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Home > California > Stone Carvers... > Menu > Cemetery Stone & Monument Carvers...Alphabetical List > Luce > Israel Luce Research Notes
The following research notes were made by Leeanna Rossi, author of “Headstones of The Gold Rush Era: Sculpting Masterpieces in Marble,” available through the Old Sacramento City Cemetery. (I have only modified them by completing abbreviated words.) These notes were generously contributed by Leeanna so others could benefit from all of her research. Visit “Citation List of Leeanna Rossi’s Research Notes,” to look up the corresponding numbers inside the parentheses listed in this document.
Place of birth: Newfield (45) NY - (1)
Date of birth: 24
Date of death: 10/11/1898 - (21)
Pre-California:
Born in village of Newfield, near Ithaca, Tompkins County, New York - (45)
In colonial days, 3 brothers emigrated to United States, one settling in New Jersey, one in Massachusetts, other in Kentucky - (45)
Age 9 family moved to Elmira, New York - (45)
Age 20, went to West Troy, New York, to learn marble cutting - (45)
Learned monument work in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, employed at Woonsocket, Rhode Island, and had a marble business for 3 years - (45)
Returned to Pittsfield and went into partnership with Charles Rule - (45)
One of the oldest I.O.O.F. in state, initiated into the order at Berkshire Lodge, #57, Massachusetts in May 1848 - (45)
Went to Worchester, Massachusetts, and started for California January 29, 1849, sailing on the John Castner from the mouth of the Rio Grande - (45)
Arrived in San Francisco on May 25, 1849 - (45)
Came through Sacramento on his way to the Coloma mining area - (45)
Helped build Sutter lumber mill at Coloma in El Dorado County - (70)
Associated with John A. Sutter in the establishment of Sutter’s Fort - (70)
9/1849-3/1850 - Returned to Sacramento to clerk in a store, then up the American River and built the Nine-Mile House, (in partnership with Charles Malby) - (48, 46) - (45)
Returned to Sacramento, mined at Cape Horn beyond Colfax in 1851 - (45)
The first marble brought to Sacramento was a lot shipped from Boston, Massachusetts, in 1849. It was finished ready for lettering and consisted of head and foot stones of Italian and Vermont varieties. On her voyage to California the ship was wrecked off the coast of Chile, the marble was recovered and reached San Francisco where it was purchased by Charles Minturn and sold to Luce on or about 12/1/1850. The marble, weighing 12 tons, was transported to Sacramento on the first trip on the ferry boat “Beta,” belonging to Myrick & Moag, in February 1851.- (46) 7 J/k - (45)
EMPLOYMENT:
1848 - Married Mary Adeline Nichols of Massachusetts - (45); 4 children: Mary R. Luce, John Coachman Luce, George M. (W) Luce, Willie Luce - (1, 13)
1/1851 - Luce and Loveland ’s Marble Works, 7 J/K - (48, 117)
1851 - Marble workman, 7 J/K - (128)
1/16/1851 - Advertisement “LUCE AND LOVELAND'S MARBLE WORKS, on Seventh, between J and K. HAVING received a fine lot of marble, and having had long practical experience in that branch of business, are prepared to execute all orders left with them, with neatness and dispatch.” - (117)
09/1852 - Luce & Aitken - (29)
1853-1854 - Indian Diggings Marble quarries discovered by Luce - (178)
11/1854 - Aitken & Co. - (29)
1854-1855 - Stone cutter, Aitken & Co.; residence L/7 - (27)
1855-1858 - Residence Luce Hotel L/7 - (28, 30)
1856-1857 - Installed Hydraulic mining at Indian Diggings - (178)
1857-1860 - Began taking marble out of Indian Diggings - (178)
1860 - Marble cutter - (1)
5/11/1860 - “LOCAL NEWS. THE MONUMENTS.” Assemblyman Bell’s monument. - (111)
1860 - Aitken & Co. Premium Pioneer Marble Works, 207 J - (92, 18)
1860 - I.O.O.F. officer (Vice Grand) Eureka Lodge #4, established 1/7/1852 with 85 members (worked with P. J. Devine, treasurer) - (18, 92)
1861 - First wife Mary Adeline Nichols (Luce) died - (45)
1861 - Installed steam mill with 3 gangs of saws at Indian Diggings - (178)
1861-1862 - Aitken & Co. Marble Works, 103 K; residence 86 10th - (31, 85)
*Between 1862-1866 - Marries Second wife Eliza Paterson of Wisconsin - (2, 26); 3 children: Edward Sargent Luce, Fanny L. Luce, Charles S. Luce - (2, 3, 26)
1863-1865 - Aitken & Co., also Superintendent of Cemetery - (86)
12/24/1863 - “SHADE TREES WANTED. Israel Luce, Superintendent of the City Cemetery, is desirous of beautifying the grounds under his charge by planting trees wherever they are needed. As there is no fund which can be appropriated to that object, he desires to have it understood that he will receive and plant all trees which are donated for that purpose. As many are interested in the improvement of the cemetery there should be liberal contributions of trees and shrubbery offered for its improvement.” - (114)
1/2/1866 - Letter to State Agricultural Society re. marble quarries in California - (178)
Sacramento, January 2d, 1866.
