Biographies
For
Muscatine County Iowa
1889



Source: Portrait and Biographical Album, Muscatine County, Iowa, 1889, page 397

WILLIAM D. LAWRENCE, who resides on section 24, Fruitland Township, was born in Lincolnshire, England, April 14, 1818, and is the fifth in a family of eleven children of John and Anna (Bell) Lawrence, who were also natives of Lincolnshire. Both parents died many years ago in their native land. The subject of this sketch was reared to farm life, and received a limited education in his native land. In the spring of 1831, while in his thirteenth year, he left the mother country and came to America, landing at New York after a rough voyage of five weeks. He came to this country in company with an elder brother who had previously been here.

Leaving New York City our subject went to Albany, N.Y., and near that place resided some two months. He then went to Toronto, Canada, where he remained one year, and then returned to the States, residing in Buffalo, N.Y., where he engaged in teaming. From Buffalo he went to Natchez, Miss., and from there to New Orleans, where he was employed by Scott Harrison, the father of Gen. Benjamin Harrison, for two and a half years.

In 1839, at North Bend, Ohio, Mr. Lawrence was united in marriage with Miss Sarah Disbro, a native of New York, and daughter of Jesse and Jane Disbro, also natives of that State. Her father, who was a farmer by occupation, emigrated to Illinois at an early day, and from thence to Muscatine County, Iowa, where he arrived in 1850. His death occurred in 1852, his wife preceding him to her long home some years previously, dying while residing near East St. Louis.

Soon after his marriage Mr. Lawrence removed to McLean County, Ill., rented land, and there engaged in farming. His next move was to the American bottom near East St. Louis, where he farmed two years, and in 1848 moved to Muscatine County, Iowa, locating on the farm where he now resides, and where he entered 102 1/2 acres of land from the Government. He commenced improving his land, and built a good residence, and has here since continued to reside, with the exception of one year. In August, 1861, he enlisted in Company A, 2d Iowa Cavalry, and was mustered into the service at Davenport. He enlisted for three years, but on account of disability was discharged at Bird's Point, Mo., in the spring of 1862, and then returned to his farm.

To our subject and his wife were born eight children, five of whom are living----Mary, Martha, Sarah Ann, William and John. Mary, now Mrs. Arnold, resides in Kansas; Martha, now Mrs. Ernest, resides in Mapleton, Iowa; Sarah Ann, now Mrs. Ewell, also resides in Mapleton, Iowa; William, who is married, resides near the old homestead; John, who is also married, resides in Marshall County, Kan.

In 1873 Mrs. Sarah Lawrence died, and in 1874 Mr. Lawrence married Emily Gage, the widow of Perry Gage. She is a native of Pennsylvania, and came West with her parents, George and Margaret Eakins, at an early day. Seven children have been born of this union, three of whom are living----Eva, Grover C. and Ada Bell.

Our subject is engaged in general farming, and raises each year considerable stock. In politics he is not very active, but trains with the Democratic party. He is a self-made man, having acquired all his possessions by industry and economy. He is the oldest living settler in Fruitland Township, and in the forty years spent in this county has witnessed many changes, and has made many warm friends, who admire him for his many excellent traits of character.

A fine portrait of this excellent citizen appears upon another page of this work.


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