Hi, my name is Curtis Lathan and I'm new to the list. I have direct ties to Norton county through three families. The first are the ALLENs and LATHANs. I will be visiting Norton June 1-3 to research the LATHAN families. Any information you can provide about the LATHAN families will be appreciated. Curtis Lathan Lathan Family Connections 2385 N. Academy Blvd. PMB 256 Colorado Springs, CO 80909 Voice: (719) 271-0557 E-Fax: (801) 730-0931 E-mail: Curtis@Lathan.org Web: www.Lathan.org 1) (My GGG-grandparents) Reuben R. ALLEN; b. 1818 in New York; d. November 28, 1878 in Norton, (Norton Co.) Kansas m. Almira ASHTON; b. August 19, 1824 in Pennsylvania; d. April 13, 1895 in Norton County, Kansas. They had 5 sons (Perry Levy, Emmit Josiah, Merritt Colonel, Scott Andrew, and John) and 3 daughters (Helen Almyra, Emma Jane, and Susan E.) all born in Pennsylvania and Iowa. 2) (My GG-grandmother) Helen Almyra ALLEN; b. June 28, 1850 in Powerstown, (Crawford Co.) Pennsylvania; d. October 22, 1925 in Norton, (Norton Co.) Kansas; buried October 1925 in Mount Hope Cemetery, Beaver City, Furnas Co., Nebraska. (A.) m. July 18, 1868 in Alamakee County, Iowa to Frank B. LATHAN; (My GG-grandfather) b. Abt. 1843 in Lewis County, New York; d. Abt. May 1899 in Minnesota or Wisconsin. Divorced Frank between 1880 and 1885 and moved to Norton Co., KS / Furnas Co., NE with their three sons: (i.) Perry Josiah; b. September 1873 in Iowa; d. Bef. 1925? (3)(ii.) John Leroy; b. May 10, 1874 in Rossville, (Allamakee Co.) Iowa d. December 09, 1932 in Wilsonville, (Furnas Co.) Nebraska (iii.) Charles Merritt. b. March 16, 1879 in Iowa d. January 01, 1940 in Portland, (Multomah Co.) Oregon (B) m. June 22, 1885 in Norton, (Norton Co.) Kansas to Milton Eugene McCORMICK; b. July 17, 1853 in Iowa; d. 1927 in Hastings, (Adams Co.) Nebraska. They had two daughters: (iv.) Rosa Elizabeth; b. March 28, 1886 in Beaver City, (Furnas Co.) Nebraska; d. March 29, 1975 in Colorado Springs, (El Paso Co.) Colorado) (v.) Almira Rachael; b. August 19, 1888 in Furnas Co., Nebraska; d. November 14, 1964 in Denver, (Denver Co.) Colorado 3) (My great-grandparents) John Leroy LATHAN; b. May 10, 1874 in Rossville, (Allamakee Co.) Iowa d. December 09, 1932 in Wilsonville, (Furnas Co.) Nebraska m. March 28, 1900 in Norton (Norton Co.), Kansas to Martha Ann BISBEE; b. February 11, 1880 in Devizes (Norton Co.) Kansas d. November 29, 1962 in Minatare, (Scotts Bluff Co.) Nebraska They had three children: (A) Forrest Merton LATHAN (My grandfather) b. May 10, 1904 in Caldwell, (Canyon Co.) Idaho d. October 07, 1952 in Minatare, (Scotts Bluff Co.) Nebraska (B) Bernice V. LATHAN b. Abt. 1907 in ???, Kansas d. 1934 in Wilsonville, (Furnas Co.) Nebraska (C) Franklin Eugene LATHAN b. February 17, 1909 in Beaver City (Furnas Co.) Nebraska d. April 1975 in Morrill, (Scottsbluff Co.) Nebraska The BISBEE side of my family also played a part in Norton County history. Reuben BISBEE was the founder of the now abandoned town of Devizes. He was also its first Postmaster. I've done a lot of research into the BISBEE history. 1) (My GGG-grandparents) Reuben BISBEE b. September 18, 1804 in Bellow Falls, (Windham Co.) Vermont d. January 28, 1887 in Devizes, (Norton Co.) Kansas m. January 04, 1826 in Crown Point, (Essex Co.) New York to Mary Jane ARMSTRONG b. January 02, 1807 in Connecticut d. April 02, 1892 in Devizes, (Norton Co.) Kansas They had 5 sons (Ebenezer Albert, James Barber, John Henry, George Armstrong, and the Rev. Reuben, Jr.) and 3 daughters (Mary Jane, Elizabeth, and Sarah (FINLEY) who was adopted). All of the children were born in Vermont or in Devizes, (Middlesex Co.) Ontario, Canada, which Reuben BISBEE also founded around 1830. Around 1875, Reuben and several of his children and grandchildren moved with him to Kansas. Mary Jane BISBEE married William U. NELSON on July 05, 1866 in Canada. Their children are listed in the 1885 Kansas Census, Rock Branch Twp, and include R. B., W., J. C., and Mary E. NELSON. George Armstrong BISBEE married Charlotte PATTISON in Canada. Their children include Ebenezer Albee, Elizabeth, Mary, William P., George Lawson, Margaret, and Charlotte. Reuben BISBEE Jr. married Hannah Burk on July 22, 1867 in Ontario, Canada. they are listed in the 1880 U.S. Census for Kansas, Norton Co., Rock Branch Twp. Their children include James Thomas, Charles Wesley, Mary Jane, Eunice Amelia, Millie, George Lawson, Reuben Ebenezer, Milton Haney, and Hannah Elizabeth. Elizabeth BISBEE married Archie HEWITT. Their children include Charlotte and George. 2) (My GG-grandparents) John Henry BISBEE b. 1832 in Devizes, (Middlesex Co.) Ontario, Canada d. 1882 in Devizes, (Norton Co.) Kansas m. August 23, 1865 in Ontario, Canada to Jennette MCFARLAND b. July 16, 1847 in London, Ontario, Canada d. July 11, 1906 in Rock Springs, Wyoming while traveling by train from Idaho back to Norton. (Jennette was remarried to John BURGIN in 1885 in Norton Co., Kansas. I don't believe they had any children.) John Henry and Jennette BISBEE had 3 sons (James B., Daniel, and Archie Thomas) and 5 daughters (Margery B., Mary C., Ella Jane, my great-grandmother Martha Ann, and a daughter who was unnamed in the 1885 Kansas Census, Norton Co., Rock Branch Twp.) Margery B. BISBEE married Taylor M. BURGIN on January 20, 1887 in Norton (Norton Co.), Kansas. Mary C. BISBEE married Edward L. EMERY on February 17, 1890 in Norton (Norton Co.), Kansas. their children include Archie, Claud, and William B.) Archie Thomas BISBEE married Ella MURPHY on December 27, 1905 in Phillipsburg, (Phillips Co.) Kansas.