Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

ENCYCLOPEDIA <
love of country and honor. Such a man
is Mr. Lasbury, who during the war held
this responsibility, being a member t" the
Fabric War Committee, and performed
the duties involved in a manner that lias
brought him material success and a posi-
tion of honor.
Mr. Lasbury is now retired, living on
his beautiful farm, lie married, September
27, [88o, Nellie P. Davenport, daughter
of Henry A. and Pamelia (Landon)
Davenport. Their children are: Alma
Louise, horn Decemher 30, 1S83, and
Howard A., Decemher 24, 1885. The lat-
ter married Ann While, and resides in
Brookline, Massachusetts; he is in the
employ of the American Woolen Company
of Boston.
Mr. Lashury is a Republican, and fra-
ternally is a member of Oriental Lodge,
No. 11, Ancient Free and Accepted Ma-
sons. With his family he attends the
Congregational church of Enfield.
LASBURY, Ralph Chesick,
Tobacco Grower.
It is impossible to estimate the value of
early training in thrift. The natural tendency
of youth is toward light-hearted,
>!• I'.K >C,RAIM1Y
take up the responsibilities of a prominent
citizen instead of being a mere
figure head, or what is even Less to be de-
sired, an idler. In a small town a young
man of dignity, trained along these lines
of thought and purpose, finds an open field
for the development of his personality,
and for the establishment of useful indus-
tries which will reflect credit upon him-
self and his name, as well as being a direct
and practical benefit to his fellow-citizens.
Ralph Chesick Lasbury, of Broad
Brook, Connecticut, strikingly exempli-
fies this dependable type of man, trained
from his youth in worthy habits, useful
ambitions and upright character.
Mr. Lasbury was born in Broad Brook,
February 22, 1875. He was educated in
the public schools, then completed a
course in Hannum's Business College in
Hartford. He began his business career
by growing tobacco on his own account
in the intervals of freedom during his
school days. He was only fourteen years
of age when he began this work, but in
spite of the inevitable discouragements
incident to the handling of this delicate
crop, persisted in his industry. When he
left school he began planting larger acre-
thoughtless enjoyment of passing pleas- ages and year after year has increased
ures, without regard to the responsibilities
which are sure to come later. The
time comes when the community looks
to the young man for a share of its pros-
perity. There must be solid, dependable
men to fill public oflfice ; the industries
must prosper or the town will decay ; the
until now he raises annually about two
hundred acres of tobacco, mostly broad-
leaf, and all open grown. Even in a to-
bacco State and a tobacco center, of that
State, this is a very large acreage. Mr.
Lasbury also buys and packs tobacco ex-
tensively, employing from seventy-five to
community needs producers as well as one hundred assorted packers. He emworkers
in less responsible lines. This is ploys about sixty field hands on an aver-
the time when the young man whose age. To appreciate the varied capabilihabits
of prudence and thrift are estab- ties demanded successfully to carry on
lished, finds himself sought for positions such an industry, on so large a scale, it is
of honor and dignity. This is the time necessary to be familiar to a considerable
when the youth who has considered the degree, but it can readily be seen that in
future is prepared to meet it ; prepared to a small village any industry employing
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