Latham History Trasnscription

Date: About 1820 to about 1920
Location: Texas Republic, New Mexico Territory, United States
Surname/tag: Latham, Erwin

Contents 1 Transcribere's Note: 2 Begin History 3 Children 4 Note Sally Skull 5 End Transcription

Transcribere's Note:

I am not certain who typed out this family history, or when, only that it was done a long time ago, and I have a photocopy of it which is not very easy to read in some parts, nor could I get a decent scan of it with my equipment.

The one page starts off by saying: "This history was written by Mae Latham Rector and Edna Mae Amami collaborating Edna Mae Amami .... Mae Rector's neice, daughter of A. H. (Dutch) Latham." so I am guessing all of it was by them- perhaps this page with that heading and that other page which starts off about James Latham again were each written by a different one of the women, since they start with same person but give some slightly different details.

{I am Marion/Marian Jane Shaw Bunnell- granddaughter of Ralph Irvin (sometimes Irven) Latham, who was the son of John Irvin Latham, son of John Latham (Loma's father) and was brother to James Robert Latham (the 2 brothers who moved from TX to NM and sons of James (Jim) Latham who is mentioned in the beginning of this page of the history} transcribed it, being as accurate as I could to what I was able to see- and noting in red names or words I could not decipher clearly, and I have left original spellings of names of places unless it was wrong and I was certain what the correct version was- as in the case of Natchitoches which was hard to read but appeared to have been typed as MacKintosch- which is certainly not correct as there never was such a parish, and the only thing close is Natchitoches (Pronounced Nack-a-tish or Náshit'ush by the native Americans of the are for which it was named- and blurred into something slightly different in Texas which might have sounded as if it was supposed to be MacKintosch). Natchitoches was the oldest permanent European settlement within the borders of the 1803 Louisiana Purchase, founded as a French outpost on the Red River for trade with Spanish-controlled Mexico; it became one of the original 12 parishes, formed in 1805. Otherwise, I have left punctuation and typo errors pretty much as it was. All my notes about the history are in brackets like these {} which were never used in the original document.}

I think if I count correctly, James Latham was my great, great, great grandfather. The writer refers to Jim as Great-grandfather, so I would say that was Loma writing or dictating story at that point.

Begin History

"This history was written by Mae Latham Rector and Edna Mae Amami collaborating Edna Mae Amami .... Mae Rector's neice, daughter of A. H. (Dutch) Latham."

Great-Grandfather Jim Latham, was born Oct 21, 1817 in MacKintosh Parish { this has to be Natchitoches Parish }, LA, died July 31, 1880 in Live Oak County, Texas. He married Mary Irwin daughter of James Irwin, of New Orleans, James Irwin was one of the three men who backed the Republic of Texas in the amount of $50,000, He was to receive land in lieu of the cash, but it seems, when he went to get his land-- it belonged to someone else. The rest is all in the Texas law books. However, when young Jim Latham came along and met the lovely blue-eyed Mary, it must have been love at first sight, much to the chargin {chagrin} of her stately father-- who called young Jim Latham, that no good "fiddlin' Jim."

"Your father was the handsomest man that ever pulled on a boot," Mary Irwin Latham told her children in latere years.

To this union there were eight children born: Martha, James Robert, Louis Charles, Sarah Ann, Elizabeth, John and Jane.

James Robert Latham served as a private in the Texas Rangers when he was 21 years of age. He enlisted Jan. 16, 1862 in Live Oak, County, Texas. His captain was Thomas Rabb, of the Texas State troops. (Rabb later settled on the Mimbres River) he served at $12 a month, furnished his own horse which was valued at $90, saddle, etc., $25, sixshooter $50. The muster rolls of the company are on file in the Texas State Archives. After serving his enlistment, James Robert went back to Live Oak County, Texas and married his childhood sweetheart--the beautiful redhead Ann Elizabeth Faulkner.

After their marriage, they lived from 1866 until 1883 west of the Neuces River--engaging in the livestock business (sheep and cattle). But they had so much trouble with the Mexicans stealing their stock--they lost over 900 head of cattle, and a herd of some 2,000 head of sheep, along with the herder. The stock just disappeared from the face of Texas, and of course, anything that crossed the Rio Grande into Mexico was written off the books as being better than a full scale war with our Southern Neighbors. So, the fall of 1883 when Ann Latham developed a cough, and too, word had trickled through the grapevine of the very rich mines in this part of New Mexico--the Lathams started on the westward trek.

