John Cuthbert Latham, a progressive farmer of the town of Fitchburg, where he has won an evitable position by dint of honest effort and superior mental qualifications, was born in Lancashire, England, on February 17, 1860, and is one of five children born to John and Mary Ann (Whaley) Latham, also natives of England, where the father died in 1878, aged seventy-seven years. He was an eminent physician and was twice marred, five children being” born to each of the unions, making a total of ten in the family, and it is proper to incorporate in this review interesting facts concerning them. Dr. P. W. Latham of Cambridge, England, a son of the first marriage and a half-brother of our subject, is the father of the wife of James Avon Clyde, Scotland’s present solicitor general. Mr. Clyde is the second son of Dr. James Clyde, formerly rector of Edinburgh academy, and he was born in 1863, was called to the bar in 1887 and became king’s counsel in 1901. His success as an advocate has been remarkable and it is said that he has acquired one of the largest practices of modern times. He is a unionist in British politics. Of the five children born to the second marriage of Dr. John Latham, Adah Anne is deceased; Mary Zilla Eva Linda is unmarried and resides in the city of Madison; Helen married Thomas William Oldham (deceased), and is given a more extended mention on another page in a review dedicated to her husband; Vida Annette is unmarried and resides in Chicago; and John C. is he whose name introduces this memoir. Miss Vida Annette Latham, mentioned above is a lady of much prominence, and was elected one of the vice presidents of the American Microscopic society at its recent meeting in Buffalo, where she took a prominent part. At the time of the meeting the Buffalo Courier gave her the following complimentary notice: “It is to be expected that a gathering of scientists from all over the United States would not fail to bring together some interesting characters, and the American Microscopical Society convening here this week brought to the city a number of people prominent in the world of science. One of the most distinguished and interesting scientists at the convention proves to be a woman. Dr. Vida Latham of Chicago, who was one of the most interested observers at yesterday’s sessions, is a woman with an unusual history. Born in England at a time when women had not yet invaded the professional field, Dr. Latham became imbued with the idea that she would like to study medicine. She met with manifold difficulties, the strongest of which was the traditional prejudice against ‘woman out of her sphere.’ She however entered the doors of one of London’s medical colleges and made a specialty of tuberculosis. Coming to America, She entered college at Ann Arbor, where she was graduated. On leaving college Dr. Latham went to Chicago, where she has since lived. She is considered by authorities to be one of the cleverest teachers of histology and pathology in the medical world. She occupies the chair of professor of histology in the Northwestern University; she is a member of the American Medical Association and chairman of one of its sections; a member of the Chicago medical societies, and has a large practice. Dr. Latham is a striking example of grit and perseverance, and for one who meets her, a woman of delicate appearance and modest manners, it is difficult to believe that she has overcome almost colossal difficulties to attain such a degree of proficiency in her chosen profession. Dr. Latham has visited England several times since making her home in America.” John Cuthbert Latham, who is the immediate subject of this review first attended the Wiggins grammar school at Lancaster, England, in which he received a very good education, and in 1882, at the age of twenty-two years, he migrated to America. Coming directly to Wisconsin, he worked as a farm hand in the town of Sun Prairie, Dane county, about one year, after which he purchased one hundred and thirty acres of land in the town of Fitchburg and began general farming on a somewhat extensive scale. He remained on that farm about two years, and then sold it and purchased the farm where he now resides, near Syene in the same town. He has made many necessary improvements on his present homestead, which comprises one hundred and eighty acres of exceptionally fertile land, and the progress which he has made and is making is a striking example of what can be accomplished by singleness of purpose and intelligent effort. Mr. Latham was married on October 24, 1884, to Miss Theresa Hasler, born near Birmingham, England, July 22, 1867, daughter of William Fredcrick and Frances (Slater) Hasler, also natives of England, where they still reside, as do also their children with the single except on of Mrs. Latham. In the Hasler family there were nine children, five of whom are living. Theresa, who is now Mrs. Latham, is the only one residing in America, the others, Ida, Winifred, Blanche and Gwendoline remaining in England. To Mr. and Mrs. Latham there have been born four children : Gladys, Garnet, Nellie and Gwendoline. In politics our subject gives an unswerving allegiance to the tenets of the Democratic party and his worth has been appreciated by his fellow citizens. Although he has never been an aspirant for public office he has served four terms as town assessor and for ten years as treasurer of the school district in which he resides. He and his wife are members of the Episcopal church.

History of Dane County, Madison, Western Historical Association, 1906, Page 546