Branch No. 36

NO BRANCH CAPTAIN AT THIS TIME. Volunteer needed.


.........................................................................................................................
LAST NUMBER USED:19
........................................................................................................................

                                              1 WILLIAM (1) LATTA
     Lived in Westmoreland Co., Pa. when his son John was born.  With his Bible and gun went into the Revolutionary war.  Fought and preached.  Married Jane Harrison of Brandon, Va., descendant of Judge Harrison who helped to try, condemn and execute King Charles I of England in 1649.  See history of Latta Griswold, p. 3. {Please see Branch No.1, 4 William (3) Latta, as this may be the same William.} Children:
2      JOHN (2) b. Sept. 9, 1788 in Westmoreland Co., PA.
7      UNKNOWN FEMALE (2) m. Mr. Miller.  Had one son and two daughters: Edward.  Jane.
Eliza. Jane m. Mr. Smith, a jeweler.

                                                  2 JOHN (2) LATTA
     William (1).  Born Sept. 9, 1788 in Westmoreland Co., Pa.; d. "Sunday, the 8th day of March, 1846, at 2 P.M." (Pioneer Period and Pioneer People of Fairfield County, Ohio) ; m. Effia Sturgeon Wilson on December 2, 1824 at Lancaster, Ohio, daughter of Thomas and Jane (McEwen) Sturgeon of Dauphin Co., Pa.  She was born in Pa. January 8, 1789 in West Hanover Twp., Dauphin, PA; d. July 15, 1828, at 5 A.M., Tuesday" (Pioneer Period and Pioneer People of Fairfield County, Ohio).  Effia Sturgeon was the widow of Dr. Joseph Wilson, whom she married on July 15, 1814; having with him four children; Marie Elizabeth, John Alexander, Jane Amanda, and James S. Wilson.  Joseph Wilson died on September 28, 1823, and Effia married John Latta on December 2, 1824.  In 1813 John Latta had gone to Lancaster, Fairfield County, Ohio and went into the mercantile business with Benjamin and John Connell (Latta & Connell - 1820 Hocking Township, Fairfield Co., Ohio Census).  The firm later became Latta & Ainsworth.  In January 1834 he retired from business and at his death in Lancaster, Ohio, he left his son William a handsome estate.  After going to Lancaster he brought out his widowed sister, Mrs. Miller, and her two children, Eliza and Jane.  Mrs. Miller and Eliza died a few years later.  After the death of Effia, John and his little family of three took up his abode with his mother-in-law, Mrs. Sturgeon, until the death of that noble woman.  "At an early day a man named Branstadt laid out and sold a number of lots in what is now known as the "Hood neighborhood." John Latta laid off and sold some lots lying north of Mill street, between Broadway and Columbus streets." (History of Fairfield Co., Chapter 21).

 Children:  See Centennial History of Lancaster, pp. 94-99, 283.
3    WILLIAM (3) b. September 16, 1825 in Lancaster, OH.
8     JANE (3) b. January 27, 1828 at 9:00 p.m. in Lancaster, Fairfield Co., OH (Pioneer Period and Pioneer People of Fairfield County, Ohio); d. "Sunday, February 24, 1828" (Pioneer Period and Pioneer People of Fairfield County, Ohio) in Lancaster, Ohio.

                                                  3 WILLIAM (3) LATTA
     John (2) William (1).  Born at Lancaster, Fairfield County, Ohio September 16, 1825, at 9:00 a.m. in Lancaster, Fairfield Co., OH (Pioneer Period and Pioneer People of Fairfield County, Ohio).  Died "on Friday, the 13th day of November, 1874, at 6:30 o'clock a.m., aged 49 years, 9 months and 28 days" (Pioneer Period and Pioneer People of Fairfield County, Ohio) and is buried in Episcopal Church ground there.  Married Elizabeth Tacy Smith at Lancaster December 10, 1850.  She was born August 5, 1829 and died at St. Louis, Mo. April  30, 1914.  Buried in Elmwood Cemetery, Lancaster.  She was the daughter of James H. and Elizabeth S. (White) Smith.  Elizabeth Tacy Smith Latta's great grandfather, John Smith, was born and retired in accordance with well remembered family tradition.  He was a Captain in the army and sent by the Government about 1720 to the New Colony then in its infancy, in the valley of Virginia.  He located in Augusta Co.  Elizabeth Tacy Latta is a direct descendant of Captain John Smith.  William studied at the Ohio University at Athens in 1843 but on account of ill health did not complete his studies.  He engaged in business at Lancaster, Ohio with John Effinger and Thomas H. White under the firm name of Effinger, White & Latta.  He was known as a genial pleasant gentleman, and his family occupied a highly respectable position in Lancaster society.

