BIOGRAPHY: Daniel LOUTHER, Cambria County, PA 

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From Wiley, Samuel T., ed. Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Cambria 
County, Pennsylvania. Philadelphia: Union Publishing Co., 1896, p. 292-3
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DANIEL LOUTHER.  Antedating the founding of our government and all along its 
line of history, from the formation of its first cabinet to the present time, 
the wonderful Scotch-Irish race has played a potent part in the affairs of our 
nation. In every phase of life and in every sphere of human activity -- in 
business, literature, and religion, no less than in civil affairs -- has its 
moulding and directing influence been felt. The gentleman whose name heads this 
sketch sprang from that race and possesses, in a marked degree, those sterling 
qualities of character and strong attributes of mind that have ever been 
characteristic of the race. 
     He was born, February 27, 1822, in Westmoreland county, this State, and is 
a son of Jonathan and Margaret (Falloon) Louther. His grandfather was David 
Louther, a native of near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. David Louther was a son of 
James Louther, a native of Scotland, who came to America prior to the war for 
American Independence, in which he served. After this memorable conflict he 
settled in Westmoreland county, where he died and where he ranked as one of the 
pioneer settlers of the county. 
     Jonathan Louther (father) was born in Westmoreland county, where he 
followed the twin-pursuits of farming and milling. He served in the War of 1812, 
our second war for independence.
     The education of Mr. Louther, so far as his youth was concerned, was such 
as he was able to get by attending the subscription schools three months, and 
one month's attendance under the free-school curriculum at a total cost of three 
dollars. His father being poor, he was compelled to lend his help to the support 
of the family until he was twenty-four years of age. 
     On April 1, 1846, he began the labor of life on his own account, taking a 
position as a laborer at fifty cents per day, earning and saving the first nine 
months $100, which he put at compound interest, and has compounded it every year 
to the present time. He then worked two years at learning the trade of a 
millwright, receiving for his services in this relation five dollars a month. 
Having thoroughly mastered his trade, and feeling himself a competent 
millwright, he soon secured work along the line of his craft. He solicited his 
first work, making at the same time the resolution that he would never again 
solicit employment. This resolution was easily kept, for the completion of his 
first workmanship was the strongest testimonial of his skill, and thenceforward 
the work sought him, and for forty-seven years he was kept so constantly 
employed that he lost but seventy-two days during this long and faithful period 
of service. 
     He followed his trade over the adjoining counties of Indiana, Cambria, 
Somerset, and Westmoreland, and earned the familiar sobriquet of "The Millwright 
Louther." From April, 1852 to 1855, he filled the responsible position of 
steward of the Westmoreland county almshouse. In 1868 he was called upon to 
superintend the building of mills for the Westmoreland Lumber company, and, 
after satisfactorily performing this work, again returned to his trade, which he 
pursued until 1892, since which time he has lived a comparatively retired life. 
He has lived in Johnstown since 1867.
     Mr. Louther has always been a firm believer in the principles of the party 
of Lincoln, Blaine, and Garfield; keeps well posted on the current events -- 
political and otherwise of county, state, and nation, and, although never in any 
sense an office seeker or an officeholder, believes it the duty of every good 
citizen to interest himself in the cause of good government, and, although he 
had but meagre advantages himself for securing an education,   has always 
interested himself in the cause of popular education, and is counted as among 
the staunchest supporters of the common schools. He served twenty years as a 
director of the schools in Westmoreland and Cambria counties. He believes the 
church wields a most potent influence for good, and subscribed most ardently to 
the dogmas of the church of John Wesley.