Luther, Indiana

Luther, Indiana
Unincorporated community
Luther Luther, as seen in a map of Whitley County
Coordinates: 41°00′10″N85°34′26″W / 41.00278°N 85.57389°W / 41.00278; -85.57389
Country	United States
State	Indiana
County	Whitley, Huntington
Township	Cleveland, Warren
Elevation [1]	866 ft (264 m)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code	46787
Area code	260
GNIS feature ID	438413 [1]

Luther is an unincorporated community in Whitley and Huntington counties, in the U.S. state of Indiana. ^[1]

It is located on Indiana State Road 5 between Huntington and South Whitley.

History

Luther was named after Myron Luther Pray, a local store owner. ^[2] It was commonly known as "Sawdust Hill". ^[3] The general store operated until 1925, when it was destroyed by fire. ^[4] A creamery was established in 1904, ^{[5] [6]} but was affected by the bankruptcy of one of the partners, general store owner Myron L. Pray, and closed the same year. ^{[7] [8]}

A post office was established at Luther in 1894, and it remained in operation until it was discontinued in 1905. ^{[3] [9]} Luther Rural Telephone company was incorporated in 1902, ^[3] to establish and maintain telephone services in Whitley, Huntington, Wabash and Kosciusko counties, with the central office in Luther. ^{[10] [11]} The switchboard was moved across the county line into Huntington county in 1907. ^[12]

The Centenary United Brethren Church, north of Luther, was established in 1874. ^{[13] [14]}

The first horseless carriage in Huntingdon county was reputedly built in about 1850, by a schoolteacher living near where the town of Luther later stood. ^[15]

References

1. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Luther, Indiana
2. Baker, Ronald L. (October 1995). From Needmore to Prosperity: Hoosier Place Names in Folklore and History. Indiana University Press. p. 118. ISBN   978-0-253-32866-3. ...named for Myron Luther Pray, local storekeeper and first postmaster...
3. Kaler, Samuel P; Maring, Richard H. (1907). History of Whitley County, Indiana. Indiana: B. F. Bowen & Company.
4. "Arson Charge Against Loe". The Huntington Herald. August 8, 1925. p. 1. Retrieved February 3, 2025.
5. "The Luther Creamery". The Huntington Herald. April 16, 1904. p. 10. Retrieved February 3, 2025.
6. "The town of Luther, Whitley county ..." Farmers' Guide. 16. Guide Publishing Company: 251. 1904. Retrieved February 3, 2025.
7. "Bankruptcy case causes much concern". Huntington Weekly Herald. July 22, 1904. p. 4. Retrieved February 3, 2025.
8. "O.N. Snoder named trustee". Daily News-Democrat. August 1, 1904. p. 1. Retrieved February 3, 2025.
9. "Whitley County". Jim Forte Postal History. Retrieved July 5, 2016.
10. "Luther Rural Telephone Company". Daily News-Democrat. February 17, 1902. p. 4. Retrieved February 3, 2025.
11. "Indiana Industries". The Indianapolis Journal. March 8, 1902. p. 3. Retrieved February 3, 2025.
12. "Luther Telephone Notes". Daily News-Democrat. February 7, 1907. p. 8. Retrieved February 3, 2025.
13. "Centenary Church". The Huntington Herald. August 16, 1924. p. 6. Retrieved February 3, 2025.
14. "Revival Services". The Huntington Herald. December 6, 1923. p. 6. Retrieved February 3, 2025.
15. "First Auto in County. John Bounty, School Teacher, Early Chauffeur. His Home near Luther." Daily News-Democrat. September 23, 1905. p. 9. Retrieved February 3, 2025.