Source: Portrait & Biographical Album of Whiteside County, IL
Originally published 1885 Chapman Bros., Chicago, IL

Nicholas Lutyens, general farmer and stock-raiser, section 28 Tampico Township, was born in Luzerne Co., PA, Feb. 25, 1827. His father, Francis Lutyens, was a native of Germany, and a farmer, and died in Luzerne County in 1827, before Nicholas was born. The mother, nee Elizabeth Fowler, was a native of Pennsylvania, of German descent, and had a second husband. Under the guidance of mother and step-father young Nicholas was reared; and, earning his own livelihood a portion of the time independently, he remained under the parental roof-tree until he was 23 years of age. In 1836 the family moved to the West, and soon afterward settled in what is now Kendall County. It was while he was a resident of that conty, Sept. 6, 1853, that Mr. L. married Miss Ellen Rowe, who was born in New York State, Nov. 23, 1830, and came West with her parents when she was 20 years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Lutyens have had nine children, three of whom are deceased. The survivors are: Charles, who is married, and resides in Morrison; Libbie, now the wife of L.K. Brainaard; George, married and residing in the village of Tampico; William, who is now a widower; Ella and Levi, who ar unmarried, and remain at the parental home; the names of the deceased were Cora, Cliffe and Freddie. In 1854 Mr. Lutyens moved from Kendall Co., Ill., to Fairfield Township, Bureau Co., Ill., settling upon an improved farm, which he cultivated on shares for a season, and the next year he came and located upon an improved tract of land in Tampico Township. He first purchase was of 80 acres, and afterard he bought 80 acres more on section 27. This has ever since been his home; but he was four years in the army in defense of the Government. He enlisted Oct. 21, 1861, under the first call, in Co. B of the 56th Regt. Vol. Inf., under the command of W.F. Lynch, of the Army of the Tennessee, under Gens. Sherman and Grant. He was afterward transferred to the 57th and 58th, in the last of which he had all his military experience. He was at all the battles in which his regiment was engaged, as Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Corinth, etc., besides many skirmishes, the last engagement being at the battle of Nashville. At the battle of Corinth he was slightly wounded by a gunshot in the left shoulder. At the battle of Shiloh nearly all his regiment was captured, but he himself excaped. He first enlisted as private; but Oct. 12, 1863, he was commissioned First Orderly Sergeant, which appointment he held until the close of the war. He was honorably discharged Feb. 7, 1865, at Chicago. Since the war he has devoted his attention to his estate, which now comprises, besides the tracts mentioned, 160 acres of the homestead, and 40 acres on section 23, which is in meadow. In political principles, Mr. Lutyens is a strong Republican. He was the first Road Comminssioner of his township, holding the office 15 years, and he has served as Constable about two years. He and his wife ar members of the Baptist Church. Mr. Lutyens' position in the county is such as to justify the insertion of his portrait in this Album, in proximity to the above sketch.