Born on March 3rd, 1830, Benjamin Allen Latimer lived an interesting life (Doc B).

Latimer boasted jobs as a conveyancer, bank clerk, and physician. Not only was Latimer a hard
worker, but he gave the ultimate sacrifice for his country by fighting in the Civil War as a Union
soldier. Outside of his work life, Benjamin was a loving son, brother, husband, father, and
grandfather and also a devout episcopalian. Unfortunately, after only 42 years, Latimer
succumbed to his chronic Cerebritis.

Benjamin A. Latimer had a fairly typical childhood. His parents, Thomas Latimer and
Rebecca Pratt Vallance had eight other children: Mary, Thomas, Margaret, George, Henrietta,
Catherine, James, and Caroline. Unfortunately, his brother, Thomas Latimer, only lived from
1827 until 1828, meaning that Benjamin and Thomas never met. Henrietta Benner, Benjamin’s
sister, was born on March 14, 1873. She married Dr. Henry Dowdney Benner. Henry Dowdney
Benner was very educated and earned his master’s degree in medicine. Catherine, another one of
Benjamin’s sisters, was born on October 30, 1834. She married Reverend Henry Meeker Stuart.

Thomas Latimer, Benjamin’s father, was born on June 8, 1803. Thomas Latimer grew up
in Philadelphia at 841 S 3rd Street (Doc E). Beginning in 1830, he worked as an accountant at 13
Plum Street, then in 1837 he became a bookkeeper at 102 South 3rd Street, and finally, he began
his work as an attorney and counsel in 1841 at 430 Library Street (Doc H&V). He was also in a
book publishing business with Richard Samuel Henry George, Rebecca Pratt Vallance’s
brother-in-law. The business focused on the publication and sale of Protestant Episcopal Church
and Sunday school books, and for a time being was the depository of the General Episcopal
Sunday School Union and the Bible and Prayer Book Society. Thomas withdrew from the
business after two and a half years, but it carried on for seventeen more years. 1​

Thomas Latimer was involved in many organizations to aid the people in his community.
For example, he was a co-manager of the Magdalen Society of Philadelphia. The other managers
of the society were Thomas Savery, Alexander Henry, Peter Van Pelt, Daniel Jaudon, Jonathan
Roberts, Jason Moore, George Williams, and Samuel Haydock (Doc A). The Magdalen Society
of Philadelphia was founded in 1800 to redeem “fallen women” such as prostitutes. The Society
was founded by religious leaders, merchants, and craftsmen. In 1914, the city condemned the
Magdalen house so it was forced to relocate to Montgomery County.​2​ Thomas was also the
president of the Philadelphia Tract and Mission Society (Doc AH). This society sought to spread
its Christian ideologies through education and helping poor citizens.​3​ Another society with a
similar mission is The Union Benevolent Association. Thomas Latimer was the president of this
association in 1889 (Doc AI). The UBA was founded to help poor Philadelphia citizens in 1831
during a harsh winter and it still exists today.​4​ Thomas was also a co-director of Philadelphia
Seamen’s Friends Society along with 19 other men (Doc E). This society promoted the “social

1
​George Jr., Henry. The Life of Henry George. Doubleday Page and Company, 1905.
2
​Conn, Marie. “Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia,Magdalen Society.” ​Philadelphiaencyclopedia.org​, 2017,
philadelphiaencyclopedia.org/archive/magdalen-society/.
3
​Barga, Michael. “Home Missionary Society of Philadelphia.” ​Home Missionary Society of Philadelphia​, 4 Apr.
2013, socialwelfare.library.vcu.edu/home-missionary-society-of-philadelphia/.

4
​Union Benevolent Association. “History.” ​UBA Philly,​ www.ubaphilly.org/history. Accessed 17 Feb. 2021.
and moral improvement of sailors”.​5​ Thomas Latimer was instrumental in founding the Colored
Church of the Crucifixion (Doc AK). This church still stands today at 620 S 8th St.​6​ Thomas was
also a member of the Franklin Institute and he used his membership to give his children and their
cousin, Henry George, access to popular scientific lectures.​7

Thomas Latimer died on May 26, 1890, of old age. His funeral was held at 2 o’clock and
took place at the residence of his son in law Henry Dowdney Benner at 841 S. Third Street. The
church services of his funeral were held at St. Paul’s P.E. Church (Doc AJ).

Rebecca Pratt Vallance, Benjamin’s mother, was born on January 24th, 1805. Her parents
were John Vallance and Margaret Vallance and she had seven siblings: Mary Vallance,
Catherine Pratt George, John K. Vallance, Jane W. Vallance, Margaret S. Quigley, Caroline F.
Vallance, and Chloe D. Vallance. Rebecca’s father, John Vallance, was born in Glasgow,
Scotland and became an engraver after immigrating to Philadelphia. Margaret Vallance was born
in Philadelphia and was of English descent. John Vallance died in 1823 and left eight children
and a widow in modest means. Henry Pratt was the late John’s cousin and a wealthy merchant.
He helped the family by giving each of John’s seven daughters a small brick house. All of the
girls in the family, including Rebecca, received a good boarding school education.​8​ Rebecca was
born into a devout Catholic family and was baptized into the Catholic church as a young child.
While raising Benjamin and his siblings, Rebecca kept the house, as it was normal for mothers to
do so considering the time period. The married couple also hired a servant from Ireland, Maggie
McCann to help Rebecca Pratt Vallance with the children.

Most of Latimer’s extended family was also born and raised in Philadelphia. During
Latimer’s lifetime, over 20 addresses have been found that had a Latimer in the house. The
Latimer family also had a wide range of occupations. Latimers were employed as stock and
exchange brokers, barbers, grocery clerks, and even architects.

As a result of his father’s devout religiousness, Latimer grew up in a very religious,

episcopalian household. They believed the Holy Scriptures are the word of god and these
writings are interpreted by the Church with the guidance of the Holy Spirit. George A. Latimer
even became a reverend at some point in his life. 9​​ At a very early age, Latimer was baptized at a
church located in New Jersey (Doc C). At the time of Latimer’s baptism, Philadelphia did not
have an Episcopal Church, which is why Latimer was baptized in New Jersey. Later in his life,
Latimer rediscovered his passion for religion.

Benjamin Latimer moved around frequently as a child. In the first eleven years of
Benjamin’s life, he and his family moved five times. From 1830 to 1833, the Latimers lived at 13
Plum Street (Doc 3). Today, 13 Plum Street is in the Bridesburg neighborhood. In 1830,
Bridesburg was known as Kirkbridesburg, a small borough of just a little over one square mile.
5
​Historical Society of Philadelphia. “Pennsylvania Seamen’s Friend Society.” ​Hsp.org,​ 2021,
discover.hsp.org/Record/ead-1915/Description#tabnav. Accessed 21 Feb. 2021.
6
​Philadelphia Architects and Buildings. “Church of the Crucifixion.”
https://Www.philadelphiabuildings.org/Pab/App/Pj_display.cfm/18255.​
7
George Jr., Henry. The Life of Henry George. Doubleday Page and Company, 1905.
8
​George Jr., Henry. The Life of Henry George. Doubleday Page and Company, 1905.
9
​French, Howard Barclay. ​Genealogy of the Descendants of Thomas French.​ Vol. 1, Howard Barclay French, 1909.
Many German and Irish immigrants moved to Bridesburg to work because it was very industrial;
Bridesburg was known for all of its factories—particularly its chemical factories.​10​ After living
in Bridesburg, the Latimers moved to 49 S 5th Street (Doc E). 49 S 5th Street is in today’s
Society Hill neighborhood. In the 1830s Society Hill was host to a variety of religious
denominations and career paths, particularly attorneys.​11​ Considering 1833 is the year Thomas
Latimer became an attorney, it can be assumed that this is what attracted the Latimers to move to
Society Hill. The Latimers again moved after three years. This time they moved to 58 Union St.
58 Union is in Philadelphia’s Belmont neighborhood (Doc F). The Latimers only lived in
Belmont for one year. In 1837, the Latimers moved back to Society Hill and into 102 S 3rd
Street. Also, in 1837, Thomas Latimer became a bookseller so the move most likely had
something to do with his job change (Doc G). One of their primary residences was 223 German
St. Dwelling #75. Benjamin Latimer lived on German Street from 1841 until 1852 (Doc H).
German St. is now Fitzwater St. in the Bella Vista neighborhood of South Philadelphia (Doc Y).
However, there are no records of the family owning this property or any of the others, meaning
they were probably tenants. This means that the Latimer family occupied housing that they
rented from a landlord or such and could also be another explanation as to why Benjamin
Latimer and the rest of his family were constantly moving: they were renting out homes.

