Biography of G. W. Lattin

	This biography is from "Memorial and biographical record; an illustrated
 	compendium of biography, containing a compendium of local biography,
	including biographical sketches of prominent old settlers and 
	representative citizens of South Dakota..." Published by G. A. Ogle & 
	Co., Chicago, 1898. Page 313.

	Scan and OCR by Joy Fisher, 1997. This file may be copied for non-profit 
	purposes. All other rights reserved. 


JUDGE G. W. LATTIN, editor and proprietor of the "Kingsbury County 
Independent," and an attorney-at-law; resides at DeSmet. Judge Lattin is 
a native of Dutchess county, New York, and was born April 23, 1858. His 
parents, Edom C. and Ruth A. (Mosier) Lattin, were also natives of 
Dutchess county. They were married in their native county, and resided 
there until 1861, when they removed to Rensselaer, New York, where Mr. 
Lattin died. In 1869 Mrs. Lattin went to DeKalb county, Illinois, where 
she married Mr. James Dickey, who died not long afterward. She then went 
further West, to Franklin, Nebraska, and there her death occurred. Judge 
Lattin was the second of four children, the others being Stephen A., 
Alma and Sarah E. The Judge received his education at the Teachers' 
institute and Classical seminary, at Pawpaw, Illinois. He was graduated 
from the latter in 1880, and the same year entered the Union College of 
Law, at Chicago, Illinois. Two years later he completed the course, 
graduating at the head of his class, and receiving first prize for 
scholarship throughout the course. On June 17, 1882, was admitted to the 
Illinois bar. The following month he came to Dakota, settling upon some 
land near Iroquois, Kingsbury county. He followed farming there for 
about eight years, and in January, 1891, removed to DeSmet, which has 
been his home since. In 1892 Judge Lattin purchased the “Kingsbury 
County Independent." This is now one of the most widely read and 
influential papers in the eastern part of the state, and its success is 
due in large measure to Judge Lattin's wise policy and able management. 
The Judge has always been active in politics, and has held a number of 
offices. He is now county judge of Kingsbury county, and has been since 
1890. He is also an alderman of the city of DeSmet, and his entire 
public service has been marked by a devotion to the interests of the 
people and the faithful performance of his duties. He is prominent in 
Masonic circles, and is a member of the Eastern Star. His real estate 
holdings now comprise over one hundred and sixty acres of fine, improved 
land in Kingsbury county, all of which he lets to others, his newspaper 
interests and law practice, in addition to the duties of his office, 
making it impracticable for him to look after his country property.

	Judge Lattin married Miss Sarah VanPatten in Lee county, Illinois, 
July 11, 1881. Mrs. Lattin is the daughter of Cornelius F. and Mary 
(Young) VanPatten. She was born in DeKalb county, Illinois, on May 23d, 
1861. Judge and Mrs. Lattin are parents of seven children: Mary, Ruth, 
who is now deceased; William E., Herbert C., Howard, deceased; Lois and 
Homer.