LABARRE, John 1834-1911

LABARRE, MARSH, KERR

Posted By: S. Bell
Date: 4/1/2015 at 21:12:26

[Waterloo Evening Courier, Thursday, January 26, 1911, Waterloo, Iowa]

JOHN LABARRE DIED YESTERDAY IN CALIFORNIA

Civil War Soldier—Resident of Waterloo More Than Half a Century.

John LaBarre, veteran of the civil war and a pioneer of Waterloo, died yesterday at Tulare, Cal., where he went Oct. 15 last to spend the winter with his son, W. E. LaBarre, and family in the hope that climatic conditions would benefit his health. The cause of death was heart trouble, the decedent having been afflicted by that disease for a number of years and last winter suffering intensely through a long period of illness. News of the death was received in Waterloo this morning. His last illness continued only three or four weeks.

It is expected the remains will arrive in this city next Tuesday and funeral services will be conducted in Waterloo, where be resided more than half a century and where his life was inseparably linked with the history and development of the community.

Tho passing of Mr. LaBarre breaks another link between the older and the younger generations of the city and the news of his death will awaken deep sorrow. He was a man universally liked and respected. Until few years of his life he had been engaged in active business pursuits and his efforts in a commercial and industrial way had no small part in the building of the present day Waterloo. In all his associations he attracted friends and retained them. His greatest interest was in his family, but he also took great interest in civic affairs about him and his counsel was valued.

When the call to arms for the civil war swept over the land Mr. LaBarre was one of the first to respond and he served with quiet distinction through that long conflict and tho story of that period of his life is replete with hardships
sustained and dangers escaped. He retained membership in Robert Anderson
post. No. S. G. A. 11., of Waterloo and the comrades with whom he made life's march thus far will revere his memory as long as memory lasts.

Mr. LaBarre was a member of Company C. Thirty-second Iowa Infantry, being enlisted as a corporal. Only five members of that company. recruited almost wholly in Waterloo, survive today in Waterloo. The surviving veterans are Zenas Duke, George D. Clark, Alva Page, Levi Jolls and James L. Cooley.

Born in Clinton County, New York, on Feb. 20. 1834, and having a brother precede him to the west. John LaBarre, when twenty-one years of age, or in September of 1855, decided to explore the country toward the setting sun and if all was well to establish a home. He started from Ogdensburg, N. Y., and took passage by boat to Niagara Falls. From there the trip was made by rail to Chicago and on to Freeport, Ill., where the brother, Charles was supposed to be located. Mr. LaBarre arrived at Freeport, found that his brother had gone still farther west and was at Waterloo, Iowa. The traveler took passage by rail to Dunleith, Ill., opposite Dubuque, then the western terminus of the Illinois Central. The Mississippi River was crossed by ferry and the journey to Waterloo was completed by stage. The young man arriving in the village on Sunday afternoon, Oct. 1, 1855, and meeting his brother.

Mr. LaBarre found work plentiful and the following morning after arrival went to work in a saw mill, located at the west end of the dam then located above the present site of the Y. M. C. A. building.

His first wages were $1.50 a day, but after working three or four weeks he and a companion went into the contract sawing business and they were able to make $3 and $4 a day each. Mr. LaBarre continued to work in the saw mill until Aug. 13, 1862, when he enlisted for the war. From the time of his enlistment until Dec. 1 of the same year, the company was kept at drill, for a short time in Waterloo and later in barracks at Dubuque. Mr. LaBarre was discharged from the army Dec. 19, 1865, and returned to Waterloo.

March of the following year he took his family to Cedar Falls, which city was the home until 1870, Mr. LaBarre being employed in the saw mill of Ford & Zeising. After the last return to Waterloo, Mr. LaBarre was engaged by farious lumber firms as foreman and in other capacities. He continued his active life until the death of Mrs. LaBarre, in 1890, in this city.

The decedent was married in Waterloo March 28, 1859, to Miss Lydia A. Marsh, who was born in Canada. There are four children surviving. They are J. N. LaBarre, assistant postmaster, of this city; Mrs. Viola Kerr, who made her home with her father at 1003 Fourth Street West; Frank A. LaBarre, who is connected with the Iowa Telephone Company at Des Molnes in an executive position, and W. E. LaBarre of Tulare, Cal., in whose home the death occurred. There are seventeen grandchildren surviving. One brother, Charles LaBarre, survives and is a resident of Waterloo.

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