Now one of the oldest residents of Breese, is a native of Prussia, and was born at Störmede, in Westphalia, on the 12th of February, 1830. His father was Henry KLUTHO, and his mother's name before marriage was Theresia BUTZ. Theodore was the youngest of four children. He was raised in his native town. He went to school from the time he was seven till fourteen, and then worked on a farm until his twenty-first year, when he went into the Prussian army. He served three years in the 1st Prussian regiment, which had the honor to be the special body-guard to the king. He was stationed at Potsdam and Berlin. After the expiration of his term of service in the army he emigrated to America. He landed at New Orleans on the 21st of December, 1854. From New Orleans he went to Louisville, Kentucky, and thence to Frankfort, in the same state, where he learned the trade of a carpenter. In Sept., 1856, he came to St. Louis, and was working at his trade in that city till the latter part of the summer of 1858, when he came to Breese, of which place he has since been a resident.

When he settled in Breese the town was composed of only four or five buildings. He formed a partnership with Henry DILLMANN and Fritz SCHULTE, and the firm carried on the carpentering and building business for several years. Most of the houses in the town of Breese were built by this firm. In 1862 Mr. Klutho went into the lumber business, which he has since carried on. He was married in October, 1863, to Maria MARKS, who was born in Sugar Creek township, Clinton county. She died in December, 1864. His second marriage took place in January, *1856, to Anna MOLITOR, who was born in Germantown township, Clinton county. He has four children living by his last marriage, whose names are Henry, John, August, and Gertrude. Esquire Klutho is now one of the oldest business men in Breese. He came to the place when it was in its infancy, and has since been closely associated with its growth and prosperity. He filled the office of post master at Breese from 1863 to 1865. He was elected justice of the peace in 1872, and has filled that position in a satisfactory and efficient manner. He also represented Breese township in the Board of Supervisors form the spring of 1879 to the spring of 1880. He has a good record as a business man, and his name deserves mention here, as one of the liberal and progressive citizens of Clinton county.

* Typo in book, may have meant 1866

Source: History of Marion and Clinton Counties, Illinois, 1881, Brink, McDonough & Co., Philadelphia

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