Luther Vanhorn Moulton was born on a farm in Howard township, Cass county, Michigan, on September 27, 1843, the only son of Bridgeman C. and Abigail J. (Goodenough) Moulton. His father, a native of Massachusetts, was superintendent of a factory in New England until he cast his fortunes among the hardy pioneers of Cass county, settling on a farm, where he rounded out an industrious life in the pursuits of agriculture. Luther spent his boyhood much the same as other farmers' sons of his day and locality, giving his services to the homestead during the long summer season and securing his education in the primitive rural schools of the community.
In 1858 the family moved east to neighboring St. Joseph County. Three years later when the Civil War started the Twelfth Michigan infantry was formed in his area. A biography stated that military life was bad for his health and he was allowed to stay home. It was said that he then enlisted in the Michigan Home Guard. I found no records of any military service for Luther.
By 1863 Luther had moved to the town of St. Joseph on Lake Michigan. He was now into ambrotype photography. The Ambrotype process comprised an underexposed glass negative placed against a dark background. The dark backing material creates a positive image. Photographers often applied pigments to the surface of the plate to add color, often tinting cheeks and lips red and adding gold highlights to jewelry, buttons, and belt buckles. Ambrotype images, which were less expensive than the earlier Daguerreotypes, became common in 1850s and 1860s. In turn, Ambrotypes were rapidly replaced by Tintypes.
About 1865 he moved further north up the west coast of Michigan to Muskegon. There he caught the eye of twenty year old Sarah Adeline Armstrong. She lived in neighboring Newaygo County. Her father was County Treasurer and had a large farm and lumber business with a store in Muskegon. He would soon be the Greenback Party candidate for Lt. Governor.
After marrying the newlyweds soon moved across Lake Michigan to Beaver Dam, Wisconsin. The Milwaukee Railroad had just reached the area, encouraging further growth. A newspaper described the new town of Beaver Dam thusly; "Upon the eastern shore of a placid lake, nestling beneath the brow and along the crest of a semicircular hill of such gradual elevation and gentle slope that the housetops in the dimpled valleys on either side are scarcely hidden one from the other; shaded by the branches of lovely maples, elms and oaks, clustered here and there together in veritable Eden bowers; wrapped in an atmosphere whose balmy, lifeprolonging breath fans you in the face at every step and meets you round the corner like a perfumed zephyr escaped from Paradise, lies the city of Beaver Dam-the Garden City of Dodge County- noted for its palatial residences, and enterprising citizens, and famed for its beautiful women and chivalric men."
After marrying the newlyweds soon moved across Lake Michigan to Beaver Dam, Wisconsin. The Milwaukee Railroad had just reached the area, encouraging further growth. A newspaper described the new town of Beaver Dam thusly; "Upon the eastern shore of a placid lake, nestling beneath the brow and along the crest of a semicircular hill of such gradual elevation and gentle slope that the housetops in the dimpled valleys on either side are scarcely hidden one from the other; shaded by the branches of lovely maples, elms and oaks, clustered here and there together in veritable Eden bowers; wrapped in an atmosphere whose balmy, lifeprolonging breath fans you in the face at every step and meets you round the corner like a perfumed zephyr escaped from Paradise, lies the city of Beaver Dam-the Garden City of Dodge County- noted for its palatial residences, and enterprising citizens, and famed for its beautiful women and chivalric men."
Luther started his photography business there with some success. By 1873 he had two photography patents. Both were for washing photographic paper.
In 1875 Luther sells his business and moves back to Michigan. This time they set up residence in Grand Rapids.
Besides photography Luther now becomes political, probably because of his father-in-law. He also writes, and published, a work on finance entitled "The Science Of Money and American Finances" which aligned with his political affiliation with the Greenback Party.
The Greenback Party (known successively as the Independent Party, the National Independent Party, and the Greenback Labor Party) was an American political party with an anti-monopoly ideology which was active between 1874 and 1889. The party ran candidates in three presidential elections, in 1876, 1880, and 1884, before it faded away.
The party's name referred to the non-gold backed paper money, commonly known as "greenbacks," that had been issued by the North during the American Civil War and shortly afterward. The party opposed the deflationary lowering of prices paid to producers that was entailed by a return to a bullion-based monetary system, the policy favored by the Republican and Democratic Parties. Continued use of unbacked currency, it was believed, would better foster business and assist farmers by raising prices and making debts easier to pay.
Luther then ran for Representative of Kent County (Grand Rapids) in 1879 and won.
The party's name referred to the non-gold backed paper money, commonly known as "greenbacks," that had been issued by the North during the American Civil War and shortly afterward. The party opposed the deflationary lowering of prices paid to producers that was entailed by a return to a bullion-based monetary system, the policy favored by the Republican and Democratic Parties. Continued use of unbacked currency, it was believed, would better foster business and assist farmers by raising prices and making debts easier to pay.
