Harrison County Iowa Genealogy

HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY, IOWA, 1915
BIOGRAPHIES
Page 609
JAMES H. LATTA

Those accustomed to superficial thinking are wont to believe that the history of so-called great men only is worthy of preservation and that little merit exists among the masses to call forth the praises of the historian or the cheers and appreciation of mankind. A greater mistake was never made. No man is great in all things. Many by a lucky stroke, achieve lasting fame who before that had no reputation beyond the limits of their immediate neighborhood. It is not a history of the lucky stroke which benefits humanity most but the long, steady and persistent efforts which made the lucky stroke possible. It is the preliminary work and methods that serve as a guide for the success of others. Among the farmers of Harrison county, Iowa, who have achieved success by steady, persistent efforts, is James H. LATTA, a farmer and stockman of Jefferson township.

James H. LATTA was born January 16, 1869, in Clay township, Harrison county, the son of James and Anna (KENDALL) LATTA, the former born in 1834 in Pennsylvania. James LATTA came to Iowa before the Civil War and, at the breaking out of this war, enlisted at Council Bluffs, in Company B, Twenty-ninth Iowa Infantry. He was wounded in the battle of Saline river and after the war was discharged. He then returned to Iowa and started a sawmill in Clay township. He conducted this mill until about 1874 when he engaged in farming. He continued farming until 1879 when he went to Colorado and operated a saw-mill for a few years. He again returned to Harrison county and took up farming. He retired in 1904 and now lives with his children. Anna (Kendall) LATTA was born in 1838 in Warren county, Illinois, and died about 1897 in Harrison county. To Mr. and Mrs. James LATTA six children were born, William, a farmer of Jefferson township; James H., the subject of this sketch; John C., a farmer of Jefferson township; Walter L., a merchant at Logan, Iowa; Frank, who is referred to elsewhere in this volume; Anna P. Hughs, of Jefferson township.

James H. LATTA attended the district schools of Calhoun township, Harrison county, and the public schools of Logan, Iowa, and was reared on the farm. He taught school in Calhoun township for six terms and then started farming. Mr. LATTA rented the first year and then bought one hundred and forty acres of land. He now owns seven hundred and fifteen acres upon which he has placed improvements costing at least six thousand dollars. He has built barns and sheds and is an extensive feeder of cattle. He takes part every year in the short course given at Logan, Iowa.

James H. LATTA was married in 1898 to Dora FRAZIER, who was born December 7, 1871, in Harrison county, Iowa. She is a daughter of Samuel and Angline (MURPHY) Frazier and was educated in the Logan high school. Three children, Dean, Allene and Lucille, have been born to this union.

Mr. LATTA is an ardent Republican. He is influential in his township and in the county where he lives and is properly regarded as one of the most eminent and valuable citizens, admired and respected by everybody.

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