George A. Latham Pages 241, 242 - GEORGE A. LATHAM. The gentleman whosename introduces this sketch is intelligent and enterprising, and from boyhoodhas been interested in agricultural pursuits. He has spent many years of hislife in tilling and cultivating the soil, and is now in comfortablecircumstances. As one of the first settlers of Allendale Township, he has foryears been closely associated with the progress of Ottawa County. Born in theState of New York, he is a son of John and Mary (Osborne) Latham, who were alsonatives of the Empire State. Grandfather Kellogg Latham was a soldier in the Warfor Independence, and John Latham was an active participant in the War of 1812,being stationed in Connecticut. The maternal grandfather, Israel Osborne, wasalso a Revolutionary soldier. He reared a large family, as did also KelloggLatham. John Latham was a carpenter and joiner by trade, and when the subject of thissketch was about seven years of age he removed to Wellington, Ohio, and there hefollowed his trade until becoming quite advanced in years, when he abandonedcarpentry to take up farming. He continued thus engaged until his death, whichoccurred about 1851, his wife having died about 1835. They were the parents ofthree children: Julia, deceased; George A., who was born September 5, 1829; andClarissa, wife of S. E. Turner, of Grand Rapids, Mich. Mr. Latham has beenmarried previous to his with Miss Osborne, and by his first wife had become thefather of eight children, as follows: Warren; Nancy, wife of George Cone; Almira,who married a Mr. Nelson; Eliza, the wife of G. D. Graves; Mary A., Mrs. J.Batterson; Charles, Kellogg, and one that died young. George A. Latham was educated in the district schools of Ohio, and in hisyouth became familiar with farm life. At the age of twenty he left the shelterof the parental roof and, coming to Michigan, remained here from November, 1849,until June, 1850, when he returned to Ohio. After remaining in the Buckeye Statefor some time, he returned to Michigan, and for eight years thereafter made hishome in Grand Rapids. During that time he was employed in a lumber-mill, and fora number of years afterward he was engaged as foreman for Richard Roberts, whowas the first settler of the county. In 1860 he purchased eighty acres of timberland and eighty acres of farming land, selling one-half of the latter tract tohis father-in-law, Isaac Tuttle, and disposing of the remaining forty acres toG. P. Reed. The first eight-acre tract he improved, and the larger part of it hehas sold. For seven years he was engaged in handling lumber and timber in histownship for Ferry & Son, of Grand Haven. Upon abandoning that occupation, Mr. Latham came to his farm, but shortlyafterward went to Muskegon, and there worked for his former employers fromNovember, 1866, to May, 1869, receiving for his services $100 per month. In 1869he returned to his farm, where he remained about one year. He then commencedcontracting with Dwight, Cutler & Savage, and for six years was in theemploy of this firm. He then again returned to his farm, and for ten years wassuccessfully engaged in tilling the soil. At that time he sold sixty acres ofhis property and purchased forty acres of the land which he now owns, laterincreasing it by eighty acres, which he has since sold. He now owns a sixty-acrefarm, which is improved with a fine residence, good barns and a magnificentorchard of many of the best varieties of apples, peaches, pears and plums,besides having an excellent vineyard and quantities of small fruit. Mr. Lathamhas served his township as Supervisor for three terms, Highway Commissioner fortwelve years, and is now and for some years past has been Director of his schooldistrict. The first marriage of Mr. Latham united him with Miss Mary A. Tuttle, anative of Michigan, and a daughter of Isaac Tuttle, one of the pioneer settlersof the county. To them five children were born: Jackson E., of Kendall County,Ill.; Edgar, Kellogg, Benjamin, and Mary E., deceased. Mrs. Mary A. Latham diedin the year 1872, and three years later our subject wedded Mrs. Susan M. Pixley,a daughter of Asa Brown. Her parents were natives of Canada and Massachusetts,respectively. Mr. and Mrs. Latham lost their only daughter, who died at birth.They now have an adopted daughter, Deme B. Latham. This worthy couple aremembers of the Congregational Church. Socially, he is a member of Ottawa LodgeNo. 122, A. F. & A. M. In his political views he has always supported themen and measures of the Republican party.

Portrait & Biographical Record of Muskegon & OttawaCounties, Michigan 1893, Chicago: Biographical Publishing Company

Transcriber: Susan Gates Davis
Created: 31 March 2003
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