(History of Fairfield Co., Chapter 22)."LANCASTER, November 2, 1855.      "We, the undersigned, do hereby declare our purpose to associate and combine together for the purpose of forming a joint company that shall be known as the Lancaster Gas-light and Coke Company; and do hereby subscribe to the capital stock the several sums affixed to our respective signatures, and agree to pay the same at such times and to such persons as the stockholders may appoint for that purpose:      "Martin & Co., $1,000; B. F. Reinmund, $600; Daniel Sifford, $500; S. Beery, $500; J. C. Kinkead, $500; James Gates, $600; G. S. Ekert, $500; Work & Son, $500; George Kauffman, $500; Thomas Sturgeon, $500; White & Latta, $300; John Effinger, $200: J. C. Smith, $500; Emanuel Giesy, $200; John Work, $300; John M. Giesy, $500; Daniel Giesy, $200; Theodore Talmage, $100; John T. Brazee, $500: John Lyons, $500; Henry Orman, $100; W. P. Creed, $500; Mrs. J. D. Martin, $300; John D. Matt, $100; R. T. Coverdale, $11,000. Total, $21,000."
Children:
4    JOHN (4) b. "on Saturday morning at 6-1/2 o'clock" (Pioneer Period and Pioneer People of Fairfield County, Ohio) on January 31, 1852; d. March 2, 1910.
9    JAMES WHITE (4) b. "on Tuesday evening, January 24, 1854, at 8-1/2 o'clock" (Pioneer Period and Pioneer People of Fairfield County, Ohio); d. April 24, 1878.
5    WILLIAM (4) b.  "on Tuesday morning at 9-3/4 o'clock on May 8, 1856" (Pioneer Period and Pioneer People of Fairfield County, Ohio).
10   KATHARINE (4) b. "on Tuesday evening, August 17, 1858, at 10-3/4 o'clock" (Pioneer Period and Pioneer People of Fairfield County, Ohio); m. Samuel G.V. Griswold May 1875.  He died in 1929.  One son, Latta Griswold, who was an Episcpol Priest.  For his history see page 3.  She later married Horace S. Wade of New York City.  In 1932 lived at Village Inn, Lennox, Mass.
11    ELIZABETH (5) b. "on Wednesday evening, November 21, 1860, at 8-1/4 o'clock" (Pioneer Period and Pioneer People of Fairfield County, Ohio); m. Leonidas Laidley, a doctor, of St. Louis, Mo. May 25, 1880 at Lancaster, Ohio.  Children: Latta.  Pearl.  Edward.  In 1932 lived 435 E. 57th St., New York City.
12     MORTON BRAZEE (4) b. "on Friday at 3-1/2 o'clock p.m., September 11, 1878" (Pioneer Period and Pioneer People of Fairfield County, Ohio); d. July 16, 1898.

1880 Census, 2nd Ward, Lancaster, Fairfield Co., OH

Elizabeth LATTA1   Self   W   Female   W   50   OH      VA   PA 
 Morton LATTA   Son   S   Male   W   11   OH   At School   OH   OH 
 Elizabeth TALLMADGE   Other   W   Female   W   60   OH      CT   VA 
 Catherine GRUBB   Other   S   Female   W   46   OH      MD   PA 
 Rebecca GRUBB   Other   S   Female   W   40   OH      MD   PA 


 

