William Grover Latshaw was born February 1, 1886, in Naperville, DuPage County, Illinois, the third son of William S. Latshaw and Amelia Manbeck.
He attended the West Side School in the old Naperville Academy building on Eagle Street, also taking some high school courses there under the principal, Professor Bunnell.
After attending school, William learned the barber trade, working in Emery Meiley’s Barber Shop. While working as a barber he took the Post Office examination for mail carrier. William was notified that he had passed the exam by the Post Master, Horace Peaslee, and immediately quit the barber trade, right in the middle of a haircut.
He married Ethel May Eichelberger, a great granddaughter of Capt. John Naper, on Sept. 5, 1914, in Naperville. From this union two children were born: Jane Elizabeth (who married William H. Scherer) and William Naper.
William Latshaw built his home at 736 N. Washington Street in 1917, when it was the only house on the block.
William and Joe Weismantel were the first foot-route mail carriers in Naperville. His route covered all of Washington Street and the West Side of Naperville. William delivered the mail for 42 years, retiring in 1950. It is estimated that he walked more than 200,000 miles during his career.
He was raised a Master Mason April 14, 1909, and served as Master of the Lodge in 1915. He was knighted a Knights Templar in Aurora Commandery No. 22 in 1913. William was exalted a Royal Arch Mason June 11, 1909 and served as High Priest of the Chapter in 1918.
William Grover Latshaw died June 9, 1976, at Edward Hospital in Naperville. The funeral service was held at the Ackman Funeral Chapel with the Rev. Grant Graver performing the service. Members of Euclid Lodge No. 65 performed the simple Masonic funeral service at the grave in the Naperville Cemetery.
PN Editor’s Online Update / Century Walk public art connects to Freemasons
Explore Naperville’s rich history by touring 53 outdoor locations of stories that accompany public sculptures, murals, reliefs and mosaics featured in Century Walk. For starters, visit the westside of Main Street, just north of the Main Street Bridge where a sculpture is a tribute to William Latshaw’s daughter Jane Elizabeth.
After reading the mementos on the bench that add to the story of “A Lifetime Together,” continue strolling north where a large mural showcases significant contributions of Freemasons, including that fifteen U.S. Presidents were Masons. Note also that Joseph Naper was among 15 founding members of the Naperville Masonic Lodge.
For more information about the many ways public art created from 1996 to 2023 has been celebrated to help tell the history of Naperville dating back to 1831, visit all 53 Century Walk outdoor locations, also featured at centurywalk-artguide.org.
