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CHARLES F. LaBOUNTY. Charles F. LaBounty,. assistant machine foreman and assistant brass foreman in the north side shops, Springfield, was born on January 14, 1871, at Murphysboro, Jackson county, Illinois. He is, a son of Alfred F. LaBounty, a native of the city of Paris, France, from which place he was brought to Canada as a child, and he was reared to manhood at Rochester, New York. His parents died when he was a small boy, but he managed to secure a practical education and get a start in life, engaging in the dairy and cheese business in New York state, also engaged in mercantile pursuits, operating for a number of years a large store near Rochester. He subsequently removed to Murphysboro, Illinois, where he continued in mercantile pursuits, then came to Willow Springs, Missouri, and engaged in the brick manufacturing business for himself until his death in 1893, at the age of sixty years. He was a successful business man, doing well in whatever line he engaged in. Politically, he was a Democrat. Fraternally, he belonged to the Masonic Order, and he was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
The mother of the subject of this sketch was known in her maidenhood as Melissa Bower, a representative of an old Knickerbocker family of New York. She was a daughter of Harvey Bower. Her death occurred November 3, 1914, at Los Angeles, California, at the age of seventy-three years.
Three children were born to Alfred F. LaBounty and wife, namely: Cora married Henry Balfour, a lawyer of Jonesboro, Arkansas; Hattie, who took care of her mother in her declining years, married H. A. Ismond, formerly a locomotive engineer on the Mobile and Ohio railroad, but is now living in retirement in Los Angeles; and Charles F., of this sketch.
The subject of this sketch received his education in the common schools, but left school when sixteen years old, and he began his railroad career when a small boy. He first went to work for the Missouri, Pacific at St. Louis as machinist apprentice, and after serving out his time in this capacity he left that city as journeyman in 1890, and went to Pine Bluff, Arkansas, as machinist with the Cotton Belt road, remaining there nine or ten months, then returned to St. Louis and resumed his old position with the Missouri Pacific, later was promoted from machinist to foreman, which position he held two years. He has worked for the Missouri Pacific at various times for a period of fifteen or sixteen years. Some time he worked for the Pneumatic House Cleaning Company in St. Louis; this firm manufactured chairs, and Mr. LaBounty was the first man that ever assembled one of the firm's famous chairs. In 1902 our subject went to El Paso, Texas, where he worked as machinist for the Southern Pacific Railroad Company for two years. In October, 1904, he began working in the north side Frisco shops, Springfield, Missouri, as machinist, later being promoted to assistant machinist foreman, which position he now holds, having fifteen men under his direction; he is also assistant foreman of the brass department in the same shops, and his two-fold duties keep him busy but, being a man of industry and good executive ability he discharges the duties devolved upon him in a manner that is highly pleasing to his employers. He is an expert in his line and has kept well up-to-date in the same.
Mr. LaBounty was married in 1893 to Emma Grassnian, a daughter of John and Elsie (Grundum) Grassman, of St. Louis. To this union one child has been born--Elise LaBounty, who was educated in the ward and high schools, and is now teaching in the Robberson school, Springfield; she is also musically inclined and is organist at St. John's Episcopal church.
Politically, Mr. LaBounty is a Republican. Fraternally, he belongs to the Order of Eagles, Knights and Ladies of Security Loyal Order of Moose, and was formerly a member of the Knights of Pythias. He is a member of St. John's Episcopal church, and sang in the choir there many years. He owns a comfortable home on Clay street.
Mr. LaBounty has found time during his work-a-day life to develop a natural esthetic nature. He has become a well-informed man along general lines by wide home reading. He has always been a great lover of floriculture and has a practical knowledge of botany. He has a small hothouse on the rear of his lot at 1320 Clay street, thirty-two by twelve feet, and he devotes his spare time to the culture of flowers, now making a specialty of asters and dahlias. Courteous and genial, he is a pleasant gentleman to meet.
[1918-1919]
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