Michel Daniel Luehrs, 1848 - 1896

by Brian Stevenson
last updated June, 2024

M.D. Luehrs owned a machinery manufacturing plant in Cleveland, Ohio, and was evidently an avid amateur microscopist. His known slides tend toward anatomical subjects, although other specimens such as arranged diatoms are known (Figures 1 and 2). A published biographical sketch of Luehrs stated, “Besides being an inventor Mr. Luehrs spent much of his leisure time with his microscope and camera, possessing an exceptionally fine collection of microscopical slides and photographs which he had himself prepared.”

Figure 1. Microscope slides by M.D. Luehrs. Some are dated 1881 and 1882.

Figure 2. Stained sections of an owl’s eye lens (see Figure 1). The section on the left may have been stained with carmine.

Figure 3. Undated engraving of a photograph of Michel Daniel Luehrs, published 8 years after his death. He died when only 48 years old, so this could have been taken near that time.

Michel Daniel Luehrs was born on August 9, 1848, on the island of Heligoland (in the North Sea, off the coast of Germany). He was the first, and perhaps only, child of Daniel and Dorothea. In 1854, he and his parents emigrated to the USA, arriving in New York City on August 4, 1854. Their ship’s records indicate that the family name was originally spelled “Lührs”, and that father Daniel was a “carpenter”. The family promptly moved to Cleveland, Ohio, where Daniel found work as a “machinist”. Cleveland then had a very large population of German immigrants, which was probably the main attraction for the Lührs/Luehrs family.

Michel also learned machining skills in the factories of Cleveland. He excelled beyond being simply a workman: he was issued a patent in 1877 for a screw-cutting machine. Luehrs was awarded several more patents for his inventions in that field.

On November 5, 1876, Michel married Catharine Cassebohm. She was also an immigrant from Heligoland. Michel and Catharine had five children, four of whom survived to adulthood. The 1880 national census recorded that Michel, Catharine, and their children lived with Michel’s parents.

In 1884, Luehrs put his machining and inventing skills into a new business, the Acme Machinery Company, along with partners Frederick Bruch and Claus Greve (Figures 4 and 5). Two years later, Leading Manufacturers and Merchants of the City of Cleveland and Environs wrote that “Mr. Luehrs is a thorough mechanical engineer, and possesses an intimate knowledge of the construction of bolt and nut-cutting machinery and the requirements of the trade. The factory, which is spacious and convenient, was built expressly for the business, and is supplied with the best modern and special tools and appliances for the manufacture of the famous ‘acme’ bolt-cutters, Mr. Luehrs being the patentee. The Acme Machinery Company's bolt and nut-cutters are absolutely unsurpassed for durability, efficiency, workmanship, and general excellence, and if only the necessary care is used, turn out a thread which is absolutely unsurpassed. The partners give special attention to all the operations of their works, thus insuring to the trade only such machinery as will withstand the most critical tests, both in regard to material used in its construction and the workmanship employed.”

Although it is not certain, he was probably a member of his local Cleveland Microscopical Society, and likely obtained specimens from fellow members.

Michel Luehrs died on June 15, 1896. He left such an impact on his adopted city that he was remembered in the 1910 A History of Cleveland, Ohio:

“M.D. Luehrs was born on the island of Helgoland in the year 1848. At the age of six, he came with his parents to America and settled in Cleveland. He attended the public schools until he was fourteen years old. He then entered the employ of the Globe Iron Works as a machinist apprentice. After learning his trade he was engaged by the firm of Bourne, Damon & Knowles, where his ability and fidelity were recognized by his successive promotions until he became foreman. Later he was connected with the National Bolt Cutter Company as superintendent, and then with the Novelty Iron Works in the same capacity. While here, he conceived the ideas of a screw swaging machine and a bolt cutter.

In 1870 (sic, actually 1876) Mr. Luehrs married Catherine H.H. Cassebohm, who together with four of their five children, Phoebe, Daniel, Nellie and Fannie, survived him at the time of his death, which occurred June 15, 1896.

Mr. Luehrs was prominent in Masonry, belonging to Forest City Lodge, F. & A.M.; Thatcher Chapter, R.A.M.; and to Oriental Commandery, K.T. He was in sympathy with the beneficent spirit of the craft, believing in the principle of charity, mutual helpfulness, forbearance and kindliness, upon which it is founded. As a citizen he was public spirited and his cooperation with many movements for the general good was the tangible proof of his interest in the welfare and upbuilding of Cleveland."

Figure 4. 1898 advertisement from M.D. Luehrs’ Acme Machinery Company. From “American Machinist”.

Figure 5. The Acme Machinery Company, from a 1902 catalogue.

Acknowledgement

Thank you to Frank Reiser for sharing images of Luehrs' microscope slides.

Resources

American Machinist (1898) Advertisements from Acme Machinery Co., Vol. 21, multiple issues

Arrival list of the ship “Neumuhlen” (1854) accessed through ancestry.com

Cleveland Directory (1868) “Luehrs Daniel M., machinist, h 412 Lake”, page 221, accessed through ancestry.com

Cleveland Directory (1888) “Luehrs Michael D. (Acme Machinery Co.), r. 410 Lake”, page 424, accessed through ancestry.com

Cleveland Directory (1895) “Luehrs M.D. r. 580 Willson av”, page 595, accessed through ancestry.com

Commissioner of Patents Annual Report (1891) patents to M.D. Luehrs, page 225