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FREDERICK LAWRENCE,
one of the representative men of South Fork township Delaware
county was born in the kingdom of Prussia, August 2, 1834. His
father was a weaver by trade but lived on a farm where he reared
his family.
Our subject attended the common
district school during the winters for a few years, but his
educational advantages were limited. He came to America in
company with his sister when he was eighteen years of age. After
an ocean voyage of sixteen days he landed in New York and
immediately after his arrival in this country he went to
Wisconsin, where he obtained employment in a saw mill. After a
residence there of three years he came to Dubuque county, Iowa,
where he worked by the month for about four years. He then
located on Bowens prairie, in Jones county, where he purchased a
small piece of land.
When the war of the rebellion broke
out Mr. Lawrence felt it his duty to go to the front and help to
defend the stars and stripes. He enlisted, August 14, 1862, in
the Thirty-first Iowa regiment, and saw three years of hard
service. His first experience in real battle was at Haines’
Bluff, and soon after at Arkansas Post, and later at Grand Gulf.
He was at Jackson, Miss., during the terrible conflict at that
place, and a little later participated in the engagements at
Vicksburg and Lookout mountain. He also faced shot and shell at
Resaca, Atlanta, Macon and Columbus, and wound up his military
experience at Bentonville, N. C. He was wounded in the side and
left leg at Vicksburg, and was laid up for some time. He was
also sick for some months and was in various hospitals. He was
mustered out at Louisville, Ky., June 27, 1865, and received his
final discharge at Davenport, Iowa, July 3, 1865.
After the war Mr. Lawrence returned
to Jones county and engaged in farming, which vocation he has
steadily followed since.
He married February 26, 1866, the
lady of his choice being Miss Sarah Waterman, who was born in
Minnesota. This union has resulted in the birth of the following
children: Emma, Lewis C., Josephine, George, Artie and Bert.
In politics Mr. Lawrence is a
republican, having always affiliated with that party since its
organization. He has never been an aspirant for office, but has
filled a number of minor offices. He is an honored member of the
Grand Army of the Republic post at Monticello, and takes
considerable pride in the organization.
He owns two hundred and twenty acres
of good land, most of which is under a good state of
cultivation. He has been a hard working, industrious man, and
has succeeded by his own unaided efforts. He has been quite
successful, considering the fact that he began with nothing. |
