UPSHUR COUNTY, TEXAS
Biographies
L. A. Latch
OLDEST UPSHUR COUNTY CITIZEN, AT 91, WILL SHOW YOUNG FOLK SOME HORSEMANSHIP AT YAMBOREE
Gilmer, Texas, Sept. 26 – L. A. Latch, 91, Upshur County’s oldest active citizen, will be a leader in the festivities when East Texas celebrates its second annual Yamboree here Oct. 22, 23, and 24.
Ex-river-boat hand, ex-soldier, ex-Sheriff, now a widely known farmer in the Latch community eight miles west of Gilmer, Latch has outlined his plans to show up some of them younger generations. He will ride his saddle horse in the big parade on the second day’s program and will wind up the day, perhaps, with a special number at the queen’s ball.
Latch, who will enter his ninety-third year on Dec. 17, was born in Gordon County, Georgia. He moved with his family to Arkansas while still a youth, and when the South’s call to colors came in the Civil war, he enlisted under the banner of the Eighth Arkansas Cavalry, serving with his outfit three years and four months in continuous campaigns except for time out to recover from bullet wounds. He was shot three times.
After the war, Latch served as a general hand on passenger boats plying the Mississippi for several years and then in 1873 he started west again and settled at Big Sandy. A little later he bought a farm in the western section of Upshur County and the little community that has grown up about it since has become known as Latch community.
Latch was elected Sheriff of Upshur County in 1907 and served with such distinction that he later was re-elected for a second term.
He always has taken a great interest in the activities of his buddies of the Confederacy and has missed only one or two reunions of the Confederate veterans. (Dallas Morning News, September 27, 1936, section 1, page 12, transcribed by Peggy Thompson)
Lindley Garrison BECKWORTH, Sr.
(1913-1984)
BECKWORTH, Lindley Garrison, Sr., a Representative from Texas; born on a farm in the South Bouie community near Mabank, Kaufman County, Tex., June 30, 1913; attended the rural schools, Abilene Christian College, East Texas State Teachers College, Commerce, Tex., Sam Houston State Teachers College, Huntsville, Tex., and Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Tex.; taught school in Upshur County, Tex, for three years; attended the law department of Baylor University, Waco, Tex., and the University of Texas at Austin; was admitted to the bar in 1937 and commenced practice in Gilmer, Tex.; member of the State house of representatives 1936-1938; elected as a Democrat to the Seventy-sixth and to the six succeeding Congresses (January 3, 1939-January 3, 1953); was not a candidate for renomination in 1952, but was unsuccessful for the Democratic nomination for United States Senator; resumed the practice of law in Longview, Tex.; elected to the Eighty-fifth and to the four succeeding Congresses (January 3, 1957-January 3, 1967); unsuccessful candidate for renomination in 1966; judge, United States Custom Court, New York City, 1967-1968; resumed the practice of law; was a resident of Upshur County, Gladewater, Tex. until his death at Tyler, March 9, 1984; interment in Rose Hill Cemetery, Tyler, Tex.
Source: Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1771-Present; transcribed by A. Newell.
All data on this website is ©Genealogy Trails with full rights reserved for original submitters.