My Genealogy Hound

GEORGE LUTHER, an energetic citizen and a long-time resident of the State of Michigan, is now a successful general agriculturist and stock-raiser of Weesaw Township, Berrien County. A native of Germany, Mr. Luther has by self-reliant industry won his upward way in life, and, a man of sterling integrity, commands the esteem of the community in whose public work he shares, ever generously aiding in all matters of mutual welfare. The parents of our subject, George Adam and Anna Barbara (Ceiller) Luther, were also natives of the Fatherland, as had been numerous generations of their forefathers. The maternal grandfather, Mathias Ceiller, was an honest and hard-working man, faithful to his duties as a husband, father and citizen of the German Empire. The parents spent their entire lives in their native land and reared their children up to habits of thrifty industry. The humble home was blessed by the birth of four sons and three daughters, who attended the free schools of Germany and gained a common-school education in the practical branches of study. As the children grew up to mature years the sons assisted the father, while the daughters were trained in the ways of the household.

George, our subject and the eldest of the family, was born August 28, 1836, and had attained to manhood some years before he came to America. From his childhood he had looked upon the world beyond the sea as a land of promise, and realized the greater advantages enjoyed by the citizens of a republic. Delayed, however, by one circumstance and another, Mr. Luther had reached his twenty-eighth year before he embarked for the United States. He had in the mean time, as was the custom of the country, served in the Prussian army as a soldier, and after six years of service was discharged. It was only a brief time after this that he bade adieu to his family and friends, and, crossing the Atlantic, landed safely in 1864 in New York. From the great metropolis our subject soon found his way to Michigan and located in Niles, where he obtained immediate employment as a laborer upon the railroad. For twelve years he continued a resident of this part of Berrien County, and, as he prospered, invested in town property in Niles and made for himself a pleasant home.

In the meantime Mr. Luther, in 1864, was united in marriage with Miss Christina Urban, a native of Germany and a most estimable woman. Three manly sons have brightened the home and gladdened the hearts of the parents: Frederick, George C. and William August. Our subject and his good wife are worthy members of a church in Galien Township, and were connected with the parish of St. John, in Niles. They have brought up their family to the observance of religious duties, and, giving them an opportunity to acquire an education, have well fitted them for the battle of life.

In 1876 Mr. Luther decided to engage in farming and traded his town property for forty acres in the woods of Berrien County. In a brief time, however, the land presented a changed appearance, and with forty additional acres all cleared of the heavy timber, the eighty-acre homestead, brought up to a high state of productiveness and finely improved with excellent and commodious buildings, is one of the best pieces of farming property in this part of Berrien County, and is located four and a-half miles northwest of Galien. Mr. Luther is a member of the Farmers’ Mutual Fire Insurance Company, and politically is a Republican, casting his first Presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln. While never aspiring to political office, our subject is intelligently posted on all issues of the day, local and national, Bringing to his adopted country the sterling characteristics of enterprise, energy and thrifty industry, he is in every sense of the word a true American citizen.