George Royal Labar (1804-1897)

Obituary from the Slatington News, April 10, 1897, page 1:

GEORGE ROYAL LaBAR DEAD

Pioneer of the Slatington Slate Industry Departs this Life at Columbia, Pa., on Friday of last week.

George Royal LaBar, father of Jesse LaBar, of town, who died at the residence of his son-in-law, Rev. A. M. Mehrkam, at Columbia, Pa., aged 92 years, 9 months and 9 days, was born at Slateford, now Stroudsburg, Pa., in the year 1804. In 1849 he moved to LaBarsville, which was named after him, and is now known as Slatedale, and who in connection with his brother Nelson LaBar and Robert Jones opened the first slate quarry there, on the farm of Andrew Kunkle. Deceased is the last of the original pioneers of the slate industry in this section, having commenced quarrying slate here in 1846.

In the fall of that year he in connection with others opened the tunnel quarry, Lower Slatington. In 1861 he bought a farm near Bangor, Pa., and located there. Some of the most noted quarries in that famous locality were opened on his land and were very valuable, and sold subsequently at high prices. After retiring from the slate business he made his home with his son-in-law, at the above named place. Deceased was interred in Mt. Bethel, Pa., at 2:30 p.m. on Friday of last week and leaves seven children, three sons and four daughters.

Below is a photo of George Royal Labar. The original is owned by Kay D. Butler and has been passed down in her family where they kept it in their copy of Reminiscences of George Labar. The back of the photo reads, "Cal's father (Calvin was Henry Addison's brother)... George Royal LaBarre born 1804 died 1897....Trustee from 1829...92 years old in photo." The photograph is by Wm Bailey, 36 North 3rd St Columbia, PA.

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