Bio: LaBossier, Henry (History - 1851)
Poster: Janet Schwarze
----Surname: LABOSSIER MARTELL ROY
----Source: 1891 History of Clark and Jackson Co., Wisconsin, pg. 362-363
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Henry LaBossier.
Mr. LaBossier was born in Franklin county Vermont in 1851. In 1854 the family moved to Canada. When but seventeen years of age he returned to this country and secured a situation as farmhand in Rock county, Wis., where by steady work and economical living he succeeded in saving one thousand dollars. In 1875 he went to Fond du Lac, and in company with J. Boulais, opened a shoe store. They remained there one year, and then moved to Dorchester, Clark County, Wisconsin, and opened a general store. They did some logging here and dealt in railroad ties, wood hemlock bark &c. outside of the general mercantile business. Mr. LaBossier has now accumulated a property worth from $20,000 to $25,000. ("Clark County Illustrated" by Saterlee, Tifft & Marsh; 1890). |
HENRY La BOSSIER, a general merchant of Dorchester, was born in Franklin County, Vermont, December 14, 1851, the son of John and Idell (Martell) La Bossier, both natives of France. The father came to Canada when quite small, and afterward settled in Central Fall, Rhode Island, where he still resides. They were the parents of twelve children, nine of whom still survive, viz: Joseph, Henry, Peter Ealtirese, Hilliard, Melvina, Mary, Lawrence and Louis.
The subject of this sketch removed with his parents to St. Mary, Canada, in 1854, where he was reared on a farm, and educated in the French language. In November, 1868, he came to Janesville, Wisconsin, and worked as a farm hand until 1875, when he removed to Fond du Lac County, this State, and engaged in the boot and shoe business with J. Boulais. In April 1876, they came to Dorchester, where they engaged in their former business, and later in general merchandising and logging. In 1882 Mr. La Bossier bought his partner's interest, and has since continued alone. He carries a capital stock of 10,000 his annual sales being from 20,000 to 24,000. He is also engaged in buying, pressing and shipping hay. Mr. La Bossier, was Postmaster here nearly four years, under Cleveland, but never seeks other public office.
He was married February 18, 1878, to Ida, daughter of Isaiah Roy, of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. They have four children: Josephine, Melvina, Wilford and Eveline. Religiously Mr. La Bossier is a member of the Catholic Church, and politically a Democrat.
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General Store of Henry LaBossier.
The firm which established this general mercantile business here at Dorchester was known as J. Boneais & Co. Mr. LaBossier purchased his partner's interest in 1882, since which time he has conducted the business alone. In the spring of 1886, a destructive fire visited Dorchester and consumed his store, stock and residence. He immediately erected the fine large store building, the front of which is represented, on a small scale, in the cut to the left. The second story is used as a public hall, and the lower part contains the largest and best stock of general merchandise in the village of Dorchester. Mr. LaBoosier owns quite a large tract of valuable timber lands near Dochester. |
