Born in Albany county, New York, March 31, 1840. Ten years later he came with his parents to Illinois. Until the outbreak of the war he attended and taught school alternately. He enlisted in company E, Fifteenth Illinois infantry, and upon the organization of the company he was chosen lieutenant. At Shiloh having been promoted to the captaincy, he was wounded twice and laid up for two months. Returning, he finished his term of service. At the close of the war he was elected sheriff of Jo Daviess county, Illinois, which position he held for two years. He then took up the study of law, and was admitted to the bar in 1867. Soon afterward he was made prosecuting attorney for his county for two terms. On retiring to private life he resumed his lucrative law practice. In 1881 he removed to Hampton. He was elected as a representative, and served in the twenty-second and twenty-third general assemblies. His record on the railroad question was such that his party thought he would make a good man on the commission. He was elected as railroad commissioner in 1890, and again in 1893. Mr. Luke was married on September 1866, to Sarah A. Yerington of Jo Daviess county, Illinois. He was a Mason, a member of Eastern Star Lodge, the Iowa National Guard, and the Methodist Church.

Born in Albany county, New York, March 31, 1840. Ten years later he came with his parents to Illinois. Until the outbreak of the war he attended and taught school alternately. He enlisted in company E, Fifteenth Illinois infantry, and upon the organization of the company he was chosen lieutenant. At Shiloh having been promoted to the captaincy, he was wounded twice and laid up for two months. Returning, he finished his term of service. At the close of the war he was elected sheriff of Jo Daviess county, Illinois, which position he held for two years. He then took up the study of law, and was admitted to the bar in 1867. Soon afterward he was made prosecuting attorney for his county for two terms. On retiring to private life he resumed his lucrative law practice. In 1881 he removed to Hampton. He was elected as a representative, and served in the twenty-second and twenty-third general assemblies. His record on the railroad question was such that his party thought he would make a good man on the commission. He was elected as railroad commissioner in 1890, and again in 1893. Mr. Luke was married on September 1866, to Sarah A. Yerington of Jo Daviess county, Illinois. He was a Mason, a member of Eastern Star Lodge, the Iowa National Guard, and the Methodist Church.