in Trigg County, Kentucky. He was the tenth of eleven children born to John Jefferson Lancaster and Albirtia “Bird” Sholar Lancaster.  John Jefferson was a native of Trigg County, Kentucky and worked as a farmer and a timberman. Albirtia was also a native of Trigg County and worked as a homemaker.  Both John and Albirtia were descendants of Jemima Bridges. 

Joe Lacy’s siblings were Myra Lou Lancaster, born in 1902 and lived for 13 days; an unnamed infant, born in 1904 and lived for 7 days; Herman Crenshaw Lancaster, born in 1905 and died at the age of 11; Thomas Durwood Lancaster, born in 1907 and married Sylvia Lorene Stallons; Johnny Claude Lancaster, born in 1911 and married Birdie Lois Francis; Wilton Henry Lancaster, born in 1912 and married Mildred Gustia Francis; Garnett Lee Lancaster, born in 1916 and married Destelle Alberta Green; Lula Pearl Lancaster, born in 1918 and married Robert Jesse Sholar; Beulah Frances Lancaster, born in 1920 and married Hershel Earl Gray; and Mary Bessie Lancaster, born in 1926 and married Clifton Meade Mize.

Joe Lacy grew up on a farm in the Oakland and Maggie communities of Trigg County and attended the local schools.  Joe Lacy was inducted into the U.S. Army on March 17, 1945.  As World War II ended soon after he was inducted, he did not serve overseas, but instead served stateside as a private at Camp Atterbury, Indiana.

After his military service, Joe Lacy returned home where he became a building contractor working primarily in Trigg and Christian counties.  He alone built over one hundred houses in Trigg County not including the many homes he remodeled, subcontracted, and worked on for others. Joe Lacy also worked with his four brothers, Durwood, Claude, Wilton and Garnett, as carpenters and building contractors.  These five brothers individually and collectively established the name Lancaster as the largest family of carpenters, cabinetmakers and building contractors in the area.  The hundreds of houses they built and the thousands of jobs they worked on are left as a legacy of their craftsmanship in the carpenter trade.

In addition to being a skillful carpenter, Joe Lacy worked as a farmer while living on the family farm in the Maggie community in south Trigg County.  In addition, he worked as a used car dealer.

On May 14, 1947, Joe Lacy married Martha Gertrude Ezell.  Gertrude was born on April 12, 1931 in Trigg County and was the daughter of Luther Herman and Dessie Lena Francis Ezell.  Both Luther and Dessie were natives of Trigg County.  Gertrude worked as a factory seamstress and as a homemaker. Her hobby was antique collecting.  Joe Lacy and Gertrude were the parents of two children, a daughter, Peggy Sue Lancaster, born in 1948 and married James Francis Smith; and a son, Joe Lacy Lancaster, Jr., born in 1960 who first married Susan Camille Davis and then married Jill R. Shorder Caldwell.  

Gertrude Lancaster died in Cadiz on April 4, 1968 at the age of 36.  She was buried in the East End Cemetery in Cadiz.

Joe Lacy married his second wife, Lucy Elizabeth Lancaster Parker on December 11, 1970.  Lucy was born on April 26, 1941 in Christian County, Kentucky and was the daughter of James Samuel “Sammie” and Louise Light Lancaster. Sammie and Louise were both natives of Trigg County.  Both Sammie and Louise were descendants of Starkie Thomas.  Lucy worked as a cook at the Trigg County Hospital, a seamstress at Elk Brand Manufacturing Company and as a successful salesperson for the Avon company. 

Lucy died on September 23, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee at the age of 78.  She was buried in the East End Cemetery.

Joe Lacy died on December 13, 2011 in Hopkinsville, Kentucky at the age of 89.  He was buried in the East End Cemetery next to his first wife, Martha Gertrude.

 

  Joe Lacy and Martha Gertrude's tombstone

 

Joe Lacy's military tombstone

 

Lucy Parker Lancaster

 

Lucy Lancaster's tombstone

LINEAGE: (Joe Lacy Lancaster, Sr. was the son of John Jefferson and Albirtia Sholar Lancaster and the grandson of Thomas Jefferson and Margaret Frances Lawrence Lancaster and Cornelius and Mary Adeline Bridges Sholar. Margaret was the daughter of Ezekiel M. and Polly Sholar Lawrence.  Polly was the second child of Allen Thomas and Jemima Bridges Sholar. Jemima was the first child of Drury and Charity Cohoon Bridges.  Cornelius Sholar was the son of William Bridges and Mary Hutt Sholar.  William was the fourth child of Allen Thomas and Jemima Bridges Sholar.  Jemima was the first child of Drury and Charity Cohoon Bridges.)