James Kirk Latimer, eleventh of the twelve children of Francis Henry and Rebecca (Runkles) Latimer, was born on a farm near Kewanee, Henry County, IL shortly after the family had moved there from Kosciusco County, IN. A few years later the family moved again, this time to a farm near Holton, Jackson County, KS.

On Sept. 6, 1880 he was married to Sarah (McLin) Ebright, a widow with one daughter, Docia Ella, whom he reared as his own. The family first lived on a farm in the Holton community, where their first son, James Guy, was born. A few years later they moved to a farm near Mayetta, also in Jackson County, KS. It was there their four other children were born: Thomas Henry, Louise Ethel, Myrtle Jane and Kirk.

In 1896 the family moved by covered wagon to Indian Territory - later to become the State of Oklahoma - where they bought a farm near Corbett, east of Lexington, Cleveland County. In 1906 they moved to Custer County, in western Oklahoma, where they bought a farm north of the town of Foss. After several more moves, they finally found their permanent home on a farm four miles south of Foss, in Washita County, which soon became known as Latimer Corner. He was a respected farmer and sometimes walked to Foss, where he worked at unloading box cars.

Mr. Latimer was of the Protestant faith, his ancestors having been members of the Congregational Church in the state of Connecticutt. He passed from this life at the family farm and his funeral service was held at the little Methodist Church building west of the farm. He was laid to rest at Page Cemetery. His parents, his wife and one son, Thomas, having preceded him in death, he was survived by his children: Guy, of Canute, Louise, of Foss, Kirk and his wife Pearl, of Foss, Ella Black and her husband Sam, of Lexington, OK and Myrtle Smith and her husband Dave, also of Lexington, and several grandchildren.