From History of Jones County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, Chicago, 1879, page 612.

Frank N. Lathrop, one of the independent and enterprising agriculturists of Greenfield township, who today is in possession of a most gratifying competency which has come to him as the result of industry and well directed effort, was born in Oxford Mills, Jones county, Iowa, on the 12th of November, 1861, a son of Hon. George W. and Millie (Noble) Lathrop. The former was a son of George Lathrop, who came to Iowa from Ohio in 1836 on horseback, and later, in 1848, made an overland trip to California. Our subject has in his possession a unique piece of pottery fashioned in the shape of a book which his grandfather carried with him on that journey. George W. Lathrop came with his father from Ohio and crossed the Mississippi river at Davenport on the 29th of June, 1840. Settlement was first made in Clinton county, whence they removed to Allens Grove, in Scott county. Later, in connection with his half-brother, he engaged in the mercantile business in Toronto, Clinton county, being thus engaged until 1858, in which year he went to Oxford Mills, where he established what is known as the Courtright & Lathrop mills. He became very popular in local political affairs and was called upon at two different times by his fellow citizens to represent his district in the lower house, becoming a member of the sixteenth and twenty-second general assemblies. He was also appointed by the governor of the state to take the vote of the soldiers in the United States army in 1864, and later was an important factor in securing what is known as the Davenport & St. Paul Railroad. He passed away on the 3d of December, 1907, and the county thereby lost one of its representative and valued citizens. He had married Miss Millie Noble in 1859, and unto this union were born six children, namely: Frank N., of Martelle; J. H., residing in Okobojo, South Dakota; Nathan B., of Oxford; and Mrs. Gladys Stuhr, of Oxford Junction; while one son and one daughter passed away in infancy.

No event of especial importance came to vary the routine of life for Frank N. Lathrop in his boyhood and youth, which were passed in his parents' home in Oxford Mills, where he attended the district schools in the acquirement of an education, his time being divided between the duties of the schoolroom, the pleasures of the playground and the duties assigned to him by parental authority. Under the direction of his father he early learned the value of industry and energy, qualities which proved salient elements in his entire business career.

He remained under the parental roof until attaining his majority, when he entered the business world as an agriculturist, taking up the occupation of farming as his life work. He continued to engage in this line of activity in Jones county until 1904, in which year he removed to Washington county, Iowa, where he remained for about three years. In 1907 he went to Linn county, where he resided for two years, and then, in 1909, he returned to Jones county, purchasing a farm in Greenfield township, where he has since made his borne. The farm consists of one hundred and forty-one acres of rich and productive land, all under a high state of cultivation. He has introduced many modern improvements upon the place, and the care and thought which he has bestowed upon it are visible in its well kept appearance, the farm being one of the highly improved and valuable properties of the township.

Mr. Lathrop was united in marriage on the 10th of November, 1886, to Miss Kittie Phillips, of Albany, Illinois, a daughter of E. V. and Harriet (Ellingham) Phillips, natives of New York and Quebec respectively, the former born in 1834 and the latter in 1835. In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Phillips were the following, Mary, Ida, Frank, Elmer, John, Robert and two daughters who passed away in infancy. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Lathrop were born three children, as follows: Jennie F., aged twenty-one years; Boyd, nineteen years of age: and Nellie D., who died in infancy. The two surviving children are still under the parental roof.

Mr. and Mrs. Lathrop, and their daughter are members of the Pythian Sisters and also of the Eastern Star, while in politics the father is an ardent republican, giving stalwart support to that party, whose principles he deems best adapted to conserve the public welfare. He does not seek nor desire office, however, preferring to concentrate his energies entirely upon his private business affairs, which, carefully and wisely managed, are proving a source of most gratifying remuneration to him. His success has been by no means the result of fortunate circumstances, however. It has come to him through energy, labor and perseverance, directed by an evenly balanced mind and by honest business principles, and today he stands among the substantial and representative agriculturist of Greenfield township.

From History of Jones County, Iowa, Past and Present, R. M. Corbitt, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, 1910, p. 293.

From History of Jones County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, Chicago, 1879, page 594.

