jrlhistory

By Jeremy Luther

August 15, 2026

Abstract:

This blog discusses recent discoveries from genealogical research of connections to Jeremy R. Luther (1981-). The researcher used genealogical websites that offered free trials: MyHeritage and FamilySearch. These sites allowed basic genealogical searches and viewing of most available census data, some news and obituaries, as well as some military records. Through limited oral history, the researcher compiled a basic family tree from his father’s and mother’s family. The researcher also notes a few challenges with such research as well as some information of interest.

Paternal: Luther, Philiber, and others

On the paternal side, the Luther’s, census data, news clippings, and military records show that the Luther’s came to the United States, likely from Switzerland or Germany (possibly even Poland), sometime in the middle of the nineteenth century. Over time, the family moved west. Johann Luther, Sr. came and died in Kansas. His son, also Johann, moved west and settled in Washington sometime in the beginning of the twentieth century. From the twentieth century, several Luthers served in the U.S. military during WWII. Theodore F. Luther (1912-1999) and Oswald J. Luther (1908-1961) each served at the time. The difficulty in tracing Luther genealogy (and Wager, too) is that name spellings frequently changed. Some spellings of Luther include “Luter”, “Lutter”, “Leuder”, or “Luewder”. Tracing the Luther genealogy, we can find other names through women. Grandma Illa’s maiden name was Philliber, and her mother’s maiden name was McCoy, but I still have yet to determine if Great-grandma Eva was related to a famous McCoy.

Maternal: Wager, Palmer, and others

On the maternal side, there are many different spellings of Wager, including “Wagher”, “Wagner”, “Waugher”, and “Wagar”. I think I also found a “Weger”. The Wagers have lived in the U.S. since the late colonial era. One Wager, Jacob (1721 to 1801), may have served the British during the Revolutionary War. Many of them lived in upstate or central New York, in or around Oneida County. There are several Wager graves in New York. Like the Luthers, most Wagers were farmers. Sometime in the mid-nineteenth century, several moved to Illinois. Later, several moved to the Dakotas. There are significant Wager graves in western South Dakota. Grandma Wager’s maiden name was Palmer, and they also have lived in North America, in New York, since the late colonial period. Several Palmers fought in the military. Stephan Gideon Palmer fought for the Union during the Civil War. Later, many Palmers moved and settled in Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.

Commonalities

A couple of common similarities I noticed in both sides of the family are frequent migration, farming, and multiple spelling variations. Besides that, in some cases I recognized that some parents gave names from the maternal side. Raymond Fairchild Wager (1911 to 1999) is an example. Fairchild was his mother’s maiden name. Orville Unie Luther (1952-) is another example. Orville was his mother’s father’s name. 

Significance and Further Research

Overall, basic genealogical searches have limitations without access to materials beyond of U.S. censes, oral histories, and further research. Perhaps some of the family will need to make a trip or two and investigate archives that aren’t digitized at physical sites where our ancestors lived. Others may need to access military documents. It would be great to learn more about our past, and maybe we could make new connections with distant family. Learning about our family has the added benefit of helping us connect with and learn from the past. The past becomes more real when we have a closer connection to a relative who lived in it.