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 123-124.

ALEXANDER CARSON LABARRE, of Easton, Pennsylvania, who was for many years widely known as an advanced educator, and who has for nearly a quarter of a century played a distinguished part in the political arena, having frequently been called by his fellow-citizens to fill positions of honor and responsibility, is of Huguenot ancestry, tracing his descent from Pierre LaBarre, who with his brothers, Charles Abraham, came to America about 1730, and settled near the Delaware Water Gap. Pierre LaBarre in his new home led the life of a pioneer, clearing land and tilling the soil for himself and those who were to come after him. He and his brothers, like William Penn, were very friendly with the Indians, by whom they were regarded with feelings of confidence and good will.

Pierre (or Peter) LaBarre, the emigrant ancestor, was the father of a son, George, who was a farmer, and lived to the great age of one hundred and six years. He had two sons, John and George. The latter was still more remarkable for longevity than his father had been, inasmuch as when he died in 1874, he had completed one hundred and eleven years. The fact that the family numbers among its members two who had entered upon their second century of existence certainly speaks well for the physical endurance of the race.

Samuel G. LaBarre, son of John, mentioned above, grandson of George, and great-grandson of Pierre, the emigrant ancestor, was born December 25, 1821, near Slateford, Upper Mount Bethel township, Northampton county, and followed in the course of his life the occupations of both farmer and school-teacher. Politically he was a Democrat, and took an active part in public affairs, serving in 1872 as a member of the legislature. He was a member of the Baptist church, in which he held the office of deacon.

He married Sarah Ann Datesman, who was born November 29, 1828, in Upper Mount Bethel township. She was of German descent, daughter of Philip Datesman, a farmer. In the course of his long and active career, Mr. LaBarre was regarded by all who were in any way associated with him as a man worthy of the greatest respect and confidence, by reason of his sound ability and sterling character.

Alexander Carson LaBarre, son of Samuel G. and Sarah Ann (Datesman) LaBarre, was born February 13, 1848, near Slateford, Upper Mount Bethel township, Northampton county, Pennsylvania, and was a school teacher at the early age of nineteen. In 1871 he graduated from the State normal school at Millersville. and in 1882 from Lafayette College. He was at one time a farmer. His career as an educator, which covered a period of twelve years, was that of a teacher, at once original in method and successful in execution. From 1874 to 1878 he was principal of the public schools of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, where lie was instrumental in making great advances in educational work, and introduced a thorough system of grading. He also organized the high school. From 1893 to 1899 he was state trustee of the State normal school at East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania. In 1885, after a course of legal reading he was admitted to the bar, and shortly after went to Bangor, Northampton county, where he entered upon the practice of his profession, and for two years, acted as principal of the local schools. As a lawyer he won for himself, before many years had passed, an enviable reputation, being possessed of marked abilities both as a speaker and reasoner. His entrance into the political field was speedily followed, in 1892, by his election as district attorney of Northampton county, in consequence of which he removed to Easton. His administration of the office, which he held until 1896, was marked by independent fidelity to his convictions, regardless of self-interest. From 1897 to 1901 he served as a member of the Board of Control, and in May, 1903, entered upon the duties of the office of city solicitor. Mr. LaBarre is a stanch Democrat, and it is by the votes of his party that he has been placed in the various positions which he has been called upon to fill. Though not a member of any church, he is a believer in the doctrines of the Baptist denomination, and is an ardent Sunday-school worker.

Mr. LaBarre married, August 22, 1886, in Phillipsburg, New Jersey, Laura Tolman, daughter of John S. and Keziah (Tolman) Bowers. The former served several terms as mayor of Phillipsburg. Mrs. LaBarre was a graduate of the Phillipsburg high school, and had been a teacher in the grammar school. Mr. and Mrs. LaBarre are the parents of one daughter, Mildred, who was born May 21, 1889, at Bangor, and is now a pupil in the Easton high school.

Mr. LaBarre is a man of great personal popularity in the county, and is possessed of marked literary tastes and fine ability as a public speaker. During his college course he took an or, prize, and was very active in the literary societies, serving in 1881 (the year before his graduation), as editor-in-chief of the Melange.

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