Private Wilson Culbert (1893-1918)

In an earlier post, we saw the War Memorial Cenotaph in Exeter, Ontario, dedicated to the fallen heroes of Exeter and the townships of Usborne and Stephen. 

Exeter War Memorial. Photo by Mary Jane Culbert

One of the men commemorated is Elmer McFalls of Usborne Township, the great-grandson of John Culbert & Mary Ward.

While I was at the the memorial, I noticed a name I didn't recognize: Wilson Culbert.

Exeter War Memorial. Photo by Mary Jane Culbert.

Private Wilson Culbert is not to be confused with Wilson Wesley Culbert (1868-1949) from Biddulph Township who was John Culbert & Mary Ward's grandson. 

Private Wilson Culbert was born 7 October 1893 in Parkhill, Ontario. Throughout his life he also lived in nearby Centralia and Exeter. His parents were John Culbert (not our John Culbert) & Sarah Ann Ward. We'll have more about Wilson's lineage later in this post.)

Wilson Culbert had three younger siblings: Ethel May (Culbert) Laughton (born 1896), Gordon Carl Culbert (born 1900), and Clarence Orville Culbert (born 1902 in Centralia).

In 1916, Wilson Culbert and his brother, Gordon Culbert signed up to serve King and Country. Only one of them would return home.

Wilson Culbert's attestation papers signed 21 March 1916.

Regiment Number: 654626. Canadian Infantry (Western Ontario Regiment), Army, 47^th Battalion. The 47th Battalion originally recruited in British Columbia but later in the war, it was designated the 47th Western Ontario Battalion because there were more men from that area in the unit than any other part of the country (such as Private Wilson Culbert of Huron County, Ontario.)

The Centralia Patriotic League sent a sweater, shirts, and socks to the Culbert brothers while they were overseas.

Sweaters, shirts and socks for soldiers. Source: The Exeter Advocate, 22 February 1917, page 4.

You might recognize a name in that clipping above; that of Private Wilbert Luker (it says Wilbur rather than Wilbert.) Wilbert Luker enlisted in 1914 and went overseas, serving with the Royal Canadian Army Veterinary Corps (RCAVC) and becoming a corporal. In 1921, Wilbert Luker married Gladys Sarah Hodgins, the great-granddaughter of John Culbert & Mary Ward.

Wilbert Luker. Photo courtesy of Judy Luker Massey.

Private Wilson Culbert Killed in Action:

On 3 September 1918, Private Wilson Culbert’s unit was situated between Saudemont and the village of Récourt, near the small French village of Dury in France. He was digging himself in when an enemy shell exploded nearby, inflicting severe wounds in his side. Immediate attention was given but he died a few minutes later. He was one month short of his 25^th birthday.

Private Wilson Culbert. Regiment number: 654626. 47th Battalion. Killed in Action.

How is Wilson Culbert related to us?

Wilson's not a descendant of our John Culbert & Mary Ward. He's the son of a different Culbert & Ward couple: John Culbert & Sarah Ann Ward. Despite my attempts to trace Wilson Culbert's lineage, I still don't know how he's related to us so if anyone knows, please email me.

Who were Wilson's parents, John Culbert & Sarah Ann Ward? (The next few paragraphs will be of interest only to those doing family history research. Everyone else, please skip ahead to the bold text, past the map. Basically, it's me talking to myself, trying to figure out our family connection for future reference so don't copy the details as facts.)

Wilson’s father, John Culbert is somehow related to our John Culbert. Wilson’s father, John Culbert was born sometime between 1850 and 1855. John’s marriage document says he was born in London Township, Ontario to parents John & Rebecca Culbert. John’s mother’s maiden name may have been Rebecca Hodgins. (DNA testing confirms that we’re related to the James Culbert – Rebecca Hodgins family.)

John Culbert & Sarah Ann Ward were married in Exeter on 16 November 1892. Witnesses at the wedding were William Culbert of McGillivray Township and Mary Jane Ward (Sarah’s sister) of Crediton, Ontario. Sarah Ann Ward had been living in Crediton (near Centralia) at the time of her wedding.

