George W. Lawrence, Sr. (1813-1901)
- George W. Lawrence was Mary Adeline Lawrence's father, and her mother was Julia C. Lawrence. They were born in New York. They had six children that I know of, and Mary Adeline was the oldest.
The second child was James H. Lawrence, then George W. Lawrence Jr., then Julia C. Lawrence (named after her mother). In one census there was, as near as I can make out the name, a three-year-old little girl called Clanisda. The last child was Douglas Lawrence. In 1870 a 74-year-old woman was living with them; I am thinking that this was probably Julia's mother. Her name was Mary Andrews. George W. Lawrence was a cattle dealer and was very wealthy. In 1870 his house in Lowell was worth $25,000.
The following was found in the May 25, 1872, Lowell Star on page 5, column 3:
- Mr. George Lawrence's general health is much improved within the last few weeks, but his eyes are still very weak.
The following unidentified newspaper article was in a collection owned by Lowell Town Historian Richard Schmal:
- George W. Lawrence, Sr., was born in Canoniagus, Onondagus county, New York, Septenber 13, 1813, and died at New Troy, Mich., January 19, 1901, at the advanced age of 87 years, 4 months and 6 days. His sickness was only from Monday until Saturday and when death came he was surrounded by his four children -- Mrs. Julia Morgan, of Chicago; James H., of St. Louis, Michigan; George W., Sheriff of this county and Douglas A., of our city. He was a son of Major Lawrence, who fought in the Revolutionary War, and at fourteen years of age was left an orphan. He succeeded in getting a sufficient education to enable him to teach school, by which means he earned money enough to bring him West. He settled in Michigan, where January 10, 1838, he was joined in marriage to Miss Julia C. Haskin, who preceded him to the Spirit World at the age 71 years, some twelve years ago. To this union eight children were born -- two of which died in infancy, one at the age of five years and Mrs. John Bryant well and favorably known here.
He first came to Indiana, Switzerland county, in 1819. He returned to New York in 1828 and again returned to Indiana in 1835. He was on an Ohio River steamer that run [sic] between St. Louis and New Orleans about two years. He again returned to New York and from there to Michigan, Pig Prairie Round, Kalamazoo county. He came to Lake county in 1842 and with the exception of a few years has since made this county his home. He was a very successful business man; having amassed sufficient property to leave his children in affluent circumstances. Unlike most people, he did not allow his age to keep him from business, but kept busy until the day he was taken down with his fatal sickness. He leaves his four children, eleven grand-children and a large circle of relatives and friends to mourn his demise. His remains were brought to Lowell, where the funeral took place from the Methodist church at 10:30 A.M. Tuesday, January 22nd; Rev. E.D. Smith had charge of the funeral. Interment in the Lowell cemetery.
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