The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1912-11-08
JOHN LAIIA AFTER
BRIEF ILLNESS IS
SUMMONED BEYOND
VETERAN IN THE CAUSE OF
GOOD GOVERNMENT GOES TO
HIS REWARD.
FORMER MAYOR OF COLUMBIA
Served for About Twenty Years as
City Marshal and Was Coal OIL
Inspector at the Time of His
Oeath-Prominen In Church.


lumbia, for many years city marshal,
leader in the civic and religious life
of the community for half century
and soldier Of the Southern Confeder-
acy, died at the home of his daugh
ter, Mrs. William P. Boyd on Wednes-
day night at O'Clock. Mr.. Latta
died as the result of stroke OF pa
ralysis which he sustained early
Tuesday morning and from which he
never recovered.
Mr.. Latta has been in poor health
for some time, in fact for the past
two years me has not been well. On
Tuesday morning he failed to respond
to summons from his daughter and
an investigation being made he was
found In an unconscious condition.
Physicians were hastily summoned
and it was found that Mr.. Latta had
been partially paralyzed. He at
times after that seemingly recovered
partial consciousness, but hope soon
abandoned and at no time did he COM
pletely rally. He steadily lost ground
on Wednesday and it was seen that
the end was near. Members OF the
family were present at his bedside
when the final summons came.
Mr.. Latta is survived by seven
children, three sons and four daugh-
tiers, as follows: Frank, Fred and
Ben Latta and Mrs. T. Emmett Dug
ger, Mrs. James Gardner, Mrs. Will
liam P. Boyd and MRS. James Jack
son. His wife preceded him to the
grave about three years ago.
For many years John Latta has
been one Of the leaders in the life
of the community A man of the most
sterling worth, of the very highest
conception of duty and with the cour-
age at all times to follow the call of
duty, he left his impress upon the
people here that time can never Who'll
ly efface. A man of convictions, of
courage, of determination and of I'M
usual decision Of character, Mr.. Lat
ia proved all of his life bulwark of
strength for any cause that he might
espouse. And he never allied him.
self with any but the right side. He
also stood for civic righteousness, for
temperance and for public and pri- |
vate morality. In every battle that |
has been fought in Columbia and Mau-
ry county for temperance and good |
government for the past generation |!
John Latta has been val
liant and willing soldier anyways
ready to do his share of the fighting.
He was never known to dodge an is
sue or shirk duty In all his long
and useful life. Gentle, kind, always
and ever considerate of the feelings
Of others, Mr.. Latta was nevertheless
a man of great and uncompromising
When he took a stand
there was no compromise. He was
as modest as woman
and as virtuous as vestal He new
sr made display or oought publici-
". He did thousand deeds of kind
ness but he did not allow his right
hand to know what his reft did.
John Latta enlisted when quite a
~. He was true and valiant de-
ender of the cause and no man ever
wore more worthily the Confederate
,ray. After the war he was elected {
mayor Of Columbia. His administra-
ion was notable for the efforts that
lie made to enforce the laws. All Of
lis life he fought for the enforcement
# the laws. For nearly twenty years
lie was the chief law officer of the
,ity of Columbia. And 1t is admitted
~ all that the city never had more
aithful or more efficient officer.
While he enforced the laws fairly and
he was never known to
strike man. His courage was hev-
n called In question.
Mr. Latta was member of the
BOARD of stewards of the Methodist
church and more than fifty years a
oval and devoted member of that
,hdrch. With one exception he was
he oldest member in point Of SER
ice on the official board of the
,hurch here. He was frequently
delegate to conferences and always
ook an active part in the affairs of
he church.
In 1904 Mr. Latta was candidate
or sheriff Of Maury county, but was
defeated by James Fl. Forgey. Two
rears ago he was appointed coal oil
Inspector by Gov. Hooper and held
hat ONCE at the time Of his death. {
Mr.. Latta was born April Il, 1874. {
lie enlisted in the Confederate army I
n 1854 In the First Tennessee and r
- .or-;1. L. No. n