Whether or not John's wife, Sarah Ann Ward (born c1871 in Stephen Township, Huron County, Ontario) is related to our Mary Ward (born c1812 in Ireland) is uncertain. On John & Sarah's marriage document, Sarah's father is listed as Benjamin Ward. I found Benjamin Ward's marriage document which lists his wife as Elizabeth Lightfoot whom he married in 1870 in Stephen Township. The document states that Benjamin Ward was born in Ireland about 1835 to Joseph Ward & Mary Mead. It's thought (but not proven) that our Mary Ward's father had the same name as Benjamin Ward's father: Joseph Ward. Could Mary Ward & Benjamin Ward have been siblings? If so, there was a large age difference between sister and brother but that's not unusual in our family. However, the fact that their father may have had the same name may just be coincidence.

John Culbert & Sarah Ann Ward lived in Parkhill (west of Lucan, Ontario) and later in Centralia (north of Lucan) in what was known at the time as Stephen Township, Huron County.

The 1921 Census shows the family at Lot 96, Concession 1 of Stephen Township. John died in 1926 and like our John Culbert, he's buried in St. James Cemetery, Clandeboye, north of Lucan.

Centralia is north of Lucan. It's not far from the Culbert homestead located between these points.

At this point, we don’t know exactly how Private Wilson Culbert and his family are related to us. Nonetheless, he deserves our recognition for serving our country.

Private Wilson Culbert is buried in the Dury Crucifix Cemetery, Pas de Calais France, and his name is inscribed on the War Memorial in Exeter, Ontario.

Dury Crucifix Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France

Sam and Dick: The Luker Brothers

SAMUEL ROBERT LUKER & RICHARD JAMES LUKER

Dick Luker (left) and Sam Luker (right) born 1 July 1932 in London, Ontario, Canada.

Dick Luker (left) & Sam Luker (right)

Written by Judy Luker Massey with input and permission from her father Samuel Luker and uncle Richard Luker.

Gladys Sarah Hodgins (1894-1984) married Wilbert Luker (1884-1953) when she was 27 and he was 37. She was one of Sarah Catherine Crawley (1857-1939) and husband Samuel Hill Hodgins’ (1846-1919) eleven children.

Gladys grew up on a farm in Lot 14, Concession 3, Biddulph Township near Lucan, Ontario, Canada. She attended Alma College in St. Thomas, Ontario before marrying. Wilbert grew up Lot 5, North Boundary, Biddulph Township and was with the Canadian Army Veterinary Corps during WW1.

After 10 years of marriage, Gladys and Wilbert had fraternal twin boys named after their grandfathers (Samuel Hodgins, and Richard Luker) and a great-grandfather (Robert Luker). Samuel Robert Luker and Richard James Luker still debate over which twin is the older.

Photo on left shows Sam (left) & Dick (right). Photo on right shows Dick (left), Sam (centre) and their mother, Gladys (Hodgins) Luker.

Twins, Sam Luker (left) & Dick Luker (right) with their father, Wilbert Luker.

Sam Luker (left) & Dick Luker (right)

Sam and Dick were, it is thought, the first set of twins in the gifted program that they attended at Empress Avenue Public School in London, Ontario.

Dick Luker (left) & Sam Luker (right)

They both skipped two grades and graduated from high school (London South Collegiate) at 15 years of age. They then went to London Normal School.

London Normal School, a teacher's college at 165 Elmwood Avenue East in London, Ontario. Photo by Adam Bishop.

After graduating, Sam & Dick taught all eight grades in 1 or 2 room schools very close to each other in Essex County (Sam at Elmstead PS) and Dick at Maidstone PS.)

Dick Luker

At Teacher’s College, Dick met and fell in love with Gertrude ANNE Taylor from Windsor. Anne and Dick married, made their home in Windsor, and had 2 children Leslie and Tim.