                                               4 JOHN (4) LATTA
     William (3) John (2) William (1).  Born January 31, 1852; d. March 2, 1910; m. Mary
Elizabeth Smith on October 1, 1885 at Lancaster, Ohio. Moved to Dallas, Texas.   Children:
13     SMITH HARRISON (5) b. November 14, 1886; d. March, 1963 (SS Index) m. Eliza Catherine Keating October 20, 1911 at Dallas, Texas, daughter of Cecil A. and Nellie Joy Whitmore Keating of Dallas.  Eliza was born August 31, 1889 and died March 4, 1972.  She is buried in the Hollywood Forever Cemetery,  Hollywood, Los Angeles County, California, in Crypt 1393.  In 1932 lived at 1530 Hudson Ave., Hollywood, Calif.
14     ELIZA MARNELL (5) b. at Dallas, Texas September 26, 1913.



                                              5 WILLIAM (4) LATTA
     William (3) John (2) William (1).  Born May 8, 1856; m. twice: 1) Sarah Bennett at Evart, Mich.  She died December 8, 1880.  2) Ellen Margaret Stewart at Washington, Mich. January 24, 1883, daughter of David G. and Mary (Davis) Stewart of Greenfield, Mass.  See Biography below.
Child by first wife:
6    JAMES WHITE (6) b. December 1, 1880.
Child by second wife:
15    ALICE MARION (6) b. July 8, 1888; m. William Wittick McCord June 24, 1913,
son of Herbert A. and Elizabeth (Sparrow) McCord of Chicago, Ills.  In 1932 lived at 16209
Ballis Ave., Detroit, Mich.  Children: Mary Ellen b. 1915.  Herbert b. 1921.

1880 Census, Evart, Osceola Co., Michigan

William LATTA   Self   M   Male   W   24   OH   Accountant   OH   OH 
 Sarah LATTA   Wife   M   Female   W   18   MI   Keep. House   IRE   SCOT 

A History of Northern Michigan and Its People: (p. 1069) William Latta: It is a pleasurable task to record the history of a man who has forged his way to the front by his own unaided efforts, refusing to recognize adverse circumstances, and who by resolute will and determination has won success and high standing in the world of business.  Such a man is William Latta, secretary and treasurer of the Champion Tool & Handle Company, to whose sterling ability and worth his fellow citizens liberally testify.  During the course of his residence in Evart he has been thoroughly identified with local upbuilding and improvement, taking a commendable interest in whatever promises to be of lasting benefit to the vicinity.  Mr. Latta has long been associated in his present capacity with the Champion Tool & Handle Company, which has over forty men in its employment and is, indeed, one of the largest businesses of its kind in the United States.

    By the circumstance of birth Mr. Latta belongs to Fairfield county, Ohio, the family having for many years been honorably associated with that section of the Buckeye state, the grandfather being one of its pioneers.  The eyes of the subject first opened to the light of day in the little city of Lancaster, the date of his nativity being May 8, 1856. Here in the year 1826 his father, also William Latta, had been born. The latter was reared and education in his native place, his higher education having been received in Athens College in Athens, Ohio. He was a land owner and a hardware merchant and he was taken from a community where he was regarded as a valuable father in the prime of his usefulness, for he was only forty-nine years of age.  His father, John Latta, was a native of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, and, as said before, was one of the early settlers of Fairfield County, Ohio. He was a pioneer merchant and of English origin, the first Lattas to identify themselves with America having come from the "right little, tight little island." The first of the maternal ancestors of the subject to come to America was no less famous a personage than Captain John Smith, president of the Virginia colony, whose romance with the Indian maid forms one of the most romantic pages of American tradition.  The mother of him whose name initiates this review was Elizabeth Smith, direct descendant of the adventurous captain. This venerable and honored lady is still living, her years numbering eighty-one.  Her father was James H. Smith.  To her and her husband six children were born, four sons and two daughters, the subject being the third in order of birth.

    The boyhood days of Mr. Latta were spent in his native Lancaster, to whose excellent public schools he is indebted for his education. At the early age of eighteen years he severed home ties and set forth to make his fortunes, like the proverbial hero of romance.  His way was taken through Indiana and Illinois, and he spent three years as a clerk in a mercantile business.  This was no doubt important in that it was influential in determining his future field of endeavor.  In 1879 he crossed the boundaries of Michigan and came direct to Evart, and here secured a position was agent for the E. & C. Eldred Lumber Company.

