Biography of Albert Laser, St Francis County, AR

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Submitted by: Paul V Isbell
        Date: 19 Nov 2008
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
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The ambitious man who came here twenty five years ago to open the Sterling Dept.
Store during the depression year of 1929, now owns two of the largest and most
modern 5 & 10-cent stores in Eastern Arkansas. Albert W. Laser owns the Laser's
Ben Franklin Store on N. Rosser St. since 1933; and on the corner of Broadway &
Washington, he owns Laser's 5 & 10, which was Scotts 5 & 10 until Dec. 7, 1953.
Mr. Laser was born at Clarksville, Ark., the son of Mrs. Minnie (Nichols) Laser
of Clarksville, and the late Samuel Laser. He was graduated from Clarksville
High School and then studied at the College of the Ozarks. In April 1917, he
became a private in the U. S. Army, 141st Machine Gun Battalion. When he was
discharged in Nov. 1918, he had advanced to the rank of Second Lieutenant. He
worked with his father who was in the mercantile business in the same location
for forty years in Clarksville. After opening the Sterling Store, he purchased
the Pettus-Buford mercantile firm on North Rosser St.. Then in 1933, he opened
the 5 & 10 store. Mr. Laser is a member of the Graham Memorial Presbyterian
Church, a 32nd Degree at the Masonic Lodge, the Chamber of Commerce, a Shriner,
Rotary Club, Boy Scouts Asst. Scoutmaster. He also has farming interests in the
area. On Oct. 11, 1921, he married Miss Esther Stephens, daughter of R. S. and
Emma (Cannon) Stephens, of Prescott, Ark., and to this union has been born five
children; and they have two grandchildren.


SOURCE:
HISTORY of ST. FRANCIS COUNTY, ARKANSAS, 1954 - Robert W. Chowning

Copyright, with Permission: Weston McCollum Lewey, Publisher
-Times Herald Publishing-Forrest City, Arkansas