LABAGH, Peter I. - 1890 Bio (1836-1920)

LABAGH, LASHER, OZEE, VAN ALEN, SCHOONMAKER, MAGAW, BRIGHT, KELLEY

Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 8/12/2007 at 21:14:18

Portrait and Biographical Album of Jefferson and Van Buren Counties, Iowa, Printed 1890 by Lake City Publishing Co., Chicago
Pages 491-492

Peter I. LABAGH is a farmer of Buchanan Township, Jefferson County, residing on section 30, where he and his wife have a pleasant home and fine farm of one hundred and two acres, also one hundred and twenty acres on section 22, in the same township. Although not reared to that pursuit he has made it a profitable one. Entering upon the life of an agriculturalist with the same zeal and enterprise which characterized his other undertakings, it soon became evident that he would meet with success and he is now accounted one of the substantial citizens of the community.

The LABAGH family is of German extraction and its founder, Hendrich LABAGH, the great-great-grandfather of our subject, was born in Darmstadt, May 7, 1693. He married Elizabeth LASHER, who was born in Marping, Germany, June 12, 1700, and they came to the United States prior to 1734 for Isaac LABAGH, their seventh child, was born in Hackensack, N. J., on the 20th of June of that year. He married Judith OZEE, a native of France, in New York City, in 1759, and had six children, of whom the fourth, Peter, who was born November 10, 1773, was the next in direct descent to the father of our subject. In New York, in 1795, he wedded Magdalene VAN ALEN, of Holland parentage. He was a minister of the German Reformed Church and preached until old age compelled him to withdraw from the ministry, but during that time had charge of only two parishes, having been for more than forty years in the latter. By his first wife he had three children and after her death he wedded Maria SCHOONMAKER, by whom he had four children. His death occurred at the age of eighty-five years.

Isaac P. LABAGH, the father of our subject, was the third child of the first marriage. He was born in Leeds, Green County, N. Y., on the 14th of August, 1804, and began making preparations for the ministry by pursuing a classical course in Dickinson College, Pennsylvania. He further continued his studies in the theological department of Rutgers College, of New Brunswick. His first charge was at Rochester, N. Y., and was followed by a pastorate at Gravesend, Long Island, after which he withdrew from the German Reformed Church and united with the Episcopal Church. For several years he was a missionary to the Jews of New York City and did an excellent work among them. He founded and built the Episcopal Church in Gloucester, N. J., also St. Paul's Episcopal Church of South Brooklyn, N. Y., and resuscitated Calvary Church of Brooklyn which had fallen into decay. In 1860, he removed to McHenry County, Ill., and established the female seminary known as Euphemia Hall, at Marengo, with his own means. Two years later it was burned, losing him some $15,000. He then went to Cairo, Ill., and built St. Peter's Episcopal Church and in 1865 he took charge of the church in Fairfield, Iowa. Two years later he was placed in charge of the churches in Albia, Russell and Chariton, Iowa, building a house of worship in the second. Beside his pastoral duties which covered a period of about forty years he was also the author of many valuable papers and articles published in religious and other journals, including Prophetic Expositions and Theoklesia. About 1856 he was sent as chaplain to the American minister in Rome. His life was devoted to the work of the church and on the 29th of December, 1869, he was called to the home prepared for the righteous, dying in Fairfield. His wife and the mother of our subject, whose maiden name was Mary E. MAGAW, was born near Gravesend, Long Island, October, 5, 1812, and is a member of the same family as Capt. MAGAW, of Revolutionary fame. Her father was an extensive planter of Long Island and was a large slaveholder. On the 15th of July, 1833, at Flatbush, Long Island, she became the wife of Mr. LABAGH and unto them were born five children, three of whom are yet living -- Reginald H. is a stock broker of Chicago; Livingstone is a resident of Pennsylvania.

Peter I. LABAGH, the other of the suriving children, is the oldest now living and the second of the family. He was born on Long Island, April 2, 1836, and was reared at Gravesend. He received the advantages of a collegiate education and was well fitted by home and school training for the duties of his life. He prepared for college in New York City and in 1856 was graduated from the Columbia College with the degree of A. B. Later he studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1859 in New York City where he practiced for two years. He was then engaged as teacher of the classical branches in his father's school in Marengo, Ill., and in April, 1861, he laid aside all other duties to become a member of Company D, Fifteenth Illinois Infantry, that he might aid in the defense of his country which was imperilled by the threatened secession of the South. He enlisted in April, 1861, on the first call for troops and served one year as Second Lieutenant of his company, when he was forced to resign on account of ill health. He was then employed by the Illinois Central Railroad in Cairo, Ill., to take charge of the army and navy freights, after which he removed to Mound City, Ill., where he was employed as book-keeper in the navy department until the close of the war.

The month of December, 1865, witnessed the arrival of Mr. LABAGH in Fairfield and soon afterward he made a location a mile and a half east of the city, having determined to devote his attention to agricultural pursuits. October 10, 1866, in Fairfield he married Martha I. BRIGHT, daughter of Nicholas M. and Isabel (KELLEY) BRIGHT. They have become parents of seven children -- Isaac H., a plumber of Omaha, Neb.; Steel B. who is associated with his brother; Mary G., Belle B., Nicholas B., John and Martha H. The mother is a member of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. LABAGH has been a life long Democrat and socially is a member of the G. A. R. Post of Fairfield. Widely and favorably known throughout the community as a representative citizen and a man of sterling worth, he well deserved representation in this volume and it is with pleasure that we record this sketch.

[Transcriber's note: The G.A.R. is the Grand Army of the Republic, the fore-runner of the American Legion.]

*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I have no relation to the person(s) mentioned.