LAWRENCE, Guy D. 1866-1906

LAWRENCE, ASPER

Posted By: Chris Tonn (email)
Date: 8/28/2014 at 10:36:41

Marble Rock Journal, Marble Rock, Iowa May 17, 1906

Gone to His Reward

Monday morning this community was shocked when it learned of the untimely death of Guy Lawrence. Mr. Lawrence has been engineer on a short line running from Midlothian station to the Midlothian Country Club, a distance of three miles. This short line is owned and operated exclusively for the members of the club who make this place their summer home. The train which Mr. Lawrence was running consisted of only the engine and one coach. He had just finished his dinner and was coupling up the coach to the engine when the accident which cost him his life happened. The train was standing on the side track which was being repaired and was somewhat uneven causing the automatic coupler to work rather poorly. Mr. Lawrence went down from his engine to couple the train and was caught between the bumpers and lived but a few minutes after the accident happened, which occurred about one o'clock Sunday afternoon.

One of the sad incidents connected with this accident was the fact that Mrs. Lawrence had been visiting with relatives here and Cedar Rapids since April and was expecting to meet her husband at Midlothian Club the following day where he had prepared a pleasant home for the summer. Mrs. Lawrence arrived in Chicago last Friday and was spending the intervening time with her sister, Mrs. Hawkins, when the sad news was communicated to her.

Mr. Lawrence was a man in the prime of life, being about thirty-nine years of age. Having spent a large portion of his vacations at Marble Rock, he was well known to all our citizens. He was a man of a happy and cheerful disposition and was highly esteemed by all who knew him. He counted his friends by the number of acquaintances and his untimely death cast a gloom over the entire community.

The remains were brought to this city Tuesday morning and were laid to rest in the east side cemetery Wednesday morning. Short funeral services were held at the home of his father-in-law, A. J. Asper, a home which was brightened many days by his cheerful presence. The funeral service was conducted by Rev. Sheckler and was attended by a large and sympathetic gathering of the friends of the family.

The deceased leaves a widow to whom the hearts of our people go out in the deepest sympathy.