GEORGE W. LAUB

, Postmaster at Belfast, Northampton County, is the leading business man of the village.  In his large establishment he carries a general line of merchandise, including groceries, dry goods, notions, hardware, flour and feed, boots and shoes, ready-made clothing, and the usual stock carried in a first class village store.  The building, which was erected in 1879, has a frontage of thirty feet and is seventy-six feet in length, having about fifty-two feet in the front part.  In height it is two and one-half stores.  Success has attended Mr. Laub’s efforts since opening this store in 1887, and his annual sales now average from $25,000 to $35,000.

   Our subject was born in Moore Township, Northampton County, July 11, 1849, and is a son of the late George and Annie (Leisenring) Laub, natives respectively of Northampton and Lehigh Counties, Pa.  The family was represented among the early settlers of Moore Township, and here George W. was reared to manhood on the old homestead, attending for a time the public schools of Moore Township, and later a select school in Bethlehem.  For a short time he was also a student in the Keystone State Normal School at Kutztown, Pa.  On completing his studies he was engaged as a teacher in Moore Township, after which he was for thirteen years a clerk in the mercantile house of Owen Reyer, at Beersville, Pa.  Subsequently he was taken into the business, and the firm name became Reyer and Laub.  In 1887 he came to Belfast and opened the store which he still conducts, having a large trade and giving employment to several clerks.

   In politics Mr. Laub is a Republican and favors the principles of reciprocity.  In 1889 he was appointed Postmaster at Belfast, and has since held that office.  A Lutheran in religion, he is a Deacon of his church and one of its leading members.  Socially he is connected with Aluta Lodge No. 488, I.O.O.F. and Washington Camp No. 558, P.O.S. of A., at Belfast.  His wife, Annie M., is a daughter of Samuel Geiser, of Lehigh Township, Northampton County, and their family consists of three children, Amy F., Herbert F. and Ella C.

   Mr. Laub possesses excellent business qualifications and is an able financier.  In addition to the management of his tore, he is financially interested in other important enterprises.  He is a stockholder in the Pennsylvania Hard Vein Slate Company, and is also interested in other slate quarries.  In his enterprises he has displayed practical common sense, discrimination and an ability to work to good advantage.  The success that has followed his efforts proves that he was fortunate in the selection of an occupation.