LEAVENWORTH COUNTY, Part 24 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES

HON. SAMUEL LATTA, deceased, was one of the pioneers of Kansas, and emigrated to this State on the passage of the Kansas and Nebraska Bill. There were none more devoted to the cause of liberty and freedom than Judge Latta, one of the Supreme Judges of the State of Kansas, elected under the Topeka constitution. Judge Latta was born in Ross County, Ohio, January 1, 1820. He was of Scotch-Irish descent. His father was a mechanic and woolen manufacturer, and carried on farming in Louisa County, Iowa, to which place he emigrated in 1839. His son, the subject of this sketch, had a common school education. When he reached the age of manhood he studied law, and attended law school, and graduated at the Cincinnati College in 1849, and was admitted to practice in the Supreme Courts of the States of Ohio and Iowa. He practiced law in these States until he removed to Kansas, in April 1855. On removing to Kansas, he purchased a claim adjoining the city of Leavenworth. During the summer of 1855, he was recognized as a leader of the Free-state party. Judge Latta was a member of the convention, and was nominated for the elected one of the Supreme Judges of the State of Kansas. In 1871, he was elected to the House of Representatives from the city of Leavenworth, and re-elected in 1873, and was recognized as one of the most influential and useful members of that body. Judge Latta has been engaged in dealing in real estate, is which he has done a large business. He spent some time in California in 1876. He believed in the Christian religion, and was brought up a Presbyterian. He was originally a Whig, but became a Republican on the organization of that party. He was married in Louisa County, Iowa, to Miss Sarah Ann Thompson. By this marriage he had six children - Edward T., Belle, Mary, Ann, Eliza, and Anna. Judge Latta was again married, to Mrs. Nina Irwin, born in Pennsylvania, October 23, 1833; was married in January, 1863; they had three children - Samuel S., jr., (sic) who died in July, 1865; William Bell, and Nina Lee Maud. Judge Latta was Indian Agent for seven years, under Lincoln's administration. Judge Latta was a devoted husband and a loving father, and his death, which occurred from heart disease, in Leavenworth, the 10th day of May, 1880, not only brought sorrow and sadness to his own household, but great loss to the State that he served so faithfully, and to thousands of friends.

Name: Samuel N. Latta
Marriage Date: 30 Jul 1840
Marriage Place: Louisa, Iowa
Spouse: Sarah Ann Thompson
They divorced in 1861.

THE EMPORIA LEDGER (EMPORIA, KANSAS) 20 MAY, 1880 THURS PAGE 6
Judge S. N. Latta, a well known lawyer and politician of Leavenworth, died very suddenly of heart disease on the 11th.

1860 census for 3rd Ward, Leavenworth City, Leavenworth County, Kansas; S. N. Latta, age 40, real estate worth $100,000, personal estate $10,000. Son, Edward, 18; daughter Belle, 16; daughter Mary Ann, 14; Matilda Irwin, 20, & her son, Harry, 5, & servant Mary Long, 22, from Germany; all in the household.

Died age 61 Y 11 M 9 D