V. B. LATHAM
V. B. Latham of Eden Dead
Well Known Concho Cattle Breeder's Funeral Pending
V. B. Latham, 76 years old, a resident of Eden since
1880, was found dead in bed Wednesday morning. He resided seven miles west of
Eden, operating a large Hereford stock farm.
Latham came to the Eden country from Tennessee, working for
the mother of Fritz Wilhelm in the Menard country for several years.
Latham was unmarried. He was a booster o the Concho County
Fair and one of its originators. It was largely through his efforts that the
residents of Concho county secured the site for the fairgrounds at Eden. He paid
for the building of the live stock shed at the fair grounds.
No arrangements had been made Wednesday for the funeral.
San Angelo Times
August 30, 1933
V. B. LATHAM DIES AT EDEN
Pioneer Resident of Concho Is Found Dead In His Bed
Eden, Aug, 30- V. B. Latham, 76 resident of this section for
mare than a half century, was found dead in bed at his home seven miles west of
Eden this morning.
The pioneer Hereford stockman and ranchman came to this
section in 188- after working for the Wilhelms in menard county for several
years. He came here from Tennessee.
Mr. Latham was unmarried. His ranch and farm home was a show
place with its modern barns and stock improvements. Widely-known in this
section, he was a booster for the Concho Fair and one of its originators, being
largely responsible for securing the fair grounds and paid for the livestock
building there.
San Angelo Times
August 31, 1933
Eden Pioneer Leaves Bulk of
Estate To Neighbor's Children
Staff Correspondent
Eden, Sept. 7- A quarter of a century ago a little girl of
about ten walked into the room of a quiet old cowman, placed a birthday cake
before him and smiled. V. B. Latham stroked his full beard, and smiled in
return. The little girl is now Mrs. Louis McMurtry, and at the death of Mr.
Latham last week, the bulk of his estate went to her in the will which has just
been filed. Mr. Latham came to this section 56 years ago, worked for the
Wilhelms at Menard for a time, forked broncos on other ranches saved his money
and soon became a man of property.
Loving children and having none of his own, he turned his
affections to the children of John Weaver who also lived in the Live Oak
community, Miss Stella Weaver, who later married McMurtry of Menard, was aided
by Mr. Latham in her schooling at C. L. A. in Denton. When she married a few
years ago, he deeded to her a 320 acre plot of land. Now at his death she
becomes the heir of an estate estimated conservatively at $25, 000. There were
other bequests, $1000.00 to a half brother, $100. each to his half brothers.
Mr. Latham named as the administrator of his estate R. G.
(Bob) Armor, Eden civic leader and banker, who rode a horse into this country 33
years ago looking for a job and has become one of the southwest's best fixed and
most conservative business man. Mr. Latham in his will made Mr. Armor the
administrator without bond.
Mr. Latham was a raiser of registered cattle, and was an
extensive banker of the Concho county fair. Not interested in money, his friends
tell of his placing sums of money in an unmarked envelope, sending it to widow
women, and others in distress. "All that he wanted to do was to make a good
living, have a little over and be he helped numerous people," said Mr.
Armor. He visited many of the cattle shows of the southwest and his bulls were
always in demand.
San Angelo Times
September 8, 1933