J. T. Latta

John Tilden Latta, Early 20th Century

He was baptized by Mr. Bebb into the Salem (Ohio) Baptist Church. We think he may have attended the Carmelite Baptist Church when he was young. He was ordained at Salem but officially was a member of the East Cleveland Baptist Church during his missionary years. His daughter Emma told us that he probably never would have become a missionary except for the influence of his wife Mary Udell. She gave us a picture when he taught at a school in Cambridge in the 1890's and another one of him, his school children, and the parents and family of the community about 1903. It has about 100 people in it.

He wrote poetry before the age of 20 and was published. A copy of his small book, School Poems, is in our library. He played the violin. He went to the Doane Academy. We have the invitation for his commencement on June 10th, 1902, held in the Baptist Church in Granville, Ohio, that was addressed to his brother David Wilson Latta. He continued his studies at Denison University and the University of Chicago. In l904 his address was 52 M.D. Middle University Hall. He was a member of the Evangelistic Band of the University of Chicago. We have a flier with the 13 member evangelistic band pictured and the three-day program. He was listed as the hymn writer. In addition to his book of school poems he wrote 300 songs and about 1000 other poems.

He married Mary Elizabeth Udell on September 9, l905, in Gibson, Ohio, and was ordained at the Salem church in October. His daughter Lois wrote me that they sailed under the sponsorship of the American Baptist Foreign Missionary Society as missionaries to Burma in October. He arrived in Rangoon December l9, l905, and proceeded on to Thonze the next day where he served until April l, l940.

By Betty Latta Kitchen

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