Luther then ran for Representative of Kent County (Grand Rapids) in 1879 and won.
Politics was not the only interest for the Moultons. Luther and Sarah both became very interested in Spiritualism. Spiritualism is a religious movement based on the belief that the spirits of the dead exist and have both the ability and the inclination to communicate with the living. The afterlife, or the "spirit world", is seen by spiritualists, not as a static place, but as one in which spirits continue to evolve. These two beliefs—that contact with spirits is possible, and that spirits are more advanced than humans—lead spiritualists to a third belief: that spirits are capable of providing useful knowledge about moral and ethical issues, as well as about the nature of God. Some spiritualists will speak of a concept which they refer to as "spirit guides"—specific spirits, often contacted, who are relied upon for spiritual guidance
Grand Rapids already had a history in Spiritualism. In 1868 The First Society of Spiritualists was formed there. A few years later a second society (The Religion Society) was formed. Then June 29 1879 the two were united under the name of The Spiritual and Liberal Association of Grand Rapids
In 1884 there were 400 adherents and 3,000 believers among the city residents. The Michigan State Association of Spiritualists was organized in Grand Rapids by articles June 6, 1884. Spiritualism flourished for a half century without canonical texts or formal organization, attaining cohesion through periodicals, tours by trance lecturers, camp meetings, and the missionary activities of accomplished mediums. Many prominent spiritualists were women, and like most spiritualists, supported causes such as the abolition of slavery and women's suffrage. By the late 1880s the credibility of the informal movement had weakened due to accusations of fraud perpetrated by mediums, and formal spiritualist organizations began to appear.
During this time Luther had become a regular traveling lecturer and eventually head of the state organization. Among the National Spiritualist Association's first leaders were Harrison D. Barrett (former Unitarian clergymen), Cora L. V. Scott (spiritualist medium) and Luther. The association was also important for its adoption of a number of statements on Spiritualism which have become a standard to which other Spiritualist bodies more or less adhere.
In 1884 there were 400 adherents and 3,000 believers among the city residents. The Michigan State Association of Spiritualists was organized in Grand Rapids by articles June 6, 1884. Spiritualism flourished for a half century without canonical texts or formal organization, attaining cohesion through periodicals, tours by trance lecturers, camp meetings, and the missionary activities of accomplished mediums. Many prominent spiritualists were women, and like most spiritualists, supported causes such as the abolition of slavery and women's suffrage. By the late 1880s the credibility of the informal movement had weakened due to accusations of fraud perpetrated by mediums, and formal spiritualist organizations began to appear.
During this time Luther had become a regular traveling lecturer and eventually head of the state organization. Among the National Spiritualist Association's first leaders were Harrison D. Barrett (former Unitarian clergymen), Cora L. V. Scott (spiritualist medium) and Luther. The association was also important for its adoption of a number of statements on Spiritualism which have become a standard to which other Spiritualist bodies more or less adhere.
Besides his work with spiritualism Luther was photographing, patenting new inventions and working at a law firm studying to become a lawyer. Sarah was now doing art work and even had a patent of her own, a meat tenderer. The patent shows Luther as the attorney, but he will not actually attain his degree until 1890.
By 1886 Luther was President of the Knights of Labor in Grand Rapids. The recently formed Knights promoted the social and cultural uplift of the worker, and demanded the eight-hour day. In some cases it acted as a labor union, negotiating with employers, but it was never well organized or funded. It was notable in its ambition to organize across lines of gender and race and in the inclusion of both skilled and unskilled labor.
After a rapid expansion in the mid-1880s, it suddenly lost its new members and became a small operation again. The Knights of Labor served as the first mass organization of the working class of the United States. Most members abandoned the movement in 1886–1887, leaving at most 100,000 in 1890. Many opted to join groups that helped to identify their specific needs
This connection lead Luther to become front page news across the country in July 1886. His testimony in a trial in Chicago leads to the conviction, and execution, of August Vincent Theodore Spies.
August Vincent Theodore Spies (December 10, 1855 – November 11, 1887) was an American upholsterer, radical labor activist, and newspaper editor. Spies is remembered as one of the anarchists in Chicago who were found guilty of conspiracy to commit murder following a bomb attack on police, killing 7 and wounding 60, in an event remembered as the "Haymarket Affair". Spies was one of four who were executed in the aftermath of this event.
Luther testified that Spies had talked about insurrection at a Knights of Labor meeting at his house in 1885. Spies had advocated killing police and taking over the city. Luther claimed he spoke against it and thought it would not happen. He was wrong.