In 1852, Benjamin Latimer moved out of his parents’ house and into 51 N 6th Street
(Doc 1). As an adult, Latimer chose to move back into a familiar neighborhood: Society Hill.
Moving out from his parents’ house is a sign that this is when he married his wife, Sarah Olivia
Bancroft. Benjamin continued to move around in Society Hill until 1861. In 1853, he lived at
103 Walnut Street (Doc J). Then, in 1858, Benjamin moved to 511 Pine Street (Doc K). In 1859,
he moved to 223 German Street (Doc L). In 1861, however, Benjamin moved to 742 Erie, in
Philadelphia’s Juniata neighborhood (Doc M). Latimer’s series of moves continued in 1862
when he moved to 2207 Summer Street, in Philadelphia’s Logan Square neighborhood (Doc O).
In the years during the Civil War, Logan Square became a hub for Union-supporting events.​12
This may have inspired Latimer to join the Union in their fight in the Civil War seeing as he
joined the Union only one year later. In 1864, Latimer moved to 759 Erie (Doc S). 759 Erie is
very close to a familiar address of Latimer: 742 Erie. This remained Latimer’s address until his
death in 1872. In his short 42 years of life, he lived in 11 different houses. Because Latimer
continued to frequently move around as an adult, it can be assumed that he rented houses instead
of buying them, like his parents did.

Sarah Olivia Bancroft Latimer, Benjamin’s wife, was born in 1839 in Philadelphia. Her
parents were Daniel Elridge Bancroft and Olivia Hershey Bradbury Bancroft. Daniel Elridge was
born in 1805 in New Jersey and died on December 26th, 1869. Elridge lived at 130 Christian
Street and he was a sea captain in the Merchant Marines. Olivia Hershey Bancroft was born in
1805 in Saco, Maine, and died in Philadelphia in 1895. She and her husband share a grave at
Woodlands Cemetery. Sarah’s family is descended from early colonial families and they
10
​Campbell, William Bucke. 5th ed., vol. 6 6, City History Society of Philadelphia, 1942, ​Old Towns and Districts
of Philadelphia​.
11
​Dowdall, George W. ​Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia​, Rutgers University, 2015,
philadelphiaencyclopedia.org/archive/society-hill/.
12
Kopp, John. “Logan Square: from Public Executions to Papal Visits to World-Class Museums.” ​PhillyVoice​, 11
July 2017,
www.phillyvoice.com/logan-square-diverse-history-public-executions-papal-masses-and-educational-institutions/.
originate from Thomas Bradbury, who was one of the original proprietors of the town of
Salisbury, Massachusetts, a judge of the court, and captain of the military company there. Sarah
Olivia is also the great granddaughter of Moses Bradbury. He was born in 1731 in Biddeford and
died in Limerick, Maine. He is known because he served in 1776 as a sergeant in Captain John
Elder’s company, in Colonel Samuel Robinson’s Massachusetts regiment. 13 ​

