Lawson, O. L.

LAWSON

Posted By: Joyce Hickman (email)
Date: 10/31/2008 at 14:03:59

O. Lawson, farmer, P. O. Living Spring. Mr. Lawson is a native of Norway, his early home being about seventy miles east of Christiana. He was born in 1834; came to America about 1853; landed at Quebec. Soon after this, came to Chicago, where he remained about six years, leaving Chicago in 1859, and went to Pike's Peak. For eight or nine years he was in the West, being in Colorado, Utah, Idaho and Portland, Oregon, during the time, putting in the time mining, freighting, prospecting, and working at his trade of carpentering; came to Pottawattamie County about 1866, and has been here ever since. First, bought the present place of John Van Kirk, buying of Judge Bratton. He was married, in Mills County, Iowa, February, 1871, to Miss Viola Orr; died July 13, 1881; she was born in Ohio. He had four children, two are now living, both boys. In 1869, he moved to his prseent farm, and has been on it since, except one year he lived in Mills County. His farm consists of 320 acres; his principal business is raising corn and feeding. All of his farm but fifty acres is in cultivation and good improvements. His is Republican in politics. Mr. Lawson was raised on afarm in the old country, but never followed farming till he came to Iowa. While in Chicago, he had learned the carpenter's trade, and followed that for some years. Mr. Lawson is one of the oldest settlers now living in the township. There were only six or seven houses in the township when he came, and some of them but the rudest of shanties, being mostly situated along the old stage road. Between Keg and Silver Creeks, there was no house in this part of the county, and east of Silver, Macedonia was the nearest settlement, and Taylor Station on the north; Keg and Silver Creek Township were in one at that time, and had only seventeen or eighteen voters. (From the 1882 History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa)