BIOGRAPHY: Demetrius A. LUTHER, Sr., 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. 151-2
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DEMETRIUS A. LUTHER, SR., ex-sheriff of Cambria county, and a successful, 
enterprising and benevolent gentleman, of near Carrolltown, this county, is a 
son of John Luther, Sr., and Mary Ann Platt and was born in Carroll township, 
Cambria county, Pennsylvania, October 31, 1827.
     His grandfather, Conrad Luther, was a native of Hesse, Germany, and was 
among that body of Hessian soldiers who were brought to America by the 
government of Great Britain during the Revolutionary War, but tiring of this 
service he deserted the English army in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania. In his 
flight he met Elizabeth Smith, who was engaged in the bleaching of linen; she 
carefully concealed him until his pursuers went by, and thus enabled him to make 
his escape. He afterwards married the young lady, and remained in that section 
some time working for the farmers, but about 1796, shortly after the issues of 
the war had been decided, he removed to what is now Carroll township, this 
county, where he became one of the pioneer farmers, and spent the remainder of 
his days. He was the father of six children, five sons and one daughter.
     John Luther, father, was born in that township in 1800, and lived all his 
life in the township of his birth, dying April 22, 1862. He took up the 
avocation of an agriculturist, and became one of the most successful farmers and 
business men of that section of the county, owning four hundred acres of land on 
the Carrolltown and Ebensburg road, one mile from Carrolltown, and at the time 
of death was estimated to be worth $20,000.
     He married Mary Ann Platt, a daughter of John Platt, then a resident of 
Susquehanna township, but a native of Germany, and to them were born four sons 
and six daughters:   Henry, of Gallitzin, Pennsylvania; Demetrius A., subject; 
Sarah A. wife of Henry Bender, a farmer of this township; Elizabeth, deceased, 
was the wife of James Weakland; Lucinda, wife of Michael Snyder, of Houtzdale, 
Clearfield county, this State; Matilda, wife of Anselum Weakland, whose sketch 
appears in another part of this work; Mary Ellen, wife of John Latternes, a 
farmer and butcher in Munster township, this county; Victoria, who married 
Joseph Lied of Barr township, John W., deceased; and Chrysostom, a farmer, of 
Carrolltown.
     Demetrius A. Luther was reared upon his father's farm, receiving the 
advantages of such educational training as were afforded by the subscription 
schools as they existed in this county prior to the adoption of the common-
school system. At the age of twenty-one he apprenticed himself to learn the 
trade of a carpenter, and after mastering that trade, followed it for twenty 
years as a contractor and builder throughout Cambria and adjoining counties. In 
1872 he purchased a farm of one hundred and seventy acres near Carrolltown, and 
has since lived upon it and devoted himself to the arts of husbandry. This farm 
is well improved, and underlaid with coal, and is considered one of the best in 
the county.
     Politically, Mr. Luther is a strong believer in the party of Jefferson, and 
has frequently represented his party in political conventions, and been honored 
by it in being elected to positions of honor and trust. In 1875 he was elected 
mercantile appraiser, in 1866 county auditor, and in 1882 to the responsible 
position of sheriff of this county.
     Religiously, Mr. Luther is a devout member of the Roman Catholic church, 
and is active in all matters pertaining to the work of the same, and for the 
promotion of the cause of Christianity. In connection with church he is a member 
of the Holy League.
     March 1, 1859, Miss Mary M., Daughter of Thomas Bendon, of Gallitzin 
township, this county, became his wife. To their marriage union have been born 
fourteen children: Harry A., who is in the hotel business at Nicktown, this 
county; Utha C. and W. A., of Carrolltown; Mary Ellen, wife of C.O. Stultz, a 
butcher of Carrolltown; R. Augusta, deceased; Andrew R., deceased; Mary A., 
deceased; Rudolph, deceased; James W., painter, of Elyria, Ohio; Beno M., a 
farmer of this county; Rose A., wife of Francis Bearer, of Spangler, this 
county; A. L., Urban, and John, at home.
     Demetrius A. Luther is descended from an honorable ancestry, and is highly 
respected and honored in the community in which he lives, and as sheriff of the 
county, no less than in the private affairs of life, he discharged every duty in 
a way that has reflected credit upon himself and with entire satisfaction to 
those he represented.