Mary Elizabeth Bancroft was Sarah’s sister and she was born in 1830 and she died in
1904. She was married to Samuel Wilson Bell who was born in 1837 and died on March 29th,
1896. They had five children together, Samuel Ashton, Frank Wilson, Henry Darling, Mary
Elizabeth, and Charles Bancroft. The family lived at 623 North 18th Street in the Fairmount area.
Samuel Wilson Bell was the grandchild of Samuel Bell who was born in Coleraine, Ireland in
1777, then came to America in 1798 on the ship “West Point” with his sons John, James, and
Samuel, and became a prominent commission merchant. Samuel and Mary’s daughter, Mary
Elizabeth, became Mary Closson after she married Dr. James Harwood Closson. Dr. Closson
was a resident physician at Children’s Homeopathic Hospital Philadelphia, and he inherited the
practice of a deceased doctor which made him popular among physicians. Mary Closson later
went on to join the National Society of Daughters of the American Revolution because of her
​
great great grandfather, Moses Bradbury. 14

Benjamin had four children with Sarah Bancroft. Their children were Thomas Latimer
Jr. (1863-1935), Kate Milligan (1852-1921), Daniel Bancroft Latimer (1866-1924), and Caroline
Vallance Latimer (1868-1955). Thomas Latimer Jr, presumably named for Benjamin Latimer’s
late father, worked as a payment collector for the Philadelphia Gas Company. Later in his life,
Thomas married Ann Mary Beatty and had two kids: Thomas and Mary B. Unfortunately, on
September 9, 1935, Thomas died from his 7 year battle with a sarcoma of the neck. Daniel
Bancroft Latimer, presumably named after Sarah Bancroft’s late father, Daniel Eldrige Bancroft,
married Bertha M Hayney and together they had one son: Edward Latimer. Daniel worked as a
Salesman for Metal Specialties. Caroline Vallance Latimer married John C Beatty. Together they
had one son, John C Beatty Jr.

In her youth, Kate Latimer, Benjamin’s eldest daughter, worked as a music instructor
(Doc Z). On September 25, 1872, she married Samuel Milligan at age 18. Samuel Milligan was
born on July 4th, 1848, and worked as an architect and later as an assessor. (Doc AG). An
assessor is someone who determines property values for real estate tax purposes. Together,
Samuel and Kate had six children: Benjamin​—m ​ ost likely named after his grandfather​—​Henrietta,
Rebecca, Samuel, Kate, and another Rebecca. Kate died on June 11, 1921, from a carcinoma of
the uterus. The first daughter named Rebecca died at 3 years old. Both daughters named Rebecca
were born a year apart, but they both died at age two in the year 1882. They were buried at
Woodlands Cemetery. Samuel and Kate raised all of their children in the Episcopalian church,
just like how they were raised.

Samuel Milligan’s parents were Isabella and James Milligan, both born in Ireland. James
worked in a cotton mill and it can be inferred that he migrated to the United States because of the
potato famine that devastated Ireland in the mid 19th century. Like the Latimer family, the
13
​Debolt, Mary M. ​Lineage Book.​ Vol. 68, National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, 1924.
14
​Jordan, John Woolf. ​Colonial Families of Philadelphia​. Vol. 2, The Lewis Publishing Company, 1911.
Milligan family was also heavily involved with the All Saints’ Episcopal Church. The reverend
of the church is James Milligan, Samuel Milligan’s father and one of Benjamin’s acquaintances.
Since James and Benjamin were both affiliated with the same church, this is a very likely way
that Kate Latimer and Samuel Milligan met.

Samuel Milligan was known for his work as a designer of hotels and apartment houses..
Studying architectural drawing at the Franklin Institute Drawing School, Samuel apprenticed
with Isaac Hobbs & Son. He eventually established his independent firm in 1886. At this firm, he
was partners with Federick Webber. In 1912, Samuel partnered with an engineer, Charles M.
Pierson. Samuel became an architectural detailer in the Philadelphia Department of Wharves,
Docks, and Ferries. Milligan became a junior member of the Philadelphia Chapter of the AIA,
the American Institute of Architects.