Mr. I. N. Hoag, Secretary of the State Agricultural Society:
Sir: – In compliance with your request, I give you some information in regard to our marble quarries. The quarries from which we procure the marble known as “Indian Diggings marble,” are located in El Dorado County, about three miles from the line that divides El Dorado from Amador County, twenty-five miles east of south from Placerville, thirty-two miles east of Latrobe, and sixty-two miles from Sacramento City. A branch of the new Amador road from Virginia City, Silver Mountain, etc., leads within one half mile of the quarries.
These quarries were first seen by me in the winter of eighteen hundred and fifty-three and four; at that time there was nothing to attract attention to them except the quality of the marble, which was as fine as the best Italian.
In the winter of eighteen hundred and fifty-six and seven, the solid ledges were uncovered by hydraulic mining, from which we have been taking marble since the summer following, from eighteen hundred and fifty-seven to eighteen hundred and sixty-one. We quarried only for monumental work. In eighteen hundred and sixty-one we erected a steam mill, with three gangs of saws, by which we have been able to supply the increasing demand for this material.
The marble is more easily worked, more free from iron, flint, or other outside matter, and as it is as susceptible of as high a polish as the best Italian, there is no reason why it should not, in a few years, supersede the use of imported marble altogether. For general purposes, there is no marble in the United States that can compete with it; and, as you are well aware, we have exhibited it at all the State fairs since eighteen hundred and fifty-eight, in competition with foreign or domestic production. And we have the proud satisfaction of knowing that California has carried off the palm in marble, as she has in everything else in which she has come in competition with other parts of the world.
In view of the above facts, it seems that this part of the production of the State has been almost entirely overlooked, and has not received the fostering care and encouragement from your society or the State Government that its importance demands. Knowing the deep interest that you take in developing all the resources of the State, I have placed the above at your disposal, hoping that it may assist you in your good work.
I remain, respectfully, Your obedient servant, ISRAEL LUCE.
1866 - Aitken & Co. - (87)
7/1867-4/1870 - Superintendent of Cemetery - city minutes
1867 - State Fair paid $10.00 as expenses to Luce - (179)
1868 - Aitken & Co. - (88)
6/30/1868 - Advertisement “REMOVAL. AITKEN & CO. Have moved their Marble Works to 177 K Street, bet. Sixth and Seventh, (Second door west of the Golden Eagle Hotel.) OWING TO THE FACT THAT they own the Quarry, Quarry, Saw and Finish their own Marble, they can and will do Better Work, for the Same Money, than can be had in the State. We offer Mantles lower than ever. N.B.- The Office of Israel Luce, Superintendent of the City Cemetery, is removed to the same place.” - (112)
1869 - Aitken & Co., residence 7 N/O - (89, 32)
1870 - Aitken & Luce Premium Pioneer Marble Works, 177 K - (90)
1870 - State Fair displayed sculpture “spreadwing dove,” monuments: pile rocks with lamb, 5 monuments, 4 sculptures, 1 marble table; best sculpture, 2nd sculpture; “Statement of Aitken & Luce” for gold medal - (182)
4/1871-4/1872 - Superintendent of Cemetery - city minutes
1871 - Advertisement “Aitken & Luce Premium Pioneer Marble Works, 177 K St, bet 6th and 7th, Sacramento. Monuments, Tomb and Grave Stones, Mantles, Table Tops, Wash Stands, etc. All kinds of work done in Indian Diggings, Italian and Vermont Marble, Marble at wholesale and retail.” - (91)