Hon. George W. Lathrop was born at Freemont, Ohio on the 18 of March, 1836, and when four years of age accompanied his parents on their removal to Iowa, the family home being established near Toronto. Two or three years later they took up their abode in Allen's Grove, Scott county.

In 1853, George W. Lathrop formed a partnership with his half brother, A. Cortright for the conduct of a general mercantile establishment at Toronto, being thus identified with the business interest of the town for three years. On the expiration of that period they sold out the enterprise and in association with their father, purchased the water power at Oxford Mills and erected a grist mill. George W. Lathrop was connected with the mill until 1868 at which time the property was sold to Robert McDonald. Subsequently he again entered mercantile circles establishing a store at Oxford Mills, where he built up an extensive and profitable trade. It was through his influence that the branch line from Davenport was turned from it's course, already surveyed through Lost Nation and Smithtown, to Oxford Mills and Oxford Junction. In 1882, he purchased a farm of four hundred acres south of the Mills, where he was extensively engaged in the raising of thoroughbred stock, including cattle, hogs, and sheep, until the time of his retirement in December, 1903. His remaining days were spent in the well earned ease at Oxford Junction, where he passed away on the 3d of December, 1907.

A stanch republican in his political views, he always took a very active interest in the work of his party and was honored by election to the sixteenth and twenty-second general assemblies of Iowa. He also held many local offices within the gift of the people, ever discharging his official duties in a most efficient and highly satisfactory manner. The following is an extract from an obituary appearing in the Oxford Junction Mirror at the time of his demise: "He was a man of unusually generous impulses, always on the outlook for really helpful acts to be rendered his fellowman and among the first to discover and relieve want and grief where possible. He was the founder of the first mercantile establishment, the first gristmill, the importer of some of the finest breeds of live stock in this part of the country, and the primal cause of the existence of this city. He was an ardent supporter of our public school system and of his chosen political party, a man of the largest circle of acquaintances of any in this section, and a man whose loyalty to his town and state was never doubted." Uniformly loved, respected and honored, his death was the occasion of deep and widespread regret and the community was deprived of one of its most influential and prominent citizens.

When a young man of twenty-four years, Hon. George W. Lathrop was united in marriage to Miss Ruth Amelia Noble, a native of New York and a daughter of Rev. Noble. Unto them were born six children, two of them whom died in infancy. The others are as follows: Frank Noble, a resident of Martelle; James Howard, living in Pierre, South Dakota; Nathan Bundy; and Gladys Marie, the wife of John Stuhr, of Oxford township. The mother of this family was called to her final rest in May, 1901.

Submitted by Laura Comley.

We read from Howard's obituary these statements: "In his later life he was an adjuster for several national insurance companies, who stated that he stood first among all their adjusters, satisfying company and customers alike by his fair and equitable decisions.

"He was a member of the Knights of Pythias Lodge. As a child he was baptized in the Methodist church and quietly assisted the church and other good enterprises and encouraged his family in the same. During his last conversation he said, 'We all want to go to meet our Redeemer.'" James Howard Lathrop: b: 10 March 1863 in Oxford Mills, Jones Co., Iowa; d: 16 June 1924 at age 61; m: 8 Oct 1884 at Albany, Il. to Ida Mae Phillips: b: ?, d: 16 Sept 1929. Both Howard and Ida are buried at the Mayflower Cemetery at Oxford Junction.

Children: Georgia Mae Lathrop, b: 17 Jan 1886 at Albany, Il.; Hattie Theo Lathrop, b: 10 May 1887 s/e of Oxford Mills; Arthur Lathrop, b: 10 Oct 1891 at Oxford Junction; Thomas Lathrop, b: ca. 1893; Henry Ward Lathrop, b: 4 Dec 1896/7 at Oxford Junction

Parents: George W. Lathrop, b: 18 March 1836 at Freemont, Ohio; d: 3 Dec 1907 at Oxford Mills; m: 1859 in Wheetland, Cedar Co. Ia., to Rachel Amelia Noble: b: 28 Dec 1838 at Pilcher, N.Y., d: 1 May 1901 at Oxford Mills. Children: Frank Noble Lathrop, James Howard Lathrop, Oliver Lathrop (died as a child), Nathan Bundy Lathrop, Gladys Marie Lathrop

Submitted by Laura Comley.