​Throughout his life in Philadelphia, Benjamin A. Latimer worked a variety of jobs but
the most prominent was his job as a clerk at Farmers and Mechanics Bank. Latimer did not
follow his father’s footsteps into law. Instead, he had an interest in banking. In 1852, Benjamin
was a conveyancer (Doc I). A conveyancer specializes in all of the legal matters surrounding
buying and selling property. Latimer spent most of his life as a bank clerk at Farmers &
Mechanics Bank located at 727 and 429 Chestnut. The Farmers & Mechanics Bank, during its
time, was the largest bank in the city and was​ the first of the bank row structures in 1854.
Philadelphia National Bank bought the building in 1918 and still owns it as it is now Wells Fargo
Bank​, located at 727 and 429 Chestnut Street (Doc AB). His job as a bank clerk consisted of
keeping and updating customer’s records, drawing money out from accounts, and administering
bank transactions.

Benjamin worked as a clerk at Farmers and Mechanics Bank until 1862. Then, for only
one year, he became a physician at 2207 Summer Street. In 1863, Latimer was once again a clerk
at Farmers and Mechanics again. A likely way that Latimer attained a job at Farmers and
Mechanics Bank is that Sarah Bancroft’s (Benjamin Latimer’s wife) brother-in-law, Samuel
Wilson Bell, was on the board of directors of the bank and later became president of the Farmers
and Mechanics National Bank of Philadelphia.. Benjamin worked at Farmers and Mechanics
Bank until June 1863 when he was drafted into the Civil War.

In June 1863, at the age of 33, Benjamin Allen Latimer was drafted into the Civil War to
Colonel James B Fry of the United States of America (Doc P). Latimer enlisted on September 1,
1864, in Meadville, Pennsylvania. A few days later, Latimer and the rest of Pennsylvania’s 211th
Regiment Unit D, mustered in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania (Doc Q). Latimer and the 211th
Regiment traveled to Bermuda Hundred, Virginia where they took part in sieges against the
Confederacy in Petersburg and Richmond, Virginia.

In late November and early December of 1864, the 211th Regiment of Pennsylvania
joined forces with the Army of the Potomac, ​Provisional Brigade, 9th Army Corps​, ​2nd Brigade,
3rd Division, and 9th Army Corps​. Together, the troops partook in the Battle of Hatcher’s Run,
the defense of Fort Stedman, the Appomattox Campaign, and the Battle at Petersburg. They were
victorious in their defense of Fort Stedman but are known best for their activity in the final
assault on Petersburg.​15

Prior to the defense of Fort Steadman, the Confederacy was quickly growing weak and
outnumbered. Many Confederate soldiers were disease-stricken and without food. General
Robert E Lee wanted to launch an offensive attack on the Union. Led by Commander John B.
Gordon, the Confederacy chose to attack Fort Steadman, a Union-held fort near Petersburg.
While the Confederacy put up a strong fight, Commander John Grubb Parke, Pennsylvania’s
211th Regiment, and the rest of the Union troops present were able to launch a successful
counter-attack, capturing 1,900 Confederate soldiers. In the end, the Confederacy lost
approximately 2,900 soldiers while the Union lost 950. The defense of Fort Stedman set off a
series of Union victories, one of which Pennsylvania’s 211th Regiment was also a part of the
final assault on Petersburg.​16

The final assault on Petersburg on April 2, 1865, followed Union success at the Battle of
Five Forks. General Ulysses S. Grant, George G. Meade, and their troops launched a frontal
assault on the Confederacy with their main goal being to break the Confederate line. This attack,
known as the Battle of Petersburg eventually ended with a Union victory. As a result,
Confederate General Robert E Lee ordered his troops to evacuate Petersburg and Richmond.
This was a decisive Union victory as it caused the fall of the Confederacy capital, Richmond,
Virginia.​17