1871 - AITKEN & LUCE Marble Works, 177 K 6/7 “These marble works were established February 1, 1851, by Israel Luce, and changed to Luce & Loveland same year, Luce & Huey 1852, Aitken & Luce September 1853, and has continued under this firm name to the present date.” - (91)
1872 - Aitken & Co., Premium Marble Works, AKA Aitken & Luce, 177 K - (93)
8/8/1872 - Erection of Monument $1000.00 (Gov. John Bigler); 12/4/1872 Erection of Monument $14.00 - (161, 172)
8/29/1872 - Notice of Bid: marble tiling - (217); proposal by A & L - (218)
9/5/1872 - Notice of Bid: marble tiling - (217); surety for Edwin Glover by Luce - (219); Glover got contract and paid $7,920 - (237)
1872 - Prospected on the McLeod River - (45)
11/25/1872 - Aitken & Luce Premium Pioneer Marble Works, 177 K 6/7, work done in Indian Diggings, Italian and Vermont marble - (66); Receipt for $14.00 from State Capitol project for fire bricks and grate baskets - (66)
4/14/1873 - Aitken & Luce Premium Pioneer Marble Works 177 K 6/7 (with Boyne, & John C. Luce) - (20)
1873 - Advertisement “Aitken & Luce Premium Pioneer Marble Works, 177 K St, bet 6th and 7th, Sacramento. Monuments, Tomb and Grave Stones, Mantles, Table Tops, Wash Stands, etc. All kinds of work done in Indian Diggings, Italian and Vermont Marble, Marble at wholesale and retail.” - (94)
12/4/1873 - Construction at the State Capitol $30.13 (12/4/1872 worked - (173); 3/3/1874 Construction at the State Capitol $8.00 (3/3/1874 worked - (173) - (162)
1873 - State Fair displayed California marble, 3 mantles, 1 monument, 4 California marble monuments, 5 plaster statuettes, 2 plaster busts, collection of marble works, exhibit of plaster statuettes, lamb monument, 1 California marble tablet, 1 Vermont tablet, 2 Italian vases; won best display of California marble, best collection of marble works, best exhibit statuary and busts in plaster; WON GOLD MEDAL; “STATEMENT OF AITKEN & LUCE” on gold medal; premiums (A & L) $115.00 - (185)
5/5/1874 - “IMPOSING MONUMENT” of John Arnold - (115)
7/8/1874 - Construction at the State Armory $14.04 - (163, 174)
1874 - Advertisement “Aitken & Luce Premium Pioneer Marble Works, The Society’s Gold medal awarded by the State Agricultural Society of California for 1873 (and 1874), for most Meritorious Exhibition. 177 K St., bet 6th and 7th, Sacramento. Monuments, Tomb and Grave Stones, Mantles, Table Tops, Wash Stands, etc. All kinds of work done in Indian Diggings, Italian and Vermont Marble, Marble at wholesale and retail.” - (95, 33)
1874 - Aitken & Luce, 177 K, quarry located Indian Diggings, El Dorado Co. (with Boyne, John C. Luce), residence L 9/10 - (33, 34); end 1/1878 - (46)
1874 - State Fair displayed sculptures of lambs, doves and rose wreath, female bust, statues; won best display in California marble, best exhibit sculptures, best exhibit plaster statuary and busts, best collection of marble works; WON GOLD MEDAL; “STATEMENT OF AITKEN & LUCE” for gold medal; premiums (A & L) $145.00 - (186)
1875 - Advertisement: Aitken & Luce Premium Pioneer Marble Works (see 1874 advertisement) - (96)
1875 - Aitken & Luce Premium Pioneer Marble Works, 177 K, dwelling 207 M; John Coachman Luce, marble cutter; (Wm. G. Luce, marble cutter; Geo. W. Luce, marble cutter - probably son George W. Luce) all same dwelling - (96)
1876 - “OUR INDUSTRY - MARBLE WORKS. The most extensive works in this line are those of Messrs. Aitken & Luce, on K street, between Sixth and Seventh. They employ about twenty-five hands at the shops in the city and at their quarries. They make tombstones, monuments, mantels, and all kinds of work in every variety of marble, but have a superior quality of California marble, which is taken from their own quarries at Indian Diggings, which has become very popular through out the coast. The marble is of the finest quality, and is susceptible of the highest polish.” - (125)
