Written by their granddaughter, Judy Luker Massey with input from their sons, Sam Luker & Dick Luker
Gladys Hodgins (1894-1984) was born and grew up on a farm (Lot 14, 3rd Concession) in Biddulph Township.
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| Gladys Sarah (Hodgins) Luker, born 1 October 1894 in Biddulph Township to parents, Sarah Catherine Crawley & Samuel Hill Hodgins. Granddaughter of Susan Culbert & Philip Crawley. Great-granddaughter of John Culbert & Mary Ward. |
After attending Alma College, she met and married (June 18, 1921) Wilbert Luker (1884-1953) a roofing salesman. He courted her in a horse and buggy.
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| Gladys & Wilbert's wedding day |
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| Marriage record of Gladys Hodgins & Wilbert Luker. The ceremony took place at Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Lucan, Ontario, Canada on 18 June 1921. |
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| Wedding announcement in the Exeter Advocate. 30 June 1921, page 5 |
They made their home in London, Ontario at 43 Becher Street. Their residence was a 3 story traditional home on the corner of the Ridgeway and Becher Street.
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| 43 Becher Street, London, Ontario. Home of Gladys & Wilbert. |
Wilbert became an agent for the Prudential Life Insurance Company. During the depression, he was one of the few who was able to make a decent living due to his low key approach and affable personality.
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| Wilbert Luker, born 15 October 1884 in Biddulph Township to parents, Richard Luker & Mary Brownlee |
After 11 years of marriage, Gladys gave birth to twin boys, Samuel and Richard. At the birthing as the first twin emerged, Gladys was reported to have said, “Thank goodness that is over.” The doctor replied, “You are not through yet, Gladys.”
Gladys did not know she was having twins. She always said that it was the hairy one, Sam who emerged first. Sam had a lot of dark hair, while Dick was very fair and had little hair. The birth certificate, however, has Dick as 11 minutes older than Sam.
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| Fraternal twins, Dick Luker (left) and Sam Luker (right). |
As the twins were growing up there was a series of live-in maids in the Luker household. The most memorable for Sam was Helen Hodgins, a farm girl and Gladys’ niece. Dick recalls more vividly their French maid from Quebec, who was working in London hoping to improve her English.
Gladys and Wilbert were very sociable, going to dances and entertaining family and friends in their large home in London. Dick reminisced, “There were generally several Lucan people visiting us every week. They loved to talk about the old times. People just loved Gladys and Wilbert. They had many, many friends.” Dick commented, “We would always hold Christmas and have a great gang of Lucan people over. After the afternoon session, we always went to Aunt Flossy’s or Aunt Pearl’s.”
Gladys and Wilbert purchased several other homes which were an additional source of income for the family. Gladys went to church each Sunday at St. James Westminster and was proud of her Irish heritage and Church of England religion.
The Luker Family paid frequent visits to the Hodgins’ family farm. They often stayed overnight and helped with small chores. The farm was 100 acres with crops and animals. Sam remembers hay being grown and seeing horses, cows, and chickens.
In winter, the Luker family would drive as far as Clandeboye and Gladys’ brother Bill Hodgins would meet them in a horse-drawn Cutter. Dick shared, “We had a wonderful time riding in the big horse- drawn sled. We would meet in Clandeboye or Mooresville. Uncle would give us buffalo robes to keep the chill away. Often there would be 3 feet of snow.” Bill would take the family by sled to the Hodgins’ farm as the roads would often be impassible by car. He and his wife Lila had taken over the family farm. A number of Gladys’ sisters also lived in the vicinity. Gladys’ brother Jim also had a farm just down the road.
Wilbert loved to go to the fall fairs with his brothers-in-law. He particularly enjoyed the harness racing and prize cattle and horses on display. He also took his boys up to northern Ontario fishing. Sam and Dick agree that their father did not particularly enjoy the fishing but he did it for them. Wilbert preferred to go to Grand Bend to the Bossenberry Hotel for 2 weeks or to visit Port Stanley. He enjoyed sitting on the veranda in his white shirt with his sleeves rolled up and feet on the railing. He would sit there reading the Globe and Mail and the London Free Press.
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| Wilbert Luker |
As the years went by, almost all of the 11 Hodgin’s children of Sarah Catherine Crawley and Samuel Hill Hodgins moved into London.
Wilbert retired early partly for health reasons, but only enjoyed his retirement for 2 years when he had a fatal heart attack. His boys were only 21 at the time.
In her later years, Gladys enjoyed TV shows like Jeopardy which allowed her to answer skill testing questions. She remained very bright and alert throughout her life. She was a widow for 31 years until her death in her 90th year in Guelph.
Written by: Judy Luker Massey (granddaughter of Wilbert & Gladys) with input from Sam and Dick Luker (the sons of Wilbert & Gladys.)
Contact:
Gladys' DNA information: Haplo DNA Group H1c1
Gladys and Wilbert are buried in Exeter Cemetery in Exeter, Ontario.
Gladys Sarah (Hodgins) Luker's Family Tree:
Ancestors:
John Culbert & Mary Ward (great-grandparents)
Susan Culbert & Philip Crawley (grandparents)
Sarah Catherine Crawley & Samuel Hill "Red Samuel" Hodgins (parents) Descendants: (Children)
Samuel Robert Luker
Richard James Luker
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