During his time as a soldier, Benjamin Latimer moved up the ranks from a Private to a
Sergeant (Doc Q). A Sergeant in the Civil War may have been expected to lead their troop
movements or to keep their troop in position. As a Private, Latimer made around $13 per month,
about $409.71 today, and $17 as a Sergeant, about $535.77 today.​18

Because of the decisive Union victory at Petersburg, in 1909, a stone monument was
dedicated to Latimer’s 211th Regiment, along with five other Pennsylvania Regiments. The
monument lies in Petersburg, Virginia near Fort Mahone and ​has a bronze tablet of the
Pennsylvania State Seal and a bronze statue of a young soldier with his rifle and the colors. On
each side of the monument, there is a bronze plaque with facts about the six regiments. The side
on the 211th Regiment reads: ​“​211th. Regt. Pa. Vol. Inf.; Mustered in Sept. 16, 1864; Mustered
out June 2, 1865; Enlistments 955; Killed 51; Wounded 133; Captured 75; Died in prison 25;
​
Died of disease 26; Deaths in service 102; Total casualties 310.” 19

After his service in the Civil War, Latimer became heavily involved in religion,
specifically in the All Saints Episcopal Congregation. The All Saints Episcopal Congregation

15
“​ ​211th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment.” ​The Civil War in the East​, 4 June 2019,
civilwarintheeast.com/us-regiments-batteries/pennsylvania/211th-pennsylvania-infantry/.
16
“Battle of Fort Stedman Facts & Summary.” ​American Battlefield Trust,​ 24 Mar. 2018,
www.battlefields.org/learn/civil-war/battles/fort-stedman.
17
“The Breakthrough at Petersburg - April 2, 1865.” ​American Battlefield Trust,​ 13 July 2020,
www.battlefields.org/learn/maps/breakthrough-petersburg-april-2-1865.
18
“Military Pay.” ​American Battlefield Trust​, 14 Jan. 2020, www.battlefields.org/learn/articles/military-pay.
19
​Hawks, Steve A. “Monument to Hartranft's Division in Petersburg, Virginia.” ​Stone Sentinels,​ 28 Feb. 2020,
stonesentinels.com/petersburg/southeast-petersburg/hartranfts-division/.
originated through the establishment of a Sunday school in 1827 taking place in a house on
Shippen Lane. After a few years, the school was moved to a house in Cherry Grove and was held
in the parlor. By January 17, 1847, the congregation was tired of meeting in a mission building
that was too small for a lot of them. Reverend William Bryant thought that if the growing
congregation had a set place for worship, more participants would come (Doc AS).

The All Saints Episcopal Church was originally set to be built at Broad & Fitzwater but
after some deliberation, the sight of 12th and Fitzwater was chosen (Doc X). They began their
move into the new church after it was consecrated by Bishop Potter. In May of 1867, Reverend
Herman L. Duhring became rector, a position he held until 1895. He was the leading clergyman
and the Dean of Convocation of Southeast Philadelphia at the time. In 1909 the parish was
merged with the nearby parish of, The Church of the Holy Spirit at 11th and Synder (Doc AO).
Together they would be called, All Saints, Moyamensing. (Doc AS). By 1949, All Saints again
found itself merging with another parish due to the dwindling congregation size, this time with a
church in Rhawnhurst Philadelphia (Doc AR).

All of these former and current parishes of All Saints still stand today but some are under
different names and denominations. All Saints Episcopal Church, located at 745 S 12th Street in
Philadelphia, PA is presently known as the Rising Sun Baptist Church. All Saints,
Moyamensing, located at 1121 Jackson Street is now called the Epiphany of Our Lord Parish.
Finally, the All Saints, Rhawnhurst Parish, at 1811 Loney Street remains as All Saints Church.