James Robert, Louis Charles, and John Latham, had all been in business together, as Latham Bros but only James Robert and John Latham moved west to New Mexico in 1884. They both had nice herds of cattle, about 2,500 head apiece, according to word handed down through the family, and about 100 head of fine roan horses each. It was quite a procession. The herds of CATTLE AND HORSES IN THE LEAD, STRETCHING FOR SIX MILES, with James Hiram (Jimmy) age 18 years, Louis Charles (Dutch) age 12 years and Arch Latham age 19 years--who considered themselves quite the cowboys as they helped the hired hands with the herd. The wagon train consisted of two freighers wih four horse teams--James Robert drove the first wagon, riding (a big sorrel called Charlie), the wheel horse, Marie Louise (Minnie) age 15 was holding down the job of a man, as she drove the second wagon. Ann Latham drove the surrey, with the traditional fringe around the top. Her team was a matched pair of gib roans, one of which was a particular pet. {I think 'gib' is a typo and 'big' was meant, as I never have heard of any line of horses called 'gib' and if it was a line based on a person or horse's name, it should have been capitalized- and it is a typo I make myself once in awhile)- all the main draft horse breeds, plus Morgans and Quarter horses, as well as Mustangs can come in roan colors. Thoroughbreds- if purebred should not. I recall grandpa (Ralph Irven Latham speaking of grullo (male) or grulla (female) horses, which they apparently had- perhaps going back the the horses brought from TX, or maybe from wild mustangs he and family caught later in NV or NM- the grullo-type are not same as roan technically/genetically, although there are roan grullos- Grullo is a color of black horses with the dun gene, and are characterized by tan-gray or mouse-colored hairs on the body, often with shoulder and dorsal stripes and black barring on the lower legs. In this coloration, each individual hair is mouse-colored, unlike a roan, which is composed of a mixture of dark and light hairs. The several shades of grulla are informally referred to with a variety of terms, including black dun, blue dun, gray dun or mouse dun, slate grulla, silver grulla or light grulla, silver dun, or lobo dun. Silver grulla may also refer to a grullo horse with silver dapple, regardless of shade, and there are spotted grullos- both paint and Appaloosas. Just a guess, but a horse called Indian might have been a red roan and maybe a Morgan or Quarter Horse- a Quarter Horse I know is usually smart and alert- so are Appys. I have never gotten to know a Morgan, or most of the draft types to any great extent.}

"No matter what happens, " Grandmother Ann told Joe, her sister who came along, "Indian is as good as any man we've got on the drive."

The small fry was Texana, nine-- Frances (Fannie) five Sarah, three-- and the baby But, {yes, it says But- I think maybe meant Bud? } about a year old.

Some time after they crossed the Pecos River, there was an 80 mile stretch between water holes. James Robert was about twenty miles in the lead of John's outfit, and for some reason, John sent his son, Ed, the oldest boy, up the line to tell J. R. that he was turning back. He was scared--what he was scared of, Indians, lack of water or a premonition, no one knew. Anyway, the cattle were mighty thirsty, so, they turned back to Leon Springs. To this day Sarah says she still remembers when those cattle got within two or three miles of the water, they started to run and bawl. There is nothing short of destruction, which can stop a cow-critter in a stampede, no matter what it's cause.

After a week or so to rest the cattle, they took another route that had water holes closer together. However, when they got to Anthony, the found that there was a quarantine of stock coming into New Mexico from Texas. This quarantine must have nearly wrecked many a Texas stockman--it took a year before the quarantine was lifted, so they could continue their trip.

Dorothy (Dollie) Mackey was born here during this time. Here too, Lewis Faulkner, Ann Latham's brother were buffalo hunters, but the beast was nearing extinction, and they wanted to get into something else. There is no record of what happened to Giato (He never made connections, whether he was killed, no one ever knew). {I have absolutely no idea who this even might refer to, or any name similar to what it looked like}

While they were on this enforced stay, to pass the time, the men prospected for the Old Lost Padre mine, at the north end of the Franklin Mountains. (They had gotten hold of a map from someplace). and sunk about 200 head of cow in the hole, before they continued on the journey up the river.

The Rio Grande had been stone dry, but the fall of '86 when the Latham outfit started up the river, it was in flood. The Sante Fe had just built their line across the river a year or so before, so when they got to Rincon, they unhooked the horses from the wagons and surrey-- the vehicles were pushed across the railroad bridge, and the animals had to swim to the other side. They went on up to Hillsboro, which by that time was the countyseat, and stayed there a short while.