    In 1882 he represented the same company and then went to Minnesota, where he remained until 1884, in which year he returned to Evart. Here he engaged in the mercantile business for three years, but at the end of that time sold out and accepted a position as traveling salesman with the Champion Tool & Handle Company.  He traveled for the space of eighteen years in the interests of the above-mentioned important concern, and the results achieved by him were of the highest character.  In the meantime he became interested in the company and proved faithful and efficient in lesser details of the business he was given more and more to do an dhe was finally honored by the office of secretary and treasurer of the large concern, and he accepted the same.  That was in the year 1890, and he has remained in such capacity from that time until the present day.  The Champion Tool & Handle Company was organized in 1890 and has enjoyed an uninterrupted course of prosperity.  Giving employment as it does to a large number of men and bringing a great amount of business to the town and county, it stands as one of the most important elements of its prosperity, and those who are at its head and conduct its affairs, being, indeed, responsible for its existence, can be looked upon only in the light of benefactors.  Mr. Latta has other important interests, being a director in the Evart Savings Bank and in other local enterprises.  His identification with the community covers a period of thirty-one years.

    Mr. Latta has been twice married. His first union was solemnized in March, 1880, Miss Sarah Bennett, daughter of William Bennett, becoming his wife.  She died that same year, leaving an infant son, James W., who is now a resident of Grand Rapids, where he is engaged in the lumber business.  Mr. Latta was married on the 25th day of June, 1883, to Miss Ellen Stewart, daughter of David Stewart of Washington, Macomb County, Michigan.  Their one daughter, Alice M., is at home.

    Mr. Latta is one who takes a great amount of pleasure in his fraternal life.  He is one of the prominent Masons of northern Michigan, holding the thirty-second degree and belonging to the Blue Lodge and the Knights Templars.

Portrait and Biographical Album of Osceola County (Mich.) - Jan. 1, 1884, William Latta was admitted to an interest in the business, the firm style becoming Charles L. Gray & Co., and the relations of the house are steadily expanding and increasing.  One mill is situated on River Street at the foot of Sixth, where 15 men are required as assistants in the manufacture of lumber and broom-handles.  At another mill, located in Hartwick Township, they employ 15 men, and manufacture shingles and four-foot clap-boards.  A third mill, at Sunrise Lake, requires a complement of 20 assistants and is devoted to the manufacture of shingles and other lumbar products.

Charles L. Gray......when the present business connection was established, its members being Charles L. Gray, B. G. Colton and William Latta.  Their mills are located at Evart, Hartwick and Sunrise Lake.  The capacity of the two last named is 125,000 shingles daily, and about 5,000 clapboards.  They employ about 75 men.


 



                                         6 JAMES WHITE (5) LATTA
     William (4) William (3) John (2) William (1).  Born December 1, 1880; d. December, 1958 (SS Index) in Michigan; m. Lulu Pearl Hickman December 27, 1910.  In 1932 they lived at 770 D. Fulton Street, Grand Rapids, Mich. Children:
16     MARY ALICE (6) b. December 20, 1911.
17     WILLIAM (6) b. July 3, 1914. Lives at Okemos, Michigan. latta@pilot.msu.edu
18     JAMES WHITE (6) b. October 3, 1921.
19     MORTON B. (6) b. April 6, 1929.

_______________________________________________________

END OF BRANCH..............................................NOTES BELOW
______________________________________________________