Like his father, Benjamin made sure his family was involved in religion. Benjamin
himself was baptized into the Episcolpalian Church on September 12, 1830, at Old Saint Paul’s
Church in Philadelphia (Doc C). All of Latimer’s children, like himself, were baptized within a
year of their birth. Latimer’s sons, Thomas and Daniel Latimer were both baptized at the church
by Rev George Bringhurst. Thomas’s baptism was on March 20, 1864, and Daniel’s was on
November 18, 1866. (Doc T&U). His daughter Caroline was baptized only a few years later on
June 6, 1869, but under a different Reverend Herman L. Duhring (Doc W). At the time of
Latimer’s death in 1872, the current parish of the All Saints Church was at its original site at
12th and Fitzwater. However, the funeral service for Benjamin was held at the same church he
was baptized, Old Saint Paul’s Church. (Doc AE). The Latimer children carried out their
religiousness in their adult lives as well seeing as Daniel and Caroline both were married in All
Saints Episcopal Church(Doc AL).

At the age of 31, Benjamin A. Latimer was appointed as a deputy of the All Saints
Church along with James Moore and William Stirling Jr (Doc N). His role at church includes
caring for those in parish and being welcoming to all. He also had to be present for Sunday
Services to make sure everything is in order. Deputies were also responsible for supporting the
Wardens in their responsibility for all things financial. Overall, deputies were in charge of
promoting the whole mission of All Saints’ Church, which is pastoral, evangelical, social, and
ecumenical. There were not many meetings for the deputies to attend, as they only had six
meetings in total per year.

Ten years later, in 1871, Benjamin A. Latimer ran for the position of vestryman at the All
Saints’ Church (Doc AA). A vestryman is a member of his local church’s leading body. The
vestrymen had important roles as they were responsible for levying taxes to pay the minister’s
salary and church budget. They also had to conserve and maintain the construction of the
church’s property as well as care for the poor in the community. Along with these duties,
vestrymen also had to attend regular meetings to discuss business. In other words, vestrymen are
vital to the health and wellbeing of church communities as it is a very demanding role.
Occasionally, vestrymen were asked to take on the position of the churchwarden. Churchwardens
had the duty to maintain order and peace in the church and churchyard at any given time,
specifically during services. They were also responsible for all the property and movable goods
belonging to the church. Latimer was voted to be a vestryman, along with James Milligan and
others. This role was very deserving of Benjamin A. Latimer, as he was a loyal and dedicated
man who devoted a lot of his time to church.

Unfortunately, Benjamin A. Latimer’s life only lasted 42 years. He passed away on the
26th of March, 1872 due to a lingering illness: Chronic Cerebritis (Doc AD). Cerebritis develops
with bacterial and fungal infection and could be a secondary illness to meningitis. The fungal
infection causes the inflammation of the brain tissue located at the cerebrum. Symptoms of this
illness range from mild to severe, as it could cause depression, headaches, anxiety, seizures,
dizziness, and could produce strokes. Underlying conditions, such as meningitis and lupus, could
result in cerebritis. The duration of this illness varies from a few minutes to years. Chronic
cerebritis occasionally results in death.

Benjamin A. Latimer’s residence at the time of his death was 759 Erie Street. As religion
was a big part of Latimer’s life, his funeral service was at All Saints Church, where they
commemorated Latimer’s short but full life (Doc AC). Latimer was buried at Woodland
Cemetery on March 29, 1872, three days after his passing. At this cemetery, many of his family
members were also buried, including his children and grandchildren.

At the time of his death, Benjamin Latimer left behind a wife, four kids, and ten
grandchildren. His wife would live as a widow for 46 years until she died on July 11, 1918.
Many of his grandchildren found great success in their various fields of work. For example, the
son of Kate Latimer and Samuel Milligan, Samuel Bancroft Milligan, was a structural engineer
with the State Highway Department. He was a member of many different organizations such as
the Presbyterian Church, the National Society of Professional Engineers, the Buckeye
Republican Club, and many more (Doc AJ). He married Stella Gertrude Delacourt Milligan.
Samuel Bancroft Milligan lived a very short life, dying at age 57. His funeral service was held at
the funeral home in Columbus, with additional services held in Hamilton at a funeral parlor.

