Born: Union County, Kentucky, 1799.
Died:
James Latham, the father of Richard, was the first settler within the bounds of what is now Logan County. He was a Virginian, but came to Illinois from Union County, Ky., where all of his ten children were born.
Richard Latham was born about 1799, and came to Illinois in 1819, soon after locating at Elkhart. There he was married and built the best residence of the early settlers. This home came to be known near and far as one of unusual hospitality even in that period of domestic generosity. He became a Christian during the wide-reaching revival in which Robert Foster was the chief factor. For several years he went to the Lake Fork Church, eight miles east of Elkhart, and rarely missed a meeting there. When not there, the order of the Lord's house was maintained in his own home. This led to the formation of the Elkhart congregation. In 1852 he moved to Springfield. He was soon made an elder of the church there, and filled this place till his passing in 1868. Of him a writer has well said:
Of the character of Richard Latham we find only good to record. He was a man whose honor was dear to him as his own life and whose word was sacred as his oath. While his career in the main savored little of adventure or striking achievement, it was enriched throughout by kindness and the benefactions which quietly but ceaselessly welled up from the bounty of his nature, endearing him to all with whom he came in contact. For miles around he was known as "Uncle Dick," and the whole community looked to him as arbitrator, guardian and adviser, rarely questioning the wisdom voiced in his gentle counsels.
He presided at the Lord's table in such a way as to make all present feel thrilled and worshipful. When his sacred dust was borne away to its final resting-place, the number of gray-haired men who followed was a sight to see.