5/3/1876 - Construction at the State Printing Office $4.00 - (164)
1876 - State Fair displayed California marble, dressed stone, 6 monuments, 3 statues, 2 vases with pedestals, 1 Vermont scroll, 1 granite headstone, swinging dove; won best display California marble, best display dressed stone, best exhibit sculpture, best display California marble, best collection of marble work, best display dressed stone; premium (A & L) $150.00 - (187)
1877 - State Fair displayed California marble, statuary, marble works; won best display California marble; premium (A & L) $20.00 - (188)
1877 - Spent 6 months at Tehachapi - (45)
1878 - Aitken & Luce (with J. C. Luce as cutter) - (127)
4/18/1879 - Elected “C” or “Chap.” of California Lodge, no 1580, Knights of Honor - (46)
1879-1880 - Israel Luce & Co., 171 K; resident 207 M - (34)
1880 - Deals in California and Scotch granites, Italian, Vermont and California marbles. Employs 4 men; imported 40 tons of Vermont and 15 tons of Italian - (46)
1880 - Capital $8,000, 6 employees, 5 males over 16 years, average wage per day skilled: $2.50; unskilled: $2.00; number of hours worked per day May-November: 6; number of hours worked per day November-May: 6; total wages: $3,000; value of material $3,500, valuable of products: $8,000 - (48)
2/3/1880 - Printing Office $37.50; 1880 July 15, Enlargement to State Printing Office $89.12; 1881 Apr 06, perm. improvement to Capitol Grounds $48.00 - (152)
7/12/1881 - Perm. Improvement to the Capitol Grounds $8.25; 2/8/1882 perm. Improvement to the Capitol Grounds $6.00 - (153)
1882-1884 - Israel Luce & Co. Marble Works, 611 K (with J. C. Luce) - (129, 130, 19)
1884 - State Fair displayed Kinney’s patented tubular iron inclosure, statue of Hope, Italian cross, statuette of lamb, collection of marble; won statue of Hope, Italian cross, statuette of lamb, Kinney’s patented tubular iron inclosure; premium $35.00 - (195)
1884-1898 - Resident 711 M - (14, 19, 21, 35-37)
9/1885 - Located the Inyo marble quarries, 1890 remained superintendent of quarries - (45)
1885 - State Fair displayed 3 pieces of statuary, collection of marble; won collection of marble works; premium $30.00 - (196)
1885-1886 - I. Luce & Co. Marble Works, 611 K - (131)
1887 - State Fair (INYO MARBLE COMPANY OF CALIFORNIA - SACRAMENTO) displayed marble, marble work; won meritorious exhibit of California marble, best collection of marble; premium $30.00 - (198)
1888 - State Fair (INYO MARBLE COMPANY OF CALIFORNIA - San Francisco) displayed dressed stone, variety marble; won best display dressed stone, best variety of marble; premium $5.00 - (199)
1889-1890 - Quarryman - (35, 132)
1891-1892 - Marble dealer - (36)
1892-1893 - Quarryman - (133)
1894 - Wrote 3 poems published in paper - (68)
1896 - Employee with SOUTHERN PACIFIC Co. - (37, 137, 118)
1897 - No employment listed - (138)
1898 - Retired - (21)
10/11/1898- ISRAEL LUCE DIED IN SACRAMENTO-67; age 74 - (21)
Naturalization: Born in United States
Ages: 60/35 - (1), 67/41 - (6), 68/41 - (8), 70/45 - (2), 73/41 - (10), 79/49 - (11), 80/55 - (3), 82/57 - (12), 90/66 - (13), 92/58 - (14)
Vital Statistics: Height: 5 feet, 5 1/2 inches; complexion: light; eyes: blue; hair: gray - (14)
Other Information: Democrat until time of the late war and since a Republican - (45); heart disease, buried City Cemetery next to first wife #40 - (21), estate: S/T 10/11 st valued $1300, I/J 5/6 st valued $3500 - (26); brother-in-law to J.C. Stubbs, 3rd VP of SOUTHERN PACIFIC RAILROAD COMPANY - (67); value of personal estate in 1860: $800 - (1)
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