ALFRED LATTA - BRANCH 4

Biographical Review of Calhoun County, Michigan Containing Historical, Biographical, and Genealogical Sketches of Many of the Prominent Citizens of To-Day and Also of the Past Illustrated. Chicago, Hobert & Mather, 1904, Pages 135-136.

Submitted by Connie Leaman

Alfred Latta, now deceased, was actively associated with the work of development and improvement in Battle Creek for many years. As a real estate dealer he would buy land, improve it by the erection of substantial buildings and then sell. In this way he added to the up building of the city as well as to his individual success and his operations were gilded by such reliable business methods that he won the unqualified confidence of the public.

Mr. Latta was born in Lewiston, New York, April 6, 1821, a son of John and Milly Smith) Latta. The father was an extensive property owner who had land near Lewiston and a large tannery and other business interests. During the War of 1812 his tanner and other buildings were destroyed by fire, but after the close of hostilities he rebuilt and continued to make his home in Lewiston until called to his finial rest. His son Alfred was there reared and acquired a good academic education. He was one of twins in a family of ten children, eight sons, not one of whom was ever intoxicated or formed any bad habits. His twin brother Albert now lives on Grand Prairie near Kalamazoo, Michigan. Alfred Latta wised to attend college and prepare for the bar, but as his father needed his assistance in business he put aside his cherished plan and worked in connection with the management of his father's interests. When twenty-one years of age he went to Wisconsin, where he took up land from the government but after a year and a half returned to New York at the request of his father to look after his interests. A well informed man, he taught school in both New York and Wisconsin.

It was on the 6th of April, 1848, in Parma, New York, that Alfred Latta was married to Miss Martha E. Hill, who was born at Livonia Center, Livingston County, a daughter of Rufus and Sarah W. (Brown) Hill, who removed to Lewiston, New York, during the early girlhood of their daughter. When she was eleven years of age she had attended school where Mr. Latta was a teacher. She received a good education, partly under private instruction and three times she had her trunk packed preparatory to go to college, when failing health forced her to forego this plan. Mr. and Mrs. Latta remained in Lewiston for four years and then started westward with the intention of going to Minneapolis, but stopped at Kalamazoo. Mr. Latta there invested in property and began dealing in real estate. In 1865 he purchased a farm of six hundred acres in Pennfield township, east of Battle Creek, and this he divided into lots and afterward sold. Removing then to the city he began real estate operations here, buying, improving and afterward selling property until he became one of the most active factors in the substantial up building of the city. His business was conducted along progressive lines and brought him gratifying success.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Latta were born five children: Sarah P., the wife of Eli S. Glover, of Pullman, Washington, by whom she had four children - Grace, Edith, Arthur L. and Sheldon L; Frank Hill, who is now postmaster at Battle Creek; Mary L., the wife of A. R. McIntyre, who was assistant superintendent of the Grand Trunk Railroad for years and lives in Battle Creek; Alice M., the wife of Clarence J. Paul, an attorney of Minneapolis, by whom she has two daughters, Florence and Lelia; and Homer A., a stockholder and director of the Union Steam Pump Co., who married Lulu Perry and resides at No. 202 North Avenue.

Mr. Latta passed away January 13, 1887, and Battle Creek thus lost one of its valued and honored citizens. In politics he was a Whig in early life and voted for Henry Clay. In 1856 he became a Republican, supporting Fremont, and remained an advocate of that party until his death. He was a stanch advocate of educational advancement and was really ahead of his times in this way. When he advocated manual training he was called visionary but could he have seen the schools of the country to-day he would find that in every city his idea is now embodied in the curriculum. After his marriage he became a member of the Congregational Church, his wife having been reared in that faith. He was a kind and indulgent husband and father, and the filial love and care which he bestowed upon his father, even to the sacrifice of his own interests, foreshadowed the consideration which he ever gave to his wife and children. He was a man of five feet, nine inches in heights, weighing from one hundred and ninety to one hundred and ninety-five pounds, was of fair complexion, with light hair and blue eyes. His expression was genial and kindly and yet he was not without that strength of character which is the basis of all forceful manhood. In his business affairs he prospered and took great delight in providing the comforts of life for his family. He might well have been called one of nature's noblemen, for his life was actuated by high principals and free from all that was degrading, and his memory remains as a blessed possession of his family and friends.