Another one of Benjamin’s relatives is Frederica B Koller. This is one of Latimer’s

great-grandchildren. Frederica B Koller was born on April 22, 1939. She was the first woman to
serve as a professor of law at Wayne State University, a truly great achievement. She was also a
school dean for 41 years. Her parents were secretaries and wished for Frederica to continue this.
Instead, she wanted to be the first member of her family to attend college. She graduated from
Bryn Mawr College and the University of Pennsylvania Law School. At her law school, she was
an editor of the Law Review. She then earned a Masters of Laws degree from Yale Law School.
She began teaching at Wayne State University, where she met her husband, Arthur Lombard, as
he was another member of the law school faculty. They got married in 1968 and were the
longest-married couple in American law teaching, a very interesting fact. Another one of Mrs.
Lombard’s achievements includes being a founding member of Wayne State’s Commission on
the Status of Women. This commission made efforts in correcting gender inequalities that were
present on campus. Another great accomplishment by Lombard includes her work alongside
former U.S Supreme Court Justice, Ruth Bader Ginsburg. She worked with Justice Ginsburg to
establish standards that prohibit law schools and firms that were interviewing on campus from
discriminating against women. Lombard played a vital role in litigation that ordered the nation’s
major university retirement plan, which abandoned the practice of paying female retirees to
lower monthly benefits than men because of the fact that women generally live longer. For more
than 30 years of her life, Lombard and her husband were volunteers at the Manchester Music
Festival. In fact, she was the secretary of the festival’s board of directors. After a very long and
successful life, Mrs. Lombard was diagnosed with a fatal form of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.In
2005, Frederica received the first reported bone marrow transplant for this illness. On June 17,
2011, Frederica’s battle had ended and unfortunately, she passed away at age 72. Her funeral was
held privately in the presence of her family and close friends. Lombard is proof of the Latimer
​
family’s everlasting legacy. 20

Another famous relative of the Latimer family is Henry George. He was the son of
Catherine Pratt Vallance, meaning he was Benjamin’s cousin on his mother’s side. The Latimer
children, especially George, were very close to Henry growing up. In Henry’s diary, there are
many entries of him going to “Uncle Thomas”, “Cousin George”, and “Aunt Rebecca’s House”
(Doc AM). Henry was ten years younger than George and he was in George’s Sunday school
class. George’s interest in religion is what led to Henry George being extremely pious. Henry
George grew up to become a very popular political economist and journalist. His writings were
extremely popular in the 19th century and sparked reform movements in the Progressive Era. He
even has his own school of thought, Georgism, which says that people should own the value they
produce themselves but everything derived from land should belong equally to all people. His
first and most popular book, ​Progress and Poverty​, sold several million copies, exceeding all
other books sold in the United States except the Bible, during the 1890s. The book seeks to
discuss why poverty exists even with the advancement of technology, and why there is a
concentration of wealth in industrialized cities (Doc AM). Henry also ran for mayor of New
York twice, but he never won and died in the midst of his second campaign on October 29th,
1897. His son, Benjamin’s first cousin once removed, Henry George Jr., took his father’s place
in the race for mayor after he died, although he was unsuccessful, and he later became a New
York State Representative.​21

Benjamin Allen Latimer made a significant contribution to everyone around him whether
it was through his job, faith, or family. Throughout his life, Latimer was a hardworking bank
clerk, soldier, and vestryman who was devoted to his faith and family.

20
​“Frederica B Koller Lombard (1939-2011) - Find A...” ​Find a Grave,​
www.findagrave.com/memorial/127456995/frederica-b-lombard.
21
​George Jr., Henry. The Life of Henry George. Doubleday Page and Company, 1905.