Excerpted by Ruby George, about 1978, from the "Clinton History Book"

Transcribed by Scott S. Slocum, 4/24/2000. Lightly edited, with comments in square brackets (e.g. [editorial comments]). The Clinton History Book is not currently known to this editor, and the photos mentioned are not currently available.

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James Latta was born, lived, and died in northern Ireland. All that is known of him is that he had several sons, three of whom immigrated to America. These were James, Samuel and Moses.

James, son of James, was born in 1746 and immigrated to America as early as 1772. He operated a dry goods business in Walkill, NY until his marriage to Sarah Jackson on Feb. 23,1773. They soon moved to New Windsor, NY where he bought 2000 acres of wild land west of Geneva, NY. There he cleared a large farm, where he and Sarah lived until she died in 1807. In 1809 he sold that farm and lived with his son John in Lewiston, NY. He died Nov. 30, 1817.

John, son of James Jr., was born July 15, 1776 at New Windsor, NY and died of cholera July 15, 1856.

Benjamin, son of John, and the eldest of eight children, was born in Lewiston, NY. He married Deborah Stevens. After a few years residing here, they moved west in 1846 with two small children, Susan and William John. They went through the lakes region, from where they traveled by covered wagon and ox team to Bradford Township in Rock County, WI. In 1846 the Lattas bought a farm on the east side of Carver's Rock Road and the north side of Townline Road. In 1852 Benjamin gave a half acre of land on the east side of the road [Carver's Rock Road] for a school, known as the Latta School. It was later moved to the west side of the road, and later became Maple Grove School. The accompanying photo [not available to this editor] is one of Benjamin and Deborah Latta with their ten children: Susan, William John, Benjamin Franklin, Ida, Albert, George Washington, Darius Knight, Josephine, Almetta, and Ulysses Grant Latta.

Susan, the eldest, married William Stewart, later called Colonel Stewart, a title he earned in the Civil War. Of their ten children, Hayden became President of Clinton's Village Board. Ray, the youngest, became Postmaster of Clinton. Susan, a daughter, married [Bert] Watts of Delavan. Their son [Susan and Bert's son] Harold was the father of the recent Judge J. Ernest Watts of Elkhorn, WI, who is now director of an advanced school for lawyers in Reno, NV. Another daughter, Zoa, married Frank B. Reeder, co-owner of Reeder's Hardware store (and later sole owner). Their son Vertis, and in turn their grandson Jac, continued as owners of the hardware store.

William John, the second child of Benjamin and Deborah, volunteered for the U.S. Infantry in 1861, at the age of 18. He served in the Fife and Drum Corps, and was honorably discharged in 1866. He married Emma Schutt [William and Emma are the grandparents of Ruby George, the collector of this history]. They bought land on Townline Road, east of Highway 140, built a home, and raised a family of six sons and three daughters. In 1911, William John was forced to cease farming, due to ill health. He and Emma moved into the Covert house (now Schilke's Funeral Home) in Clinton, WI. Upon completion of their new home at 404 Highland Ave. they moved there, where they lived the rest of their lives. William John died in 1924, and Emma in 1945.

William and Emma's eldest son, Arthur, married Mertie Hartshorn. They had four children: Leta, who married Roy Cole; Glenn, who was killed in an accident at the age of 20; and Katherine and Jane, who are presently living in Beloit WI.

William and Emma's second son, Benjamin, married Nettie Wood. To them were born Blanch, Dorris, Ralph, Gladys and Kenneth. All of this family have passed away, and only nine of the grandchildren are living. Ben and Nettie lived on the "home farm" several years before moving to Clinton.

William and Emma's third son, Homer, farmed with his father after graduating from Clinton High School in 1895. He married Rose Christman in 1900. They had five children, four of whom reached adulthood: Amarette van Epps (b. 1903), Dora Plautz, Wallace (who now lives in Beloit, WI), and me, Ruby [the collector of this history]. I married Dr. Michael George, and live in the village of Clinton, WI. [We had one daughter] She graduated from Whitewater U. in 1960, and taught elementary school in the Beloit, WI area for 17 years.

Another son [of William and Emma], Claude Elmer, married Susan Swartz. They had 7 children, but only two are living now: Edith Kramer of Beloit, WI and Orville Latta of Elkhorn. 22 of their grandchildren are living in various parts of the [country], many in this vicinity.

Another daughter of William and Emma, Edith, graduated from Clinton High School in 1899 and from Beloit College in 1903. She became a teacher of mathematics in Evansville and Superior, WI. She married Edwin [Sage], a grain inspector in Superior, WI. They had a daughter, Priscilla, and a son, John. Priscilla had 7 children. She resides in Wayland, MI, and is the only one of this family living today.

Another son of William and Emma, Fred Lynn, married Harriet Hartshorn. They had one daughter, Florence [McKinney] Thorson, who still lives in Beloit, WI. [Fred Lynn is listed as the last son, a designation also given to Lloyd below. A question is asked, whether Harriet is the sister of Mertie Hartshorn, who married Arthur Latta.]

Another daughter of William and Emma, Nina, graduated from Clinton High School in 1977 and later from Stout University. She married Elmer Smith, and they lived in Milwaukee, WI. Several years after Elmer's death, she married Glen Stron. They moved to Florida, and lived there the rest of their lives.

The last daughter of William and Emma, Anna, married Frank Johnson, and they lived in Wabasha, MN until he entered the infantry in World War I. She later married a Mr. Bowen, and after his death, she lived in Clinton, WI, where she managed a neighborhood store on the corner of Church and Highway 15.

The last son of William and Emma, Lloyd, served in World War I, where he became a sergeant. Lloyd never married, but lived the rest of his life with his mother.

Benjamin Franklin was known as Frank to distinguish him from his father. He left Clinton.

Albert never married. He left Clinton, and acquired many acres of land in Pingaree, ND.

Almetta married a Mr. Mason, and they had two daughters.

George Washington became a lawyer, and lived in Antigo, WI, where he later became Prosecuting Attorney of the County. He and his wife, Rachel, had three daughters: Maude, Grace, and Georgie. Two became college teachers.

Darius Knight married Carrie Hartshorn and farmed many years with his father. Their children were Warren, Lola, Lillian and Fay.

Josephine married Fred Cowles, and they lived in Delavan at least from 1907 to their deaths. They had three daughters: Daisie, May, and Bessie.

Ida was the fourth daughter. I have no information about her.

Ulysses Grant, the youngest son, practiced medicine after graduation from College of Physicians and Surgeons. His office was located above Buck and Reyner drug store in the heart of the Chicago Loop. During the building of the Chicago drainage canal, he operated weekly in his office. He realized the great need for a hospital, and when another young physician joined his practice, they began to raise funds. Results fell short of the goal, however; and they settled for building a very small hospital on Chicago's north side. The photo of him herewith [not available to this editor] was taken when he was chief surgeon of this Latta Hospital in Chicago. Lacking city funding, the hospital eventually closed, and Dr. Latta came with his second wife, Martha, to live in Clinton, WI. He did a limited amount of medical work in Clinton, and had a small lumber business in his barn, as a sideline. They had no heirs.