John Latham went up and took a look at Kingston, (the mining itch which has infected most of the Latham men and women, right to this day, (Dutch Latham is flirting with a hole in the ground somewhere.) and James R. Latham went on down to the Macho Creek. They arrived about 2:30 on a stormy afternoon in late November. The clouds were coming over the Black Range, and they could tell a snow storm was in the offing.

There was a nice sharp shoulder on the hill there in the forks of the Hollow, that comes down from the Snake Peak, and the Macho, so the men all pitched in and in short order had a hole dug back in the side of the hill They staked and stretched out a tarpaulin so that the small fry could get in out of the cold. The dug-out was eventually panneled and a fire place was built into it, this was the living-dining room and the north end of the dug-out was a very convenient kitchen, for those days--and 'L' was eventually added for bedrooms, the whole structure was adobe with portholes, here and there, just in case the Apache got wilder.

John Latham moved his family to he Berenda first, but after awhile homesteaded Big Springs, where the Mackey's now live. It is said that when John took up the spring, it spurted out of th bank at about 1000 gallons a minute--anyway you look at it, it would make quite a shower. He planted the big orchard and built two log houses. Later on, John sold his rights to a man by the name of Homes and Rube Pankey (Joe Pankay's father) {last name was typed 2 different ways} they sold it to Pryor Nunn, Sr. and in 1905 the Mackeys bought it, and lived there these many years.

It was so late in the year that November afternoon in '86, that James R. Latham and the boys, could only manage the dugout for the time, but after adding the 'L' they put up an adobe room about twelve feet square for meat.

The Latham's moved into Texas when it was still part of Mexico, and had grants. Some of the old farms (tha have since grown up in trees) in Kentucky and Virginia area still known as the old Latham places...from there in to Louisiana, then to Texas. James Latham (Arch Latham & Loma Latham's grandfather) was born Oct 21, 1817 in Mackintosch Parish { this has to be Natchitoches Parish }, LA, died July 31, 1880 in Live Oak County, Texas. Grandmother Latham had died a few years prior - James Latham was living with his son, James Robert Latham, sitting out on the front porch in a roking chair, and when they went to call him, he was dead of a heart attack. James Latham, Loma's grandfather, married Mary Erwin, daughter of James Erwin of New Orleans. James Erwin, our great-great grandfather was one of the backers of the Republic of Texas- to the tune of $50,000.00, for which he was to receive land in lieu of cash, but it seems when he went to get his land, someone else had it, so he sued Texas, the Republic. And, in the law books of Texas, one will find the history of the case. There were 3 men who put up the money to free Texas--James Irwin {not my typo- the original papers have Erwin above, but Irwin here} put up 1/3. At one time I believe Mary (our great-great grandmother owned one million acres of land, or so the tale goes. Anyway, when young Jim Latham, who was a fine fiddler, met Mary, of the smiling blue eyes--it must have been love at first sight. I would say he was around 20 years old, an she ws a year or two older. In later years she told her children that "Jim, your father, was the handsomest man that ever pulled on a boot." (Well, maybe so, it wasn't handed out on a spoon to the descendents) James Erwin (Mary's father nearly died when she married Jim Latham--and he called him that "Fiddlin' Jim"

Children

{James Latham and Mary Erwin} So, to this union there were the following children:

Martha--died when she was about 14 or 14 years old

James Robert moved to New Mexico in the fall of 1886 married Ann Eliza Faulkner- had 12 children 7 boys, 5 girls

Louis Charles Latham married Agnes (Agggie) Russel, stayed in Texas--had 6 children

Sarah Ann Latham married Alfred Robinson (Alf), they had 11 children, stayed in Texas.

Note Sally Skull

( Alf's mother was the famous Sally Scull of Texas history- {Sally Scull was born Sarah Jane Newman, (but was called Sally). On March 31, 1838 she married JESSE ROBINSON who was born in Kentucky on February 11, 1800. He had moved to Texas in 1827- Alfred and his father are buried with Sarah Ann in the Latham cemetery in LiveOak TX. On March 6th, 1843 Jesse divorced Sarah who married George Skull eleven days later. } Sally was one of the first women to ride astride, and buy and sell cattle, she disappeared--they all thought murdered. However, Alf's father had left her and taking the boy Alf and placed him in a Sister school {meaning a convent school}. At the time she married the old German named Scull she disappeared, she was carrying a large sum of money, to pay for a bunch of cattle {actually, it was not for some time after she had married Scull that she disappeared). {I provide more info on Alf and his mother later}

Elizabeth Latham, (called Sissie) married Henderson Williams--they had two children. He was out building wire fence, and as hey were having so much trouble with the Mexicans he kep his bun {gun} propped up near him, somehow he knocked his gun down and it went off and killed him-- it is on the old Williams place that the family thought there was a great quantity of money buried.

