According to U.S. Census records, Charles F. W. Labes was born in 1842 in Germany. He immigrated to the United States in 1868 and married his wife, Minnie Schindler, in 1882. Minnie was born in La Porte.
The earliest we can trace Labes as a bottler in La Porte is 1876. He may have started earlier, but this cannot be confirmed.
According to the La Porte County Commercial Review, April 1896, Volume 1, Issue 1, Labes sold his business to Jacob Spahn and Gust H. Wagner on October 1, 1892.
Records for Labes are scarce, but we found that he died on May 29, 1932, and is buried in Patton Cemetery in La Porte, according to the La Porte County INGenWeb site.
More research is required on this bottling works.
1893–1894 – Labes, Charles, home at 1501 Main (now Lincolnway). The house was located at the corner of Teegarden and Main, now the site of the Dairy Queen and former Family Video.
1926 — Labes Charles F W, residence at 1501 Lincolnway, (Minnie).
We are looking for listings from the 1885–1886 and 1886–1887 directories.
If you have access to either one, please share the info with us.
Bottle Type: Applied blob top with a metal wire Putnam stopper.
Embossing: C. LABES / LA PORTE / IND
Glass Maker: A&DHC (embossed on back near base), Alexander and David H. Chambers.
Other Marks:
Notes: Rounded bottom; however, it can still stand on its own. It is displayed laying down, though. A very rare La Porte bottle that measures approximately 7 – 7/8 inches from the base to the top of the lip.
Photo Credit: Indiana Bottle Collectors
Bottle Type: Hutchinson
Embossing: CHAS LABES / LA PORTE / IND
Glass Maker: Glass maker is peened out.
Other Marks:
Notes: Peened means the glassmaker’s mark was intentionally hammered, ground, or worked over, usually while the bottle was still hot, to obscure or remove the original embossing. This was often done when bottles were reused or reassigned, or to prevent identification of the original glass manufacturer.
Photo Credit: Indiana Bottle Collectors
