E. D. LAWRENCE, fruit-grower, Cobden, was born in Bangor, Me., January 4, 1842, to Darius A. and Susan R. (Wyatt) Lawrence. He was born in November, 1808, in Castine, Me.; she in July, 1810, at Newburyport, Mass. She died in April, 1865; he in September, 1882. By trade he was a carpenter, and he made that his business till his death. In May, 1865, he came to Cobden, and made this his home for the remainder of his life. The Lawrence family is of English descent. The first members of the family in this country settled in the colony of Massachusetts, and from there have spread to different States of the Union. Our subject had only one sister and one brother who reached maturity — Mrs. Susan E. Weakley, of Nashville, Tenn., and Henry Lawrence, now book-keeper for John Buck, of Cobden. Our subject was educated in the city schools of Bangor, and in early life learned the carpenter's trade of his father. He followed his trade till coming to Union County in March, 1863. He then engaged in farming and carpenter work till he was married December 25, 1865. He then devoted his time almost exclusively to fruit and vegetable raising. His farm consists of sixty-three acres, part of which he purchased in 1866, the remainder in 1875. Mr. Lawrence has been making experiments with marble which is found on his farm, and finds that there are three varieties, all of which are susceptible of a high polish, and are of superior quality. December 25, 1865, he was married to Miss Minnie Wright, adopted daughter of Rev. Paul Wright, now of Santa Barbara, Cal. Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence have one son dead and three daughters living — Susie E., Grace and Kate L. In 1878, he joined the Cobden Lodge of A., F. & A. M., and is now Master of the lodge. He is also member of Cobden Lodge, Knights of Honor, and is Past Dictator. In politics, he is Democratic.
Extracted 26 Apr 2020 by Norma Hass from 1883 History of Alexander, Union, and Pulaski Counties, Illinois, Part V, page 133.
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