Anne Taylor & Dick Luker's wedding day.

After 2 years of teaching, Dick switched professions and became a banker in Detroit. He worked for First Federal Savings in Detroit where he became a Vice President. Sam is quoted as saying, “Dick made all the money but I had all the fun.”

Dick Luker

Dick was known far and wide for his interest and knowledge of Dixieland Jazz. He often would lend records to the Detroit radio station and wrote for several jazz magazines.

Anne & Dick Luker with their son Tim Luker (centre)

Anne & Dick's daughter, Leslie (Luker) Agnew & her son, Robbie.

Sam and Dick’s father died of a heart attack when they were 21 and left their mother Gladys a widow for 31 years.

After teaching a year in Windsor and a year at Lucan Public School (1953/1954), Sam went on to attend the University of Western Ontario (UWO). He majored in English and Philosophy, then Psychology. In his fourth year he was awarded the gold medal. He continued on in Psychology and obtained his Master’s Degree with the future goal of becoming a Clinical Psychologist.

While an undergraduate, Sam met a young nurse named Melva Moreen Murphy from Midland, Ontario and they soon married.

Melva Murphy & Sam Luker were married on 10 September 1955 in Midland, Ontario at St. Mark's Anglican Church (known today as St. Mark's Anglican Lutheran Church.)

St. Mark's is located the corner of Third and Easy Street.

Sam & Melva outside the church.

The happy couple: Melva & Sam.

After graduation, Sam and Melva moved to Port Arthur, Ontario (now Thunder Bay) where he was Chief Psychologist for the Board of Education.

Sam's graduation from UWO in 1958 with Honours BA. He was the gold medal winner. Pictured here with his mother, Gladys (Hodgins) Luker and his daughter, Judy.

Wanting to get closer to their families after 2 years in the North, Sam and Melva moved to Don Mills (now part of Toronto) where Sam was a School Psychologist with the York Board of Education. Sam and Melva then made their final move to Guelph, Ontario where they raised their two daughters, Judy and Jana.

Melva & Sam Luker with their daughter, Judy Luker Massey.

Melva & Sam's daughter, Jana Lee Luker.

In Guelph, Sam was Chief Psychologist for the Wellington County Board of Education. After eleven years with the Wellington Board, Sam moved to the University of Guelph, first as a Professor of Family Studies and then as Chairman of Part-Time and General Studies. He took early retirement from the University of Guelph in 1987 and worked in private practice for several years.

Sam & Melva

Sam and Melva have travelled extensively before and after Sam’s retirement and they aren’t finished yet. They have been to 87 counties on all 7 continents. Their latest trip was to their great nephew’s wedding on Vancouver Island. They currently live with their daughter Judy and son-in-law Dave in Muskoka in Central Ontario.

Sam & Melva enjoying life in Muskoka.

Sam has done testing with AncestryDNA, Family TreeDNA, LivingDNA, and 23&meDNA, and Dick with AncestryDNA and Family TreeDNA. They are also on GEDmatch: Sam-A880628 and Dick-A338719.

Both Sam and Dick are very proud of their Irish Heritage.🇨🇮

Dick & Sam's 10-day Arctic adventure!

Sam Luker (left) & Dick Luker (right)

SAM & DICK LUKER'S FAMILY TREE:
Ancestors:
John Culbert & Mary Ward (great-great-grandparents)
Susan Culbert & Philip Crawley (great-grandparents)
Sarah Catherine Crawley & Samuel Hill Hodgins (grandparents)
Gladys Sarah Hodgins & Wilbert Luker (parents)

Gladys Hodgins and Wilbert Luker

GLADYS HODGINS & WILBERT LUKER 
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. 

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. 

Gladys & Wilbert's wedding day

Marriage record of Gladys Hodgins & Wilbert Luker. The ceremony took place at Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Lucan, Ontario, Canada on 18 June 1921.

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.
 

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.

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.
 

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.
 

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