Died of general debility after an illness of almost a year, at his home, Second and Bushkitll streets, Easton. Pennsylvania, July 30 1914. His health had been declining for some time, and May 18 and 19 witnessed his presence for the last time in the establishment he had built up in his very active business career. He had been in active business in Easton for a period of fifty-four years. April 6, 1910, the firm celebrated its fiftieth anniversary in an appropriate manner, devoting two entire weeks to the observance. His success as a business man was founded on close application, absolute "roughness, careful attention to details and personal supervision. He originated the one-price system in Easton, and built up his business by thoroughness and reliability in dealing with his trade. He was an honorable man in all his transactions, was cordial in his greetings to customers and business associates, and possessed a wide circle of acquaintances who all deeply and sincerely regretted his death.

In his boyhood Mr. Laubach attended the district school and worked on the farm of his father. When he was fifteen years of age he took a position in a country store at Kesslersville, where he remained until 1853, when he came to Easton and entered the store of the late Jacob Hay, then a prominent dealer in dry goods, with whom he remained about five years, fitting himself under his employees methodical manner of conducting business for a more extended experience later. A short time after this Mr. Laubach entered the establishment of Jacob Rader, then among the oldest and most extensive business houses of Easton, as clerk. Here he continued for about one year.

April 6, 1860 Mr. Laubach decided to engage in business for himself, and, in spite of limited resources, opened a dry goods store in a room only twelve by forty fee in size, on a part of the site of the huge business house which he occupied in his later years. In the spring of 1861 the young merchant moved his stock to the building at Fourth and Northampton streets, on the site of the present Northampton National Bank building. The store remained there until November, 1872, when Mr. Laubach erected a building on Northampton street, on the present site, twenty-tight by one hundred and seventy feet, the front of which was three stories high and the rear one story. On November 21, 1872, what was then "Laubach's Trade Palace' was opened. Many Eastonians will recall that special opening, which was held in the evening. No goods were sold, and an orchestra furnished music, which was something altogether new and original with the shopping public of our city in those days. In 1881 in addition of fifty feet was added to the rear, giving the store a depth of two hundred and twenty feet, with a uniform width of twenty-eight feet. In 1891 the property known as the Hunt building, on the corner of Bank and Northampton streets. was added to meet the demand for greater space. Again, in 1895, an extensive addition was made to the Laubach store. The M. J. Riegel building, on the west side, was acquired, giving a seventy-four foot frontage on Northampton street

Even that fine, large, spacious state was soon outgrown, and 1899 found Mr. Laubach again engaged in adding a basement department for the housing of stocks of china and glassware, bric-a-brac and various lines of house furnishing goods. Two years later, in November, 1901, Mr. Laubach purchased the Timmins and Hess properties on the west side of his store. It was not, however, until 1905 that other improvements were made which brought the frontage of the store to a total of one hundred and seven feet, as it is now. In 1910 further improvements were made to the store building by adding a large building in the rear, and also tearing down the Hunt property on the cast. and a handsome building was erected thereon to conform with the remainder of the property fronting on Northhampton street, making a uniform building with three floors and basement throughout and a frontage of one hundred and seven feet. The entire property, as the store now stands, is occupied by the firm. It has a floor space exceeding sixty thousand square feet. As compared with the original selling space of four hundred and eighty square feet, the size of the present store makes the growth seem almost marvelous.

William Laubach was prominent as a Mason, his fraternal connection being as follows: Easton Lodge. No. 152, Free and Accepted Masons; Easton Chapter, No. 173. Royal Arch Masons; Hugh De Payens Commandery, No. 173, Knights Templar, of Easton; Rajah Temple, Ancient Arabic Order. Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, of Reading. For sixty years Mr. Laubach was a member of the First Reformed Church, and took an active interest in all the affairs of the congregation. He served for many years as an officer and member of the consistory. In the old borough days he was elected a member of the school board from the Seventh Ward, and served one term. He was a director in the Northampton National Bank for twenty-eight years; a member of the Pennsylvania German Society, and of the Easton Board of Trade. He was always interested in everything which promised to upUft the business. industrial, educational, moral and spiritual welfare of the community. His counsel was often sought, and his opinions were freely accepted, although he was deferential, and be never advanced his personal ideas except in a modest and courteous manner. He was of inestimable service to the community, and held the respect, and in his latter days the veneration of the people of the entire section. He was a liberal donor to the church, and his charity in this community was only limited by his good judgment. Historians will ever refer to William Laubach as a shining light in the mercantile life of Easton.