For
Muscatine County Iowa
1911
| Biographies For Muscatine County Iowa 1911 | |
Source: History of Muscatine County Iowa, Volume II, Biographical, 1911, page 265
ARTHUR STANLEY LAWRENCE....On the roster of county officials appears the name of Arthur Stanley Lawrence, who is now filling the position of auditor, to which he was elected in the fall of 1904. He has filled the office since January, 1905, and in this, as in other public positions, he has proved most loyal to the trust reposed in him and capable in the discharge of his duties. Muscatine county numbers him among her native sons, his birth having occurred in Moscow township, on the 1st of September, 1857. He is a representative of an old New England family. His grandfather, Elisha Lawrence, was born in Vermont and spent his entire life there. His son, Solomon L, Lawrence, was also a native of the Green Mountain state, and spent his youthful days in that locality, where he learned and followed the carpenter's trade. He afterward became a resident of Michigan, and the year 1856 witnessed his arrival in Iowa, at which time he took up his abode in Moscow township, Muscatine county, where he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land. This he at once began to cultivate and improve, but in 1865 he sold the property and removed to Wilton, after which he retired from business cares. For many years he was justice of the peace and his decisions were strictly fair and impartial. He was also prominent in church work, and both he and his wife belonged to the Methodist church. His death occurred in 1892 when he was eighty-two years of age, and his wife passed away in 1895 when about eighty years of age. She bore the maiden name of Harriett S. Morgan and was a native of New York. There were seven children in the family of Solomon L. and Harriett Lawrence, three sons and four daughters, but only two reached adult age. The daughter, Arline E., is the widow of Dr. James McNutt, of Kansas City, Missouri.Arthur Stanley Lawrence is the only son who reached manhood and was reared in Muscatine county and from the age of seven years lived in Wilton, where he attended the public schools. When a lad of twelve years he bagan clerking in a dry goods store, where he was employed for several years. He came to Muscatine in 1884, and here entered the employ of S. & L. Cohn Clothing Company. He was afterward connected with the U. S. Jackson Clothing Company and subsequently was in the service of the Hershey Lumber Company. In 1904 he was elected county auditor and in the following January entered upon the duties of that position, which he has since filled with credit to himself and satisfaction to his constituents. This is not the only office to which he has been an incumbent, for in 1895 and 1896 he was mayor of Muscatine, in which connection he discharged his duties in a prompt, businesslike and efficient manner, giving a capable and progressive administration. As auditor he is systematic in all that he does, and no one has reason to complain of the way in which he administers the affairs of the office.
On the 20th of October, 1881, Mr. Lawrence was married to Miss Arontesa E. Eaton, a daughter of James A. and Mary ( Davis ) Eaton. Mrs. Lawrence was born in Iowa, near Muscatine, and her parents are natives of Indiana. They became early settlers of Muscatine county and are now living in Fruitland township. The family numbered seven children: Demetrius T., Calvin E., Arontesa E., Laura, the wife of Clare Bird of Wausau, Wisconsin; Martin; Rita E., the wife of Carl Tyrrell, of St. Paul, Minnesota; and Myrtle, the wife of Charles Bruun, of Kansas City, Missouri. Two children have born unto Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence: Jay A. and Harold C., but the former died May 23, 1910, at the age of twenty-eight years. The latter who is ticket agent at the Union station in Muscatine, married Pearl Childs.
The Lawrence home is at No. 704 Walnut street and is justly noted for its warm-hearted hospitality. Mrs. Lawrence is a member of the Baptist church. Mr. Lawrence belongs to Iowa Lodge, No. 2, A. F. & A. M.; Washington Chapter, No. 4, R. A. M; Webb Council, No. 18, R. &. S. M.; De Molay Commandery, No.1 K. T.; Zarephath Consistory, A. & A. S. R., of Davenport; and Kaaba Temple of the Mystic Shrine. Upon him has been conferred the honorary thirty-third degree, and he is one of the best known and most prominent Masons of Iowa. He belongs to the Ancient Order of United Workmen, the Modern Woodmen, and the Knights of the Maccabees. In Masonry many offices have been conferred upon him. He filled all the chairs in the local organization; has been grand priest of Iowa, and grand-master of the Grand Council of the state. In his political views he is an earnest republican, always loyal to the interests of the party. He never wavers in the support of his honest convictions and his position is never an equivocal one. He stands fearlessly in support of what he believes to be right and the principles which have governed his conduct his entire life are such as are indispensable elements of good citizenship and honorable manhood.
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