My Genealogy Hound

JESSE LA BAR, of Slatington, is a dealer in fancy and staple groceries, conducts a general insurance business, and is also a dealer in all kinds of slate. In many of the city enterprises and business industries he has taken active part, showing that he has her welfare at heart. The birth of Mr. La Bar occurred in Northampton County November 29, 1835; he is the son of George R. La Bar, who is now a resident of Northampton County, Pa., having attained the good old age of ninety years. During his active life he followed agricultural pursuits in Monroe County, near the city of Stroudsburg. His father, who bore the Christian name of Henry, was also a native of this county, and passed from the scenes of labor in 1862, having also reached advanced years, being at the time of his death in his ninety-fifth year. The La Bar family have for many generations been prominent in the history and development of this region, having emigrated to the Keystone State from France, of which country they were originally natives. The mother of our subject, also a native of this county, bore the maiden name of Mary Long, her father being Major Long.

While Jesse La Bar was but an infant, his parents removed to Monroe County, where they settled on a farm near Stroudsburg. The educational privileges of our subject were very meager, but he made the best of his opportunities, and is largely self educated. In 1848 the family removed to Lehigh County, settling at Slatedale. Here the father engaged in the slate business, being one of the pioneer slate operators of Lehigh County, and continuing in that line of enterprise until 1861. When a lad of only thirteen years, Jesse La Bar began working in his father’s slate quarry, where he obtained a practical knowledge of slate mining in its many details. Later he became superintendent of large slate interests, conducting the manufacture of various kinds of slate until 1880, since which time he has been engaged in dealing in the commodity, buying and selling in large and small quantities. Being of an inventive turn of mind, he patented a school slate in 1865, the sales of which have been extensive, particularly in the large cities of Philadelphia, Baltimore, Jersey City, Brooklyn, Newark, New York and other cities. This slate is still used largely in many states, and has brought to the owner a considerable income. He it was who introduced the slate blackboards in Ohio, as he sold the first used in that state in 1874. For many years he traveled almost continuously through the central and eastern states.

Responding to his country’s call for assistance, Mr. La Bar in August, 1861, donned the blue and enlisted in the Twenty-eighth Pennsylvania Infantry, commanded by Colonel Geary. As he was a member of the regiment band, at the end of a year’s service he was honorably discharged by the act which dispensed with all regimental bands. During his service he participated in a number of engagements, and was always found faithful to the trust reposed in him. On his return from the army he at once resumed business, and in 1869 started in the insurance line, in which, with his other enterprises, he has been successful. In 1890 he established his present grocery business, and carries a large and complete stock.

In January, 1856, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. La Bar and Miss Permila Showeriskey, whose birth took place in Reading, Pa. Three daughters and two sons were born of this union. Laura is the wife of Dr. D. W. Stroup, of Shenandoah, Pa.; Emma became the wife of Joseph Pfaff, of Slatington, and Howard is assistant to the engineer of the Belvidere Delaware Division of the Pennsylvania Railroad. The eldest daughter, Lillian, and the youngest son, Robert, died in infancy. The parents are devoted members of the Presbyterian Church, and have the friendship and esteem of all who have the pleasure of their acquaintance. Our subject is a member of Lodge No. 216, O. U. A. M., having been one of the charter members of the same. He also belongs to Slatington Lodge No. 440, F. & A. M., and politically is a Republican. For a number of years he served on the City Council, and has also been a member of the School Board, taking an interested part in works of public improvement.