     History of Latta Griswold, grandson of 3 William (3) Latta:
     The New York times, August 16, 1931.  "The Rev. Latta Griswold, rector of Trinity
Episcopal Church of Lenox, Mass. for at least 13 years, author and educator, died last night of a paralytical stroke at a hospital in Edinburgh, Scotland, while traveling.  His age was 55.  He was stricken ill on Thursday.  Mrs. Kate Wade Latta, his mother, and Nathanial Noble, master at Lenox School, which Mr. Griswold founded, were with him.  The party sailed on June 20.  In July Dr. Griswold had charge of Shiplake Parish at Henley-on-Thames.
     Dr. Griswold was born at Lancaster, Ohio February 4, 1876.  He received his Bachelor of
Arts degree from Princeton Univ. in 1901, and his Masters degree a year later.  He attended
Princeton Theological Seminary next two years, and was graduated from the General Theological Seminary in New York in 1905.  For the first year after he was ordained Dr. Griswold was assistant at Trinity Church, Newport.  He was vicar at St. Columba's Church, Newport from 1906 to 1915.
     While in Newport he also was master at St. George's School.  Since 1907 he has resided
here.  In 1926 he founded the Lenox School in the former George Griswold Haven village.  He was on the school's executive committee at his death.
     Dr. Griswold had been a diocesan delegate to several national conventions of the
Protestant Episcopal Church, and was examining chaplain of the diocese.  Among his books are "Deering of Deal",  "Deering at Princeton",  "The Winds of Deal", "Deal Woods", "The Episcopal Church--its Teaching and Worship", "The Inn at Red Oak" and others.  He never married.  His body will be brought to Lenox for burial. ("Deering at Princeton" was published in 1913 and 1923, and dedicated to Prescott Sheldon Bush (18 years old in 1913) who later became Senator Bush, father and grandfather of Presidents Bush.)
    
     Following is taken from the manuscript of his Autobiography.  Mr. Nathanial N. Noble of
Lennox, had charge of all Mr. Griswold's papers. 
     "The ancestral strain contributed to the solitary offspring of his union by the mother was
of a radical different character from that derived from the father.  The Griswolds, save from a slight admixture of Dutch through Eunice Viets, Exra's mother, were pure English; the Latta's were of Scotch-Irish origin, and settled long before the Revolution in Pennsylvania.,  With this Scotch-Irish blood were mingled English Virginian strains, one derived from Jane Harrison of Brandon, who married the Revolutionary William Latta: the other through Elizabeth, daughter of James Smith, of Shenandoah.  The Harrisons of Brandon were as eminent in the annals of Virginia as the Griswolds in those of Connecticut.  They had their origin, so far as history has taken note of them, in the brutal judge who pronounced the sentence, that, in the estimation of one of his descendants, elevated King Charles I to the rank of marter... The Griswolds and the Lattas had settled in Lancaster.  Thither likewise, came the Shenandoah Smiths, moved to migrate north of the Ohio with the Philanthropic purpose of freeing their slaves.  Elizabeth Smith married William Latta, the son of John, who was reputed according to the simple standards of the day to be a merchant prince.  "Beneath this roof their only child was born February 4, 1876.  It was the eldest daughter of this union who ran away with Sandy Griswold.--Latta Griswold."

    The town legend (Lennox, Mass) has it that some members of the community believe that Latta Griswold haunts the rectory and has mysteriously left his calling card at selected homes in Lennox. http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/read/LATTA/1998-08/0902317606



     In branch No. 1, 2 William (2) Latta had a number of children, one of whom was a son
named William.  He also had a daughter named Jane.  The family lived in Westmoreland Co., Pa.  This daughter Jane married a Mr. McConnell.  In 1841 their son, Alexander Latta McConnell, lived at Eckmansville, Adams Co., Ohio.  Other brothers of Jane moved to other parts of Ohio.  In the family at the head of this sheet, William and John lived in Westmoreland Co., Pa.  We do not know if William went to Ohio, but his son John did, accompanied by Benjamin and John Connell.
     The son, William, in branch No. 1, may have been the William at the head of this sheet, as they both lived in Westmoreland Co., Pa.  And as his sister Jane married a McConnell, it may be possible that the name was misspelled.  I have no history of the son William, in branch No. 1.  Then again, many of branch No. 1, went to Ohio, the same as John on this sheet.
     In branch No. 1, William, the head of the family, with his sons, served in the
Revolutionary War.  So did the William at the head of this sheet.  John named his daughter Jane.  It may have been after Jane McConnell who perhaps was a sister of his partners, Benjamin and John Connell, and perhaps his aunt, sister of William.
     Who are John and Jane Latta buried at Lancaster, Ohio, Cemetery.  See branch No. 3,
family 8, under name of Jane Latta.