In 1890 he was ready to take the examinations for the bar. Duly admitted, he began practice, specializing in the field of patent law. Luther's name appears as the witnessing attorney on over 500 patents. He also argued patent cases in Michigan for a number of his clients over the next 25 years. Between 1890 and 1900 Luther produces more patents.
Several of his really interesting ideas were for Velocipedes or Hydrocyles. A hydrocycle is a bicycle-like watercraft. The concept was known in the 1870s under the title 'water velocipede' and the name was in use by the late 1890s. Power is collected from the rider via a crank with pedals, as on a bicycle, and delivered to the water or the air via a propeller. Seating may be upright or recumbent, and multiple riders may be accommodated in tandem or side-by-side.
Newspaper Drawing of Luther Moulton's Marine Velocipede
Meanwhile, Sarah is just not doing artwork anymore, she is in business with her daughter, Lois. Their company is called M & J Manufacturing. M for Moulton and J for Lois's married name Jones. They are called novelty manufacturers. Their specialties are ladies items. They even patent some devices to attach women's garments they sell.
Staying strong in her support of Spiritualism Sarah even uses the business to support the cause at the 1898 annual convention.
6th Annual NSA Convention
To the Finance Committee of the NSA
"I have with me a supply of M & J Skirt Supporters, an article of ladies wearing apparel, which I will donate one fourth of the gross sales of the same to the treasury if permitted to offer the same for sale at the bookstall in the ante room of the hall."
Signed MRS L V MOULTON
6th Annual NSA Convention
To the Finance Committee of the NSA
"I have with me a supply of M & J Skirt Supporters, an article of ladies wearing apparel, which I will donate one fourth of the gross sales of the same to the treasury if permitted to offer the same for sale at the bookstall in the ante room of the hall."
Signed MRS L V MOULTON
Luther and Sarah apparently make a decision to help the Spiritualism movement more in 1903. Luther has been pushing to stop fakes and frauds in the movement for several years. Maybe a cartomancy deck of cards to help connect to the spirit world would help.
1903 Patent
Combined Playing and Educational Cards.
Abstract #27,451
Moulton, S. A., and Moulton, L. V.
Drawings to Specification. The spot symbols of an ordinary pack of playing cards are replaced by others which illustrate a series of related geometrical figures, the four suits constituting the pack being distinguished by differently-coloured cards. The kings, queens, and knaves are similarly replaced by series which illustrate members of the solar system, ancient temples, and modern structures respectively. The cards, in addition to serving as ordinary playing cards, may also be used, by suitably combining the different series and colours, for teaching music.
Combined Playing and Educational Cards.
Abstract #27,451
Moulton, S. A., and Moulton, L. V.
Drawings to Specification. The spot symbols of an ordinary pack of playing cards are replaced by others which illustrate a series of related geometrical figures, the four suits constituting the pack being distinguished by differently-coloured cards. The kings, queens, and knaves are similarly replaced by series which illustrate members of the solar system, ancient temples, and modern structures respectively. The cards, in addition to serving as ordinary playing cards, may also be used, by suitably combining the different series and colours, for teaching music.
The actual cards were printed with meanings to be used for fortune telling.
As you can see in the patent abstract they do not reference the cards being connected to cartomancy. They call their method of reading PAHLAVI, as in an Iranian or Middle Eastern style. In the book that comes with the cards it says "..the system provides devices and methods broader and more comprehensive than those in common use. In this system the cards have greater diversity of meaning and embrace nearly every phase of life from the highest to the lowest.."
The Encyclopedia of American Playing Cards lists these cards as;
NS27 PAHLAVI 1903. This deck, designed for “Instruction Games and Cartomancy” has new suit signs and comes with two ‘Jokers’.
The "Jokers" are actually the god Apollo and the goddess Diana.
You could only get these cards, and book, by writing to the Moultons at their business in Grand Rapids.
NS27 PAHLAVI 1903. This deck, designed for “Instruction Games and Cartomancy” has new suit signs and comes with two ‘Jokers’.
The "Jokers" are actually the god Apollo and the goddess Diana.
You could only get these cards, and book, by writing to the Moultons at their business in Grand Rapids.
After the cards Luther settled into his patent law practice, and Sarah into her art and women's novelty business. Luther also puts out a couple more patents dealing with crank starters for internal combustion engines that do not appear to have gone commercial.
Sarah passed away in 1916 and to everyone's amazement, according to the newspapers, Luther remarried soon after. The new marriage was short lived because Luther died the next year.
Sarah passed away in 1916 and to everyone's amazement, according to the newspapers, Luther remarried soon after. The new marriage was short lived because Luther died the next year.