Owen Augustus Luckenbach was reared in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and pursued his education in the Moravian school. He entered upon his business career as a clerk in the employ of Jacob Rice, who conducted a general mercantile store, and afterward went to Philadelphia, where he was connected with the hardware business. While there, at the time of the Civil war, he enlisted with the three month's men, and after receiving his discharge on the expiration of that period re-enlisted in the regular service, in which he remained for nine months, until he was wounded at the battle of Cedar Mountain, this injury causing him to lose one limb, He was then retired from the army with the rank of captain. After the war Captain Luckenbach resided in Washington, D. C. occupying a position in the ordinance department until 1866, when he removed to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and engaged in the hardware business with his brother-in-law. J. Samuel Krause. He was actively and prominently connected with this enterprise, which proved a very profitable one, up to the time of his death. He was at one time United States collector of internal revenues. He served as postmaster of Bethlehem from 1881 until 1885, his commission being the last signed by President Garfield just before his assassination, and he was re-appointed by I President Harrison to the position. Socially he was connected with J. H. Taylor Post. No. 182, G.A.R. He was a man of great public spirit, and took an active interest in community affairs.