The Carthage Republican
Carthage, Illinois
Wednesday
January 13, 1937
Page 2
Column 1

PASSING OF WELL
KNOWN CITIZEN
OF FTN. GREEN

T. J. Latherow Died Last
Thursday Morning

T. J. Latherow, for many years a prominent citizen, storekeeper, and postmaster at Fountain Green, Ill., passed away early Thursday at his home, where he had been confined for nearly three years as a victim of paralysis.  For the entire time of his illness, Mr. Latherow was under the tender care of his good family and the professional care of physicians and nurses who gave him every conceivable comfort, but death was inevitable.

Thomas Jefferson Latherow was born on a farm near Fountain Green, Illinois, on May 5, 1861, and passed away at his home in Fountain Green, on January 7, 1937, at the age of 75 years, 8 months and two days.  He was the son of George and Isabel (Campbell) Latherow, who came to this county from Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, a few years before the Civil War.  The deceased was one of a family of four sons and seven daughters, of which four daughters remain.  They are: Mrs. Minnie Lionberger, of Memphis, Mo.; Mrs. Emma Newland, of Sand Point, Idaho; Mrs. Mary Bradfield, LaHarpe; and Mrs. Maude Mesick, of Los Angels, Calif.

Mr. Latherow grew to manhood in the vicinity of Fountain  Green where he received a public school education and was  well known throughout this part of the country for his oratorical and debating ability.  He always took part in the community programs that were held in the district school house that made up a large part of the social life in this country at that time.

Some time in the '90s Mr. Latherow went to Kansas and spent a couple of years there on a homestead but returned to Fountain Green where he went into the grocery business in 1888.  Later he opened a store at Tennessee and conducted it in connection with his Fountain Green store.  On October 16, 1890, he was married to Miss Nellie Williams who was from the pioneer stock of the Majorville Williamses and it is said that she was one of the prettiest and most attractive brides of her day.  To this happy union there were twelve children born.  Two of them died in infancy; one baby, Paul died in 1904, and the other infant was buried in the arms of  its mother, who died in 1909.  The ten children living are: Carl G. Latherow, Macomb; Mrs. Gracia Olander, Chicago; Mrs. Helen Wright, Macomb; Gordon T. Latherow, Detroit, Mich.; Harold A. Latherow, of Fountain Green; Mrs. Isabel Hayes, Carthage, Ill.; Mrs. Pauline Mull, Peoria; Melvin P. Latherow, and Edith L. Latherow, at home, and R. Ivan Latherow, of Fountain Green.

After the death of the beloved wife, Mr. Latherow took up the task of making healthful, intelligent, and honorable citizens of the ten youngsters who ranged in age from one and one-half to nineteen years.  In raising this big family, Mr. Latherow did a good job and his loyalty to the children when they were unable to care for themselves was at least partially repaid by the tender care they gave him during his three years of invalidism.

In the passing of Mr. Latherow, Fountain Green loses her oldest merchant and Illinois loses, from the standpoint of years of service, her oldest postmaster.  He had been postmaster at Fountain Green since June in 1897, nearly forty years.  For many years Mr. Latherow has been affiliated with the Methodist church and for several years he was a member and clerk of the local Modern Woodmen lodge.

Mr. Latherow leaves to mourn his passing many other relatives and friends, including eight sons and daughters-in law, and thirteen grandchildren who will miss his smile and cheerful greeting.

Through his industry, efficiency in business, and a reputation as a reliable and honest merchant, Mr. Latherow always enjoyed his full share of the grocery trade and the high esteem of his patrons and neighbors, who especially sympathize with Edith who has so faithfully and bravely carried on during the illness of her father.

Those who cared for him during his recent years of invalidism marveled at his patience and cheerful attitude.  Everyone appeared to really enjoy helping to provide for Mr. Latherow's comfort and welfare.

And for all his ten children he was a loving father and the center of their home life. They agree with the poet who wrote:

"It is lonesome here without you,
And sad and weary the way,
Life will not be the same to us,
Since you are called away.
Peaceful be your sleep, beloved,
'Tis sweet to breathe your name.
We loved you very dearly in life,
In death we do the same."

The funeral was held at the Fountain Green Presbyterian church Saturday at 1:30.  Dr. C. Harmon Johnson of Carthage and Rev. J. M. Thompson of Warsaw officiating. Miss DeVota Orth of Carthage, sang "Face to Face", with Miss Marion Main accompanist.  Interment at Fountain Green cemetery.

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Children:

Carl G. Latherow	about 1891	.
Gracia Latherow	about 1893	.
Helen Latherow	about 1895	.
Edith L. Latherow	05-May-1895	19-Jun-1976
Gordon T. Latherow	about 1896	.
Isabel Latherow	about 1897	.
Harold Anderson Latherow	28-Sep-1900	30-May-1939
Paul Latherow	11-Mar-1904	15-Sep-1904
Paulina Latherow	about 1905	.
Melvin P. Latherow	20-May-1906	03-Mar-1977
Robert Ivan Latherow	02-Sep-1907	18-Jan-1971
Infant Latherow	about 1909	1909

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