JOHN COPELAND LATTA, 13 AUGUST 1837 - 10 NOV 1915

 

 

John Copeland Latta came from Moose Ridge, Monroe County, but  his obituary notice says he was born in Fairmont, West Virginia.    His father was Irish, and his mother was German.  John and Mary Jane's Marriage Certificate was found in the Morris family Bible and is dated March 16,  l861.  It currently (1998)  is hanging in the home of Betty Latta Kitchen. A lock of hair and a card are also in that Bible as well as the listings of all the Morris and Latta children.

 

His father's will  (one of my most exciting historical documents - see John II Latta) signed by the probate judge January 31, 1866, stated:  "I give and bequeath to my son John C. Latta all my personal estate except what will be sufficient to make the above payments {just debts and funeral expenses}. . . .  And also I give and bequeath unto my son John C. Latta all my real estate, to wit: The North West Quarter of the North East Quarter of Section No. nine in Township No. five of Range No. six, situated in Monroe County, Ohio.  I also require my son John C. Latta to maintain my wife Anna Latta or cause her to be maintained in a comfortable manner during her life time. . . ."  (Some day Don and I will have to try to find out where this property was and what became of it since we know that John C. and his wife Mary Jane lived on the property owned by Henry G. Morris.  We think that they lived near Lewisville the first few years of their married life.)

 

 On page l64 of the l870 Census of Monroe County the John C. Latta household is listed:  "John C. Latta (32, VA, farmer); Mary J. (32, OH, keep house); Thomas L. (3); and Allan F. (l).  There is a notation also of Wayne Township so apparently the young family lived there for a while before moving into the Henry G. Morris home.

 

The 1880 Federal Census of Monroe County made these listings in Malaga Township with the state after the name being the person's state of birth, the next his/her father's, and the third the state of his/her mother:

 

 

 

 

 

Following the death of Mary Jane's father all of Mary Jane's brothers and sisters sold their claim to the Morris land to John Copeland.  They each received $l22 or $l23 for their share.  The quit claim deeds were signed by Acel (X=his mark) and Harriet Leach, David C. and Margaret A. Morris, Thomas J. and Susannah (X=her mark) Morris [it was Susanna on the Abstract mentioned below], William R. and Susannah Morris [it was Susanah (X) on the Abstract], Wilson Morris, Elijah  A. Somers ($339 because it was for his  wife Sarah L. and her sister Phebe E.) all between 1878-1880.  We have copies of these transactions as well as the title examination synopsis we received  when we purchased the property.   In the 23-page carbon copy ABSTRACT OF TITLE OF THE LANDS OF MARY BELLE LATTA SITUATED IN MALAGA TOWNSHIP, MONROE COUNTY, O. further notations of these quit-claim deeds are recorded.  In addition to those above it mentions the quit claim deed of "John A. Morris and Sarah A. Morris, his wife, in consideration of $l30.00 in hand paid by John C. Latta. . . . "    Another page in this Abstract tells about the Act of Congress of the 24th of April, 1820, entitled "An Act making further provisions for the sale of the Public Lands" by which the property originally went to Henry G. Morris on March 20, 1837, by the President Martin Van Buren.   We also have a copy of the Administrator's or Executor's accounts that shows the closing of the Henry G. Morris estate on March 11, 1879.  It shows early payments "May l8, l876, Pd. Hearriet J. Leach--on Legacy $77.45 and December 28--Phebe E. Morris --$2.50. . . ."   John C. Latta and John A. Morris were the administrators of the estate although the only signature when the document was admitted to probate was that of John C. Latta.    The property is very hilly with many trees.  I wondered how they worked that land.   Frank Christman and Aunt Jan both told me that the boys would always come home to help their dad cradle wheat on the Fourth of July.

 

I have his obituary notice.  It reads:   "John C. Latta was born at Fairmont, W. Va., August 13, 1837, and died suddenly of paralysis at his home near Miltonsburg, Ohio, November 10, 1915, being 78 years, two months, and 27 days of age.  He is survived by his aged widow who with his daughter Mary Belle, tenderly cared for him during seven years of invalidism caused by a stroke of paralysis.  He also leaves six children, T.L. of Calais, A. F. of Graysville, John T. of Thonze, Burma, David W. of Canton, Ohio, Mrs. C. A. Matz of Ashland, Ohio, and Mary Belle of the home.  Funeral services were held at the residence November 12, by J. L. Burris and H.L. Hines after which he was laid to rest in the beautiful Calais cemetery.  Card of Thanks--We hereby thank all of our kind neighbors and friends who, were so helpful to us during the sickness and death of our husband and father.--Mrs. J.C. Latta and Children"  This was originally published in the Thursday, November 25, 1915, issue of the Spirit of Democracy on page 5.

 

A second obituary notice reads:  "Mr. J. C. Latta, aged 78 years, a prominent and substantial farmer of Seneca township, passed away at noon, November l0, l9l5.  Mr. Latta had been afflicted the past 8 years with paralysis though in apparent fair health until recently, his death being unexpected.  He was the father of Prof. T.L. Latta of Calais, Ohio; Dr. Allen Latta of Graysville, Ohio; David Latta, of Akron, Ohio; John Latta, a Baptist Missionary in India; Mrs. Madaline Matz, of Ashland, Ohio; and Mary B. Latta, at home, who with his aged wife mourn his loss."  [I, Betty Kitchen, question Mrs. Matz as Madaline since she was named Louisa and also that my grandfather David was from Akron.  I wonder who wrote this obituary?]

 

In a l998 letter from Aunt Jan she writes:  "Dad always said his Father loved to read and was alert to the news although it was old stuff till it got to the Hill Country."   [I have two pairs of his eyeglasses and case.]

 

[Photo of John Copeland and Mary Jane Morris Latta]

 

Provided by Betty (Latta) Kitchen -- e-mail:  Betty Kitchen

 

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