Husband Hon. John Latta 1 2 3 4 5
Born: 2 Mar or 5 Mar 1836 - Unity Twp, Westmoreland Co, PA 1 2 3 4
Christened:
Died: 15 Feb 1913 6
Buried: - St. Clair Cemetery, Greensburg, Westmoreland Co, PA
Father: Moses Latta (1790-1848) 2 3 4 7
Mother: Eliza Graham ( - ) 2 3 4 7
Marriage: 12 Sep 1865 3 6 8
Other Spouse: Rose McClellan ( - ) 8 9 10 11 - 13 Dec or 25 Dec 1877 8 9
Wife Emma A. Hope 3 6 8 10
Born:
Christened:
Died: 1876 6 8 9
Buried:
Father: C. C. Hope ( - ) 3 6 8
Mother:
Children
1 M Cuthbert Hope Latta 6 8 9
Born: 7 Sep 1866 - Greensburg, Westmoreland Co, PA 8 9
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: Helen Murray ( - ) 6
2 F Mary Maude Latta 6 8 9
Born: 17 Mar 1868 8
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: W. E. Ryan ( - ) 8
3 F Isabel G. Latta 6 8 9
Born: 17 Feb 1875 8 9
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
4 F Alice Latta 6
Born:
Christened:
Died: Bef 1890
Buried:
General Notes: Husband - Hon. John Latta
He received his education in the country schools and at Sewickley and Elder's Ridge academies, in which he spent about five years. In 1857 he entered the law department of Yale college, graduated from that institution in 1859, and in November of that year was admitted to the bar of Westmoreland County. In 1863 he was the choice of his native county for State senator, was also endorsed by Fayette County which was then a part of the district, and was elected. Afterward, in the Indiana and Westmoreland legislative district, Mr. Latta was the democratic nominee, but the district being strongly republican, he was defeated. In 1871 and 1872 he was elected to the Legislature and served two terms. In 1874 he was nominated and elected Lieutenant-Governor of Pennsylvania, serving in that office from January 19, 1875, to January 21, 1879. He led the state ticket in that election, his majority being over four thousand. As the office of Lieutenant-Governor was created by the "New Constitution," which went into effect January 1, 1874, Mr. Latta was the first man elected to the position. At the expiration of his term he returned to Greensburg and resumed the practice of law. In 1886 he was nominated for Congress by the conference of the district composed of the counties of Westmoreland, Fayette and Greene. Another conference had nominated Gilbert T. Rafferty, and the two nominees referred the matter to the State executive committee, which decided in favor of Mr. Rafferty, a resident of Allegheny County, who was overwhelmingly defeated at the general election.
Mr. Latta attended the Episcopal church, in which he was for years a vestryman. He was a member of the A. O. U. W., a Mason and a Knight Templar and Royal Arch Mason.
[He was] pre-eminently a man of the people, and has ever raised his voice in behalf of the poor and the oppressed. He is a logical reasoner, an eloquent speaker and a vigorous champion of all measures tending to advance the interests of his country, or benefit the great mass of our people, believing that in all governments, but especially in a democracy, every man, whether in public or private life, should labor strenuously to secure "the greatest good to the greatest number." [BHCWC, 122]
As a lawyer he usually took the side of the poor and tried many cases, particularly in his earlier days, wherein the fees were at best very scanty. He was always called upon by the Democratic Party to make political addresses.
He was the first Lieutenant-Governor of Pennsylvania, for the office had been created by the State Constitution which went into effect that year. In the new position to which he was called, he had, therefore, no precedents to guide him; yet it was the universal testimony that both as a presiding officer of the Senate, and in the other duties of his office, he was eminently fair, courteous and successful. [PAH, 90]