My Genealogy Hound

SAMUEL B. LATSHAW, the eldest son of Daniel and Angeline (Bean) Latshaw, was born January 17, 1852. He obtained his education in the common schools in Limerick township and at Phoenixville. For four years he was engaged as clerk in a store in Royersford, and then entered Bryant & Stratton’s Commercial College in Philadelphia, from which he graduated in 1871. For one year following he served in the ticket office of the Reading Railway Company at Royersford, and then entered the employ of the American Wood Paper Company at Spring City in the capacity of bookkeeper and clerk. He rendered most acceptable service in this responsible position for the long period of fifteen years, then resigning to enter upon an independent career. Engaging in a real estate and insurance business at Royersford in 1887, he has long been known as one of the most capable and enterprising real estate dealers in Montgomery county, his own large interests having afforded him an insight into the business which it would be impossible to gain otherwise. His knowledge of the details of the business, his excellent judgment, and his tireless industry and energy have enabled him to build up a large and lucrative business. He does much in the way of taking property in charge, collecting the rents making repairs, etc., and in every way guarding the interests of those for whom he acts. He has more than twenty-five leading insurance companies on his list, representing many of the best in the United States. In 1887 he erected one of the finest office buildings in Montgomery county, a portion of which he occupies for his own business. The first floor is entirely devoted to stores. Upon the second floor are the spacious and well furnished halls occupied by the Young Men’s Christian Association, the Women’s Christian Temperance Union and other organizations. On the third floor is a large hall fitted with a well appointed stage, with a seating capacity of four hundred, in which public entertainments are given from time to time. Spacious and comfortable lodge rooms for various fraternal orders occupy the fourth floor.

Mr. Latshaw is a director in the following corporations: Royersford National Bank, the Fernwood Cemetery Company, the Keystone Building and Loan Association, and the Royersford Trust Company. He is also treasurer of the Howe Water Company of Royersford, and is a stockholder in a number of other corporations. He has been successful in all his enterprises, and has done much to build up the town in which he is, from every point of view, so valuable and useful a citizen. He holds many responsible positions, including those of treasurer of the board of trustees of the Methodist church; and librarian of its Sunday school. He is affiliated with Royersford Lodge, No. 585, Free and Accepted Masons. In politics he is a Prohibitionist.

Mr. Latshaw married, October 4, 1876, Alice Rogers, daughter of Jones Rogers, of Royersford. Their only child, a son, Clarence R., died in 1903, at the age of twenty-four years, when just fairly entered upon what promised to be a most active and honorable career. Mr. and Mrs. Latshaw have an adopted daughter, Ella R. Latshaw.