Luther farm dates to 1880

By Tom Hintgen (Contact) | The Daily Journal

Published Thursday, August 21, 2008

The Luther farm, a Century Farm northwest of Fergus Falls, has been owned continuously by the Luther family for the last 128 years.

Its current owner, Leonard Luther, is the third generation owner. He was born on the farm, lived on the farm nearly his entire life, and has owned the farm since 1947.

Christian Luther and his wife, Sophie, immigrated to the United States from Germany in the summer of 1880 with an infant son, Christian, Jr. That same year they purchased the Luther farm near the Pelican River and began operating it as a grain and dairy farm. A second son, Henry, was born there in 1882.

“The trunk used by them to travel from their home in Germany to Bremen, then to New York and then to Fergus Falls has been restored and remains a treasured family possession,” said Dick Luther, son of Leonard Luther.

Christian, 40, died in 1889 while working on the farm. Sophie continued to own and operate the farm with her two young sons. When they became young men, she told them that she would turn over the farm to the first of them to marry.

Henry met Karolina Haarstick who lived about three miles east of the Luther farm in 1911. They were married in May, 1912, one month before his brother married. As promised, Sophie transferred ownership of the farm to Henry shortly after his marriage.

Henry and Karolina had five children, Alvina, Harold, Leonard, Edwin and Henry. The elder Henry died in the influenza epidemic in 1918 at the age of 36. His son, Edwin, and his brother's wife also died of the same illness during the same year.

Karolina continued to own and operate the farm with her four surviving children. When the United States entered World War II, in 1941, three of her children enlisted in the armed services. That left Leonard to operate the farm for the family.

After the end of World War II, Karolina sold the farm to Leonard who had married Eleanor Svenneby of Fergus Falls in 1943. They had four children, Dick, Bill, Lois and Bob.

“My parents, Leonard and Eleanor, operated and expanded the grain and dairy farm over the next 30 years,” Dick said. “They finally sold the dairy cows in 1978 but continued to farm the land.”

Eleanor died in a tragic automobile accident in 1985. Leonard has been renting out the land since 1986.

Leonard, 92, represents the last generation to actively operate the Luther farm. All of his children left the farm and farming after high school. They all graduated from the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis and have pursued careers elsewhere.

“We have fond memories of growing up on the farm,” Dick said, “and each of us continues to have close ties to the farm and its history.”

Leonard said Wednesday afternoon that he and each of his four children appreciate the recognition of the Luther farm this year as a Century Farm, one of five Otter Tail County Century Farms to be honored during this year’s Minnesota State Fair.

“I’m proud of what the Luther family has accomplished,” he said. “Being honored as a Century Farm means a lot to me, and also to my family.”