John Latham-- married Married Nancy Samantha Vining (Loma's father) they had 13 childred. He moved to New Mexico with James Robert Latham in 1886. He was shot and killed in Magdelena, N. Mex. Feb 4, 1911. {This is my direct ancestor}

Jane Latham--married Tom Seeley--Seeley had been married once before and had 3 girls. Jane was in love with Simon Smithwick, and orphan boy that great grandfather latham had raised but Simon was a pretty wild boy, and too had hearded sheep for the Lathams, and Tom Seeley had a lot more worldly goods--once in later years when Simon met her, he asked her if she would come back to him--and she said "You know, you can't go back." Poor Jane. Their children: Tommy Seeley (This should have been the one Rosie went to keep house for, when he died...they were 1st cousins), Tean Seeley, Tait Seeley, Rose Seeley, George Seeley.

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Louis Charles Latham married Agnes (Agggie) Russel Their children:

Louis Charles -- never married

Grover C.-- married and had two children

Emmett--never married

Lulu Latham-- married- 1 boy

Lela-- married Williams, 2 children

Walter--married- 1 daughter

{Several members of this part of the family are buried in the old Latham cemetery in Texas which was photoes and documented and put online by a Mr. Robinson I chatted with who thought he was related to our Robinsons- but was not. His work was turned over to other sites such as 'findagrave' )

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Elizabeth (Sissie) Latham, married Henderson Williams Their children:

1 boy died when young

Martha Williams married and had a daughter

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Sarah Ann Latham married Alfred (Alf) Robinson (Alf) Their children:

Alfred

Mary Jane (died)

John - never married - shot in the back at Clayton, N.M.

Lucretia--never married, taught school in Lake Valley

Amanda- married a lawyer in Ozana, Tex. They had 4 children

a girl died when 6 or 7

Laura- never married

Ophelia-married-no children

Clabroune (Clab) married had 4 children. He was the first school teacher on the Brenda Creek, when just 21 years old

Bell - married Farrell, had two daughters

Harvey - married, had 3 children

Clem - married- had 3 children

{Alfred, son of Jesse Robinson and Sarah (Sally) Jane Newman (later Scull) became a Texas Ranger and fought in the Civil War and later married Sarah Ann Latham, the daughter of James R. Latham. They, Alfred, his father Jesse, wife, Sarah Ann, and son Albert S. Robinson, along with a number of other Robinson family, are all buried in in Live Oak County, the same county our Lathams lived in, in the Latham Cemetery. There are quite a few other Robinsons there also, but I am not yet sure exactly how all of them are related. These may all be Children of Alf and Sarah Ann's and many of them are buried in the Latham cemetry in Live Oak:

Albert Sidney Robinson 1862–1936 {maybe this was the 'Alfred' mentioned above? and name was mistaken?}

.Lucretia Ann Robinson 1867–1940

.George Claiborne Robinson 1870–1938 {I presume this is Clabroune (Clab) ?}

.Amanda E. Robinson Halbert 1871–1926

.Laura L. Robinson 1873–1917

.Ophelia R. Robinson Kendall 1878–1950

.Ida Isabelle Robinson Ferrell 1880–1957 {I presume this may be 'Bell"?}

.Clement Robinson 1882–1963

.Lemuel Harvey Robinson 1883–1949

{new page}

John Latham (brother of James Robert Latham) born November 12, 1848 in Parrish, Lousianna. Died February 4, 1911 in Magdelena, New Mexico. Shot in the back and killd. Married Nancy Samantha (Mattie) Vining Dec. 23, 1869. Nancy Samantha Vining was born June 13, 1854 in Pike County, Alabama. Children of this union:

Edward William Latham, born Oct 1, 1870 in Nueces County, Texas died on the ranch out from Deming, was a brother-in-law of Fred Nunn at Deming, New Mexico. Married Elizabeth (Lizzy) Nunn. *

John Irvin Latham, born Novmber 16, 1872 in LiveOak County, Texas, died April 30, 1943 in Watsonville, CA. Married Jean Allen list attached at end

Rosa Jane Latham, born November 6, 1874 in LiveOak County, Texas, died Feb. 15, 1931, Douglas, Arizona

Elizabeth Latham, born Feb. 11, 1877, Deval County, Tex., died June 21, 1888 Lake Valley, New Mexico. (Scarlet Fever)

Amanda Latham born March 2, 1879, LiveOak County, Texas, died November 11, 1902 in Bisbee, Ariz. of typhoid fever. Married Tom Seeley a widower with two children, Elinor and Blanche, no children to this union.

