This information is from the History of Northampton County Pennsylvania and The Grand Valley of the Lehigh under the supervision and revision of William J. Heller, 1920, published by the American Historical Society of Boston, New York and Chicago. Pages 546-7. Oliver is not in my direct line and I don’t have any other information on him.

Before 1730 three brothers, Peter, Charles and Abraham LaBar, came from France to Pennsylvania, landing in Philadelphia. From there they made their way up the Delaware river to a point which they believed beyond the limits of civilization, and there located a tract of land and built a log cabin. The site of that cabin is now, less than two centuries later, about one-half mile south of the village of Slateford. These LaBars were the first to clear land north of the mouth of the Lehigh, but they became very friendly with the Indians, who furnished them needed articles and also taught them something of the Indian language. The LaBars all married, but finding other settlers coming in, they moved north of the Blue mountains, where they permanently settled. Several years later, George LaBar, a son of Peter, returned south of the mountain and settled near the LaBar log cabin built by his father and uncles. There he lived to the great age of one hundred and six years, his son George, however, dying in 1874, aged one hundred and eleven years and nine months. There are many LaBar descendants living in Mount Bethel township, and north of the mountain in Monroe county.

Oliver LaBar, Bangor’s eminent citizen and leading business mail, is a great-grandson of Isaac LaBar, born in Upper Mount Bethel township, where he later became a farmer and for some years proprietor of the old Slatington Hotel. This was in the olden times, when logs were rafted down the Delaware river, and in this work he also had a part. Isaac LaBar was a son of Peter LaBar, and was of the second generation of his family in Pennsylvania.

Samuel LaBar, son of Isaac, and grandson of Peter LaBar, was born in Upper Mount Bethel, and there followed agriculture all his life. He was a man of enterprise, and when the First National Bank of Bangor was organized, he was elected to a membership of the first board of directors.

Reuben H. LaBar, son of Samuel LaBar, was born in Upper Mount Bethel township, and there devoted his life to agriculture. He had other interests, however, and when the First National Bank was chartered he was one of the original subscribers to the stock and served many years as a director. It is a matter of interest to know that the president of that bank, Oliver LaBar, is a son of Reuben H., and a grandson of Samuel, who was one of the first directors.

Reuben H. LaBar married Catherine Paff, and they were the parents of three children: Oliver, of further mention; Grace, married George Ward, of Easton, Pennsylvania; and Laura, who died aged sixteen years.

Oliver LaBar, only son of Reuben H. and Catherine (Paff) LaBar, was born at the home farm in Upper Mount Bethel township, Northampton county, Pennsylvania, May 2, 1868. He remained at the home farm, his father’s assistant, until of legal age, then came to Bangor, where he entered the employ of the First National Bank as bookkeeper. This was in 1889, and from that time his service has been continuous. He had obtained a good education in the district school, and he had still further improved himself by self-study, so that when he came to the bank he was fully equipped to fulfill all the requirements of his position. For six years he continued in the bookkeeping department, then, in 1895, was appointed teller, a post he filled until 1901, when he was chosen cashier. Six years were passed at the cashier’s desk. In 1907 he was elected president of the bank that he entered fresh from the farm eighteen years earlier. This rapid rise from the bottom to the top of the ladder of banking success is the truest test of the quality of Mr. LaBar’s capabilities, and proves him to have been honorable, ambitious and deserving, else he could not have achieved the success he has. He is also president and a large stockholder of the Bangor Water Company; organized and is an officer in the Rosato Water Company, and interested in the South Easton and Blue Mountain Consolidated Water Company; and assisted in organizing the Pennsylvania and Sterling Silk companies. He has other banking interests, and also interests in the slate quarrying companies of Bangor and vicinity. In politics he is a Democrat, and for the past four years, 1915-19, has been a member of the Board of Prison Inspectors.

Mr. LaBar married Mary C. Miller, daughter of Isaac F. and Maria Hester Miller. Mr. and Mrs. LaBar are the parents of a son, Paul R. LaBar, now a student in the Bangor High School.