Milden Luther

LUTHER

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 3/10/2009 at 11:38:46

Milden Luther, who is one of the thrifty farmers and stock raisers of Boone county, owns and operates a farm of Sec 13, Douglas township, comprising 200 acres of well improved and most valuable land. It is also pleasantly located within three miles of Madrid. The owner is one of the honored pioneer settlers of the county, dating his residence here from 1849. He was born in Indiana, his birth having occurred in Clay county, on March 22, 1840. His father, Samuel Luther, was born in North Carolina in 1802, and came of German ancestry, the family having been established in Pennsylvania at an early day. Samuel Luther was reared in North Carolina and was married there to Dova Green, a lady of English lineage, also a native of North Carolina. After their marriage they removed form the old north state to Indiana, settling in Clay county, and were among its early residents. The father had a farm which he continued to cultivate and improve for a number of years, but in 1849 he sought a home in Iowa and took up his abode in Douglas township, Boone county, where he entered land from the government, becoming the owner of over a 1000 acres. This he broke, fenced and improved, and through cultivation he made it a very valuable farm, spending thereon his remaining days. He passed away at the advanced age of seventy years, his wife surviving him about four yeas. The subject of this review was the eighth in a family of nine children, four sons and five daughters, all of whom reached mature years.
Milden Luther was a lad of about nine years when he arrived in Iowa, and amid the wild scenes of frontier life in Boone county he spent the days of his youth, living upon the old home farm and assisting in the arduous task of developing fields hitherto uncultivated. He remained with his father, rendering him such assistance as was possible until he was almost twenty-two years of age. During that time he acquired a common school education and gained much practical knowledge of farm work in all its departments. In early life he also engaged in teaching, but during the greater part of his business career has carried on agricultural pursuits.
On March 6, 1862, in Boone county, Mr Luther was united in marriage to Miss Mary Hull, a daughter of Dr James Hull, one of the pioneer settlers of Boone county, whither he came from Indiana, Mrs Luther was born in Jefferson county, Iowa, and was reared in this county. After their marriage our subject and his wife began their domestic life upon the farm which is yet his home. He at once began to improve it and today has a tract of 200 acres, which is rich and arable an returns a splendid harvest for the care and labor bestowed upon it. In 1874, he built a good, substantial residence and has also erected large barns and the necessary outbuildings for the shelter of grain and stock. He has also splendid shade and fruit tress which ad to the value and attractive appearance of the place, and he is now the owner of one of the best improved farms in the township. The home, too, has been blessed with the presence of four children. The eldest, Lillie, is now the wife of W H Williams, a farmer of Douglas township. Ella married Dr H S Farr, Zylpha is the wife of George Hutton, a teacher of Madrid. Carried is the wife of H D Lucas, of Madrid, Mr and Mrs Luther also lost three children, two who died in early infancy and Libby M, who died in her second year.
In his political views Mr Luther was long a Democrat. He was reared in the faith of that party and gave to it his unfaltering allegiance through an extended period, but he has always been a strong temperance man and now believes that is one of the dominant issues before the people, so that in recent yeas he has given his support to the men and measures of the Prohibition party. He was elected and served as township trustee for a number of years and has also been a member of the school board and its secretary, but has given little time to seeking office, preferring to devote his attention to his business affairs. Both he and his wife are members of the Madrid Christian church, in which he is serving a trustee and also as one of the elders. He is likewise a master Mason, identified with Madrid Lodge, in which he has filled all of the chairs and is now a past master. He also represented his lodge in the grand lodge for four or five terms. For more than half a century he has been a resident of Boone county, the entire period of his manhood being here passed. He has never desired to leave this district, believing that it is a favored one, and he has bore his part in all measures tending to the substantial improvement and up building of the community. Widely and favorable known, his worth is acknowledged by a large circle of friends and acquaintances. He is a man of unfaltering integrity and unflagging diligence, two characteristics which contribute to the development of genuine worth.

1902 Boone County History Book