BIO: James Burton LUTHER, Clearfield County, PA
 
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From Twentieth Century History of Clearfield County, Pennsylvania,
and Representative Citizens, by Roland D. Swoope, Jr.,
Chicago: Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company, 1911, pages 455 & 456.
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  JAMES BURTON LUTHER, of the J. B. Luther Undertaking Co., the oldest 
established business of its kind at DuBois, Pa., with commodious quarters on 
the corner of Park Avenue and Brady Street, was born at West Fairfield, Pa., 
July 19, 1871, and has been a resident of this borough since 1901.  His parents 
are J. G. and Alice (Peoples) Luther.
  J. G. Luther, who is a veteran of the Civil War, was one of the family of 
fourteen children born to his parents, who were early settlers in Westmoreland 
County, Pa., and grew to manhood on the pioneer farm.  In 1861 he enlisted for 
three years' service in the Civil War, entering an infantry regiment as a 
private.  He was once made prisoner and confined for three months at 
Andersonville but was then exchanged and served out his first term of 
enlistment.  He then re-enlisted as sergeant is an artillery regiment, and was 
a second time captured, in the previous fighting barely escaping with his life, 
his uniform being riddled with bullet holes.  He was sent to Libby Prison and 
there endured torture for three months before he escaped.  After the close of 
the war he returned to his home and followed the carpenter's trade for a time 
and also undertaking, making coffins by hand at first.  He also started a grist 
mill, but this enterprise he later abandoned.  He still is engaged in the 
undertaking business at West Fairfield.  He married Alice Peoples, who was born 
in Westmoreland County, and eight children were born to them, namely:  
Margaret, who is the wife of Charles Mabon; James Burton; Cora, who is the wife 
of L. R. Hamilton; William P.; John M., who is a physician; Harry J.; Blanche, 
who is deceased; and Nan, now deceased, who was the wife of S. C. Huston.
  James Burton Luther was educated in the common and High School at West 
Fairfield and later took a business course at Duff's Commercial College, 
Pittsburg, Pa.  In preparation for his future business he then entered the 
Philadelphia College of Embalming, where he remained until graduation, after 
which he spent a year in the morgue at Pittsburg, gaining practical experience 
in his profession.  For two years Mr. Luther was in the furniture and 
undertaking business at Florence, Pa., and from there came to DuBois.  Here he 
entered into the employ of the undertaking firm of Flegel & Weber.  On 
September 7, 1909, in partnership with P. T. Sullivan, he bought out the entire 
interests of that firm and since then the business has been conducted under the 
style of the J. B. Luther Undertaking Co.  It was established by Mr. Flegal who 
later admitted L. E. Weber to partnership, by whom he was succeeded in 1907, 
and in 1909, as stated above, it came into the hands of the present competent 
business men, both of whom hold state embalmer's licenses.  The new firm has 
all necessary equipments for their business, including two fine teams, one 
white and the other black, four funeral cars, a casket wagon, an ambulance, and 
cabs to accommodate pall bearers.
  On July 15, 1899, Mr. Luther was married to Miss Anna Brown, who died May 28, 
1909.  Two children were born to them:  Francis, in 1903, and Alice, in 1906.  
Mr. Luther was married secondly October 17, 1910, to Mrs. Eva C. Schwem, widow 
of Walter Schwem and daughter of S. C. Christ, of Brookville, Pa.  Mr. Luther 
and family reside at No. 212 E. Long Avenue, and they attend the Presbyterian 
church.  He belongs to the Royal Arcanum and to the Knights of Pythias.