My Genealogy Hound

WILLIAM C. LATHAM, a retired farmer living at Florence, was born in County Tipperary, Ireland, October 26, 1824, son of William and Joanna (Cormac) Latham.

William Latham, who was also a native of County Tipperary, was steward for a state minister, who possessed a large estate. He and his wife reared to adult life four sons and seven daughters. Of these, besides the subject of this sketch, there are now living two daughters in Cincinnati, Ohio, and a son and two daughters in the old country. The youngest member of the family, a son, came to America in early manhood, served in the Civil War as First Lieutenant in a company of cavalry, and when but twenty-six years of age was killed in battle at Baton Rouge, where his remains were subsequently buried.

William C. Latham acquired a practical common-school education, and was reared to farm life in his native land. He embarked March 9, 1849, on a sailing-vessel bound for the United States, and after a voyage of five weeks and four days landed at New York City. After spending a short time with his aunts in Brooklyn, N.Y., he came to Northampton, Mass. Later he secured work in a woollen factory in Leeds, where he was employed for two years. He next worked at farming, and afterward obtained a salaried position in the meat business. Soon after his marriage, in the fall of 1850, he settled in Florence on four acres of land on West Street, in the locality known as “The Commons,” where he erected a comfortable and substantial home.

His wife, whose maiden name was Miss Mary Grady, was born in County Kerry, Ireland. She came to this country alone in 1848, and until her marriage made her home with her brother, Thomas Grady, who then resided in Florence. Eleven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Latham, of whom six sons and three daughters grew to adult life. Three were born at Whately, while the rest are natives of Florence. All now reside in Florence except Michael Latham, who lives in Newark, N.J. Those deceased were David Latham, who went to Colorado, where he was killed when but twenty-one years old; and John Latham, who died in 1892, about the age .of thirty-five years, leaving a wife and three children, who reside in Florence. William Whately Latham, the contractor of Florence, has met with success in his chosen vocation, and has carried through several large contracts in a very satisfactory manner. His fine stone dwelling, erected in the summer of 1893, is one of the best houses in Florence. He is married, and has a son and daughter. Nathaniel Latham, who is in the cutlery business, resides next to his father. He, too, is married, and has a son and daughter. Henry Latham follows the trade of a painter. He has a wife; and they have three children, two sons and a daughter. William C. Latham and his family are all communicants of the Catholic church. They are highly esteemed in the town, and have a large circle of friends.