Bio: Joseph M. Latham, Sabine Parish Louisiana

Source:  Biographical & Historical Memoirs of Northwest Louisiana, The

Southern Publishing Company, 1890, Nashville and Chicago



Submitted by:  Thelma Shields

e-mail:  shields@eufaula.lib.ok.us
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JOSEPH M. LATHAM





Joseph M Latham, a prominent man and one who is in the foremost ranks to

advance any cause for the good of his parish, is a native of East Tennessee,

his birth occurring on December 27, 1830.  He is the son of Lawrence and

Elizabeth (Smotherman)Latham, natives, respectively of North Carolina and

Alabama, this worthy couple having been married in the last named State.  They

moved from there to Tennessee, thence to Clarke County, Miss.,and there

received their final summons, the father dying at the age of seventy six, and

the mother at the age of fifty years.  Mr. Latham was a very successful

agriculturist, and was a man eminently respected.  He was a member of the

Methodist Church, and in politics was a Democrat, although formerly a Whig. 

He was married twice, twelve children having been born to his first union and

four to the last. 



Joseph M. Latham was reared to manhood in Choctaw County, Miss., and left that

state in 1852, coming to Louisiana, after which he spent one year in Texas.

He rambled all over the state of Louisiana, and at last settled here,

satisfied to make this his future home.  He started out for himself in poor

circumstances, but had the perseverance and energy to succeed, and is classed

among the substantial men of the parish at the present tie.  He is the owner

of 180 acres of land and has a good portion under cultivation.  In 1861 he

joined the Twelfth Louisiana Infantry, Company A, and served all through the

war in a faithful and efficient manner.  He was in the following battles: 

Fort Pillow, Cold Water, (Miss), Jackson, Bakers's Creek, Grenada, the Georgia

campaign and Atlanta, Ga.  He then returned to Mississippi through Georgia,

and as soon as he could get money enough he returned to Louisiana.  He was

married in 1866 to Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Chamblers of this parish and the widow

of L.M. Chamblers, who was killed during the war.  To Mr. and Mrs. Latham were

born the following children:  Sallie(wife of Robert Graham, a farmer of Sabine

Parish), Charlotte, (at home), Lorenzo L. (at home), Thomas (deceased),

Rebecca Joseph and Jesse.  Mr. and Mrs. Latham are members in good standing in

the Methodist church and he is a steward in the same.  In politics he is

Democratic.  He is one of the representative citizens of Sabine Parish, and

always supports and advocates all good enterprises to aid in developing the

country.



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