Kit

[Papers] 1861-1889.

Summary:

James H. Luther was a farmer and businessman in Crown Point, Lake County, Indiana from 1849 - 1893. Luther also worked as the Lake County Auditor from 1860 to 1868, while active in the Spiritualist movement. James Luther had three sons: John E. Luther, Amos Origen Luther, and Albert W. Luther. John fought as a private and lieutenant in the 20th Indiana Regiment during the Civil War, serving in Virginia from 1861 - 1864. Following the war, John Luther worked for McCormick Reaper Company in Galesburg, Illinois and Indianapolis from 1868 to 1879. Amos Origen Luther served as a corporal in the 20th Indiana Regiment during the Civil War with his brother John. After the war, Amos worked as agent and engineer for railroad companies in Kokomo, IN, St. Louis, MO, Cedar Rapids, IA, and in Colorado. Albert W. Luther served as a musician in the 20th Indiana Regiment, and with the 151st Indiana Regiment, serving in Tennessee. Following the war, Albert worked as a laborer in Chicago, IL, and as a printer in Lincoln, IL, Winchester, IL, Springfield, IL, St. Louis, MO, and Modesto, CA.

Record details

Physical Description: 1 manuscripts box

Content descriptions

Preferred Citation of Described Materials Note:	The collection is open for research use.
Terms Governing Use and Reproduction Note:	Permission to reproduce, exhibit, or publish material in this collection must be obtained from the Manuscript and Rare Books Division, Indiana State Library. Manuscript materials cannot be photocopied or digitized in their entirety. Photocopies and/or digital images cannot exceed 25% of a collection or a folder within a collection. In some cases, photocopying may not be permitted due to the condition of the item. Check with a Manuscript Librarian for other options.
Immediate Source of Acquisition Note:	George W. Frederich May 11, 1931.
Biographical or Historical Data:	The collection primarily contains Luther family correspondence, including Civil War letters from James three sons while in Virginia, Washington, D.C., and Tennessee. Also included are letters from James' children working in Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, Iowa, Minnesota, Colorado, and California, as well as letters written to James' wife while attempting to establish a business in San Francisco are (1869 - 1870). Additional correspondence includes letters from John E. Luther to his father while visiting family, including Abraham Smith, and letters from grandchildren in California and Colorado.