Ella Samantha Latham born March 2, 1881, in LiveOak County, Texas, died February, 1956 in Colton, CA. Married Nute Elridge, had one child.

George Lee Latham, born April 25, 1883, in Kerr County, Texas, died in 1960 in Truth or Consequences, New Mexico. Never Married.

Sarah Ann Latham, born May 13, 1885 in Kerr County, Texas, died June 2, 1941 at Morenci, Arizona of cancer. Married Tom Whitaker- 5 children

(twins) Robert Jackson Latham born March 8, 1888, Lake Valley, New Mexico (lives Spindle Rt, Capitan, N.M. Married Estelle Hale Address: Spindle Rt, Capitan, N.M.

and

Mary Matilda Latham born March 8, 1888, Lake Valley, N. Mex., died--- Married Dan Bullion Address: Rt 1, Box 419, Prescott, Ariz.

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Martha Alma Latham born Dec. 19, 1890, Lake Valley, N. M., died February 18, 1920 in Hurley, N.Mex., Married Joda Cochran children of this union.

Selma married Cobb.

Alma married Wagner

Margaret Loma Latham born June 10, 1894, Lake Valley, N. Mex., Married George Witaker (he died 1930)

Katie married Carl McDaniel {details below} ,

Pansie married Ed Griffith,

Georgia married Jim Jungebluth

Loma's second marriage--Albert Jodoin--no children Address: 4452 Jupiter St N.W. Albuquerque, N.M.

Fannie Elma Latham Renick born Aug 18, 1896 Lake Valley, N. Mex. Married Bill Renick No children Address: 1127 LaLuz Dr. N.W. Albuquerque, N.M.

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Katie born June 24, 1913 at Nogal, N.Mex. married 'Carl McDaniel', who was born Oct., 26, 1910 at Hatfield, Ariz. Children of this union:

Clarence George McDaniel, born June 7, 1934 at Nogal, N. Mex., married Carol Marie Giusti, who was borh July 31, 1936, San Francisco, Calif.

Cecil McDaniel, born June 11, 1937 at Nogal, N. Mex., married Georgia Ann Krizmanich of Crested Butte, Colo. to this union:

Carl Wayne Mc Daniel born Feb 10, 1959 in Crested Butte, Colo.

Shirley Ann McDaniel, born May 19, 1943, at Albuquerque, N.M.

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Pansy born June 23, 1916 at Nogal, N. Mex., married Ed Griffith Children of this union:

Margaret Bell Griffith, born born Oct 21, 1939

George born Nove 7, 1941

Eugene,born June 10, 1943

Robert Griffith born Noe 17, 1944

Arthur Griffith born March 31, 1947

Donald born January 24 {no year is entered}

Edward Griffith born Jeb {uncertain if Jan or Feb was meant; Jeb was what was typed}

Betty born July 11, 1959

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Georgia Dell born April 19, 1933 at Nogal, N. Mex., married Jim Junbluth at Albuquerque, N.M. Children of this union:

Jimmie Jungbluth born Aug. 18, 1954 at Albuquerque, N.M. {the married name is spelled distinctly 2 different ways and earlier the center letters between n and b were not clear, but appeared to be a 3rd different spelling.}

Mrs. Mae Latham Rector P. O. Box 656 Albuquerque, N.M.

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John Irvin Latham and Helen Allen who was born Aug. 1, 1878 in Albuquerque, N.M. Children of this union:

Jeanie Bold textborn June 28, 1895 N.M.

Baby Latham born March 28, 1897 (dead) N.M.

George Leonard Latham born March 19, 1899 N.M.{correct year is 1898 according to headstone}

Mary Samantha Latham born April 15, 1901 N.M.

Harry Robert born July 10, 1902 N.M.

Ralph Irvin born July 17, 1905 in Colo.

Earl Curtis born April 5, 1909 N. Mex

Waton Elmer born Sept 21, 1912, Cutter, N.M.

Walter Allen born Dec. 27, 1915 {correct year is 1914 according to headstone. He went by Jack as he did not like his name and is buried as Jack in Wastonsville- died of a ruptured appendix at 19, unmarried, no children}

Roy Henry and Ruby Helen born Nov. 16, 1917, Cutter, N.M.

End Transcription