Asbury Latimer
American politician (1851–1908)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Asbury Churchwell Latimer (July 31, 1851 – February 20, 1908) was an American politician. A Democrat, he was a member of the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate from South Carolina.
Asbury Latimer | |
|---|---|
Harris & Ewing portrait of Latimer, taken between 1905 and 1908 | |
| United States Senator from South Carolina | |
| In office March 4, 1903 – February 20, 1908 | |
| Preceded by | John L. McLaurin |
| Succeeded by | Frank B. Gary |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from South Carolina's 3rd district | |
| In office March 4, 1893 – March 3, 1903 | |
| Preceded by | George Johnstone |
| Succeeded by | Wyatt Aiken |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Asbury Churchwell Latimer July 31, 1851 |
| Died | February 20, 1908 (aged 56) Washington, D.C., US |
| Party | Democratic |
| Occupation | Politician |
Early life
Latimer was born on July 31, 1851, near Lowndesville, South Carolina,[1] the son of farmer Clement Theophilus Latimer and Frances Beulah (née Young) Latimer.[2] He was a descendent of bishop Hugh Latimer.[3] He was educated at common schools and pursued no further education, as his family was poor.[4][5] He worked as a farmer, moving to Belton in 1880, working as a farmer there also.[1] As a farmer in Belton, he became prominent in the area's agricultural sector.[3] He later became a lawyer.[5]
Politics
Latimer was a Democrat.[1] He played a role in the uncivil 1876 election era.[6] He rose to political prominence in 1890, during the Farmers' Alliance. That year, he ran for Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina, with Benjamin Tillman as his running mate.[4] In a eulogy, Tillman described him, upon meeting him, as extremely uninformed politically.[5] From 1890 to 1893, he was chairman of the Anderson County Democratic Party.[2]
Latimer served in the United States House of Representatives from March 4, 1893, to March 3, 1903, representing South Carolina's 3rd district.[2] He refused to run in the following election. He was a member of the United States Senate from North Carolina, serving from March 4, 1904, until his death.[1] He primarily worked on agricultural legislation,[5] though in his final term, was a member of the Joint Immigration Commission.[1] In 1906, he helped draft the Pure Food and Drug Act. He supported expanding public roadways in order to benefit the rural south, and as a result was nicknamed "Good Roads" Latimer.[4]
Personal life and death
On June 26, 1877, Latimer married Sara Alice Brown,[2] a niece of Governor Joseph E. Brown.[7] Together, they had five children.[4] Their daughter, Mamie Latimer, was the daughter-in-law of Robert Middleton Heard, who served in the Georgia House of Representatives. He was Methodist.[2]
Latimer died on February 20, 1908, aged 56, in Washington, D.C., from peritonitis,[2] following surgery to treat appendicitis.[4][8] He was buried at Belton Cemetery.[1] He is the namesake of the Memorial United Methodist Church, in Belton.[2]
