Calvin P. Luther Calvin P. Luther has the distinction of being postmaster of his native village of Guttenberg, a position to which he was appointed in February, 1916, and prior to assuming this incumbency he had made an excellent record of service in other public positions of responsibility. He was born at Guttenberg, Clayton county, on the 11th of April, 1865, and is a son of John and Julia (Goodrich) Luther, the former of whom was born and reared in Switzerland and the latter of whom was born in the state of New York. John Luther immigrated to the United States in 1848 and soon afterward came to Iowa and established his residence at Dubuque: Within a short time thereafter he came to Clayton county and became one of the pioneer settlers of the fine German colony formed at Guttenberg. Here he established a blacksmith shop, and as a skilled artisan he continued in the work of his trade for many years, a sturdy, upright and sagacious citizen who made for himself a place of prominence and influence in community affairs. He is now venerable in years and is living retired in the village that has long been his home and in the development and upbuilding of which he has aided in generous measure. He is a Democrat in his political faith and adherency, has served as a member of the board of supervisors, as a member of the village council and as mayor of Guttenberg. He is affiliated with the local lodge of the Ancient Free & Accepted Masons and he is still a vital and influential figure in the community life, with secure place in the confidence and good will of his fellow men. His cherished and devoted wife passed to the life eternal a number of years ago, and of their children the subject of this sketch, Calvin P., is the eldest; Mary is the wife of George Kreglow, of Foley, Minnesota; Ella is the wife of John Stoeffler, of Seattle, Washington; John E. is a resident of the city of Spokane, Washington; Bertha E. is the wife of William Wilson, of St. Louis, Missouri; William, the youngest of the children, likewise resides in St. Louis. After profiting fully by the advantages afforded in the public schools of Guttenberg, Calvin P. Luther entered upon a practical apprenticeship to the blacksmith trade, under the able and punctilious direction of his father, and he continued his active association with the operations of his father's shop for a period of about fifteen years. In the meanwhile he had so ordered his course as to retain the unequivocal confidence and good will of the people of his native place, and thus he was distinctly eligible when he was chosen the incumbent of the office of city marshal, in which position he continued his effective administration during the protracted period of ten years. Thereafter he served three years as deputy state game warden, and in February, 1916, there came to him still higher official preferment, in his appointment to the position of postmaster, in which he is giving a most efficient and satisfactory administration. Mr. Luther has further honored his native city by former service as a member of its municipal council and by equally effective work during his incumbency of the office of justice of the peace and county constable. He has been vigorous and influential in the local councils of the Democratic party, in behalf of whose cause he has given yeoman service. He is affiliated with the time-honored Masonic fraternity and also with the local organization of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. When a young man of twenty-one years Mr. Luther wedded Miss Ruth Morlend, daughter of the late Jacob Morlend, of Colesburg, Delaware county, and she passed to the life eternal after but three years of wedded life, her only child, Getsie, having been accidentally burned to death at the age of eighteen years. In 1886 was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Luther to Miss Annie Stoeffler, who was born and reared at Guttenberg, where she was afforded the excellent advantages of the Catholic parochial schools. She is a daughter of Frank and Annie Marie (Gerner) Stoeffler, who still reside at Guttenberg and both of whom are earnest communicants of the Catholic church. Mr. Stoeffler was born in Germany and was a youth when he came with his parents to America and settled at Guttenberg, where he became associated with his father in the operation of a lime kiln. Several years later he engaged in farming, to which line of enterprise he gave his active attention for many years. He is now living practically retired and is one of the highly esteemed citizens of the county, his political support being given to the Democratic party. Mr. and Mrs. Luther have a fine family of twelve children, whose names are here entered in the respective order of birth: Frank, Bertha, Harold, Jodina, Leroy, Lillian, Reuben, Evelyn, Raymond, Margaret, Bernice, and Anthony. Frank is engaged as a barber at Guttenberg; Bertha is the wife of Veral Smith of Cook, Minnesota; and all of the other children remain at the parental home. source: History of Clayton
County, Iowa; From The Earliest Historical Times Down to
the Present; by Realto E. Price, Vol. II; page 256-258 |