BIO: John LUTHER, Dauphin County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Bookwalter

Copyright 2008.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/dauphin/
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/dauphin/runk/runk-bios.htm
_______________________________________________________________ 

Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of Dauphin County, 
Containing Sketches of Representative Citizens, and Many of the 
Early Scotch-Irish and German Settlers.  Chambersburg, Pa.: 
J. M. Runk & Company, 1896, page 353.
_______________________________________________________________ 

  LUTHER, JOHN, was a native of Freuhlingen, Germany, born on the 1st 
of April, 1756.  In his youth he came to America, and with either his 
parents or friends located in Virginia.  He studied medicine, and 
married in that State, coming to Harrisburg in 1785, the year it was 
laid out, purchasing the lot now occupied by the Harrisburg National 
Bank and the house adjoining, the latter of which he erected.  Here he 
at once began his profession, which proved a successful one.  He was 
chosen at the first election held under the charter given the borough, 
one of the burgesses, and subsequently served as a member of the town 
council, of which body he was at one time president.
  From the "Reminiscences of an Octogenarian," we have this description 
of Dr. Luther:  "He was a man somewhat resembling the great reformer, 
Martin Luther, if I dare judge from the printed representation I have 
seen of the latter.  He was of medium height and proportionately stout.  
He was a very pleasant man and agreeably received whenever he entered 
company.  He carried a snuff box and made frequent use of its contents.  
He wore black cloth coat, vest and breeches, with buckles on his shoes.  
He was popular as a physician and esteemed highly for his skill.  He 
wore his hair in a cue, as was common in the early times of Harrisburg, 
but wherever he went there was healing in the creak of his shoes.  When 
he felt your pulse, told you to put out your tongue, and smelled the 
ivory on the top of his cane, you might be sure he was hunting for a 
fever, or something direful, that might require a dose of calomel and 
jalap . . . Dr. Luther was of a jovial disposition, and it was said, as 
was the custom of those days when anti-fogmatics was necessary to keep 
off fever and ague, that he 'didn't object to his patients taking a 
little tansy bitters in the morning.'  His practice was extensive." 
  Dr. Luther died at Harrisburg on Monday, January 28, 1811, in his 
fifty-fourth year.
  Dr. Luther married, May 21, 1779, Barbara Weaver, of Philadelphia.  
She was probably the mother of all his children.  The doctor 
subsequently married Eva Hisser, born in 1766, died at Harrisburg, 
Wednesday, August 15, 1804.  Dr. Luther had four children:  Catharine, 
Cornelius, Martin, and John.  All of his sons became physicians.  Drs. 
Cornelius and Martin remained at Harrisburg, and succeeded, in a great 
measure, to their father's practice.  Cornelius died quite young and 
Martin April 29, 1829, aged forty-five years.  Dr. John Luther settled 
in New Holland, Lancaster county; married Elizabeth, daughter of Peter 
Diller, and raised a large family.  Catharine Luther married Dr. King, 
of Hummelstown, and on becoming a widow married Judge William Lyon, of 
Cumberland county.  The remains of Dr. Luther, his wife and two sons 
are interred in the Harrisburg cemetery.