William O. Lawrence
In Pleasant Township Mr. Lawrence is regarded as one of the most capable farmers and stock raisers in that locality. His home has been in Grant County since 1900, and for a number of years previous tot hat he lived in Huntington County. His career has encouragement for young men who start without resources except those contained in themselves. He was a renter for several years, prospered in every undertaking, and thriftily turned his surplus into more land until he found himself independent, and with better provision for the future of himself and family than most men have a the close of a long lifetime.
William O. Lawrence was born in Adams County, Ohio, June 25, 1862, a son of Philip and Jemima J. (Hull) Lawrence. His father died in Huntington County, Indiana, where the mother still lives on the old home place. There were five children in the family, four daughters and one son. The daughters were: Lizzie E., wife of Fred Dumbauld, of Huntington County; Flora C., wife of S.J. Brubaker, of Fort Wayne; Ida B., wife of James F. Thompson, of untington County, Ora A., who is unmarried and lives at McNatt, Indiana.
William O. Lawrence grew up in Huntington County, and during his boyhood learned the lessons of toil and honesty from his parents, at the same time acquiring a fairly substantial book education in the local schools. When he was twenty-one years old he started out for himself and made considerable progress towards independence before he was married.
On October 2, 1888, he married May Alspach, who was born in Huntington County, Indiana, January 30, 1865, and grew up and was educated in that locality. Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence have lived in different sections of Indiana and he has conducted stores in various parts of the state. Sine 1902, however, he has farmed. Prior to that time , for seven years he conducted a store in Marion and for nine years ran a store in Farrville, this county. Both have been diligent workers and good managers, and while providing the comforts for themselves and children, and giving special attention to the liberal training of their son and daughter, have at the same time been able to advance their capital and general prosperity until they are now practically independent.
Their two children are: Norval C., a graduate of the common schools, and now his father's capable assistant on the home farm; Jessie Fay, born March 18, 1906, and a student in the local schools. The family are members of the Methodist Protestant Church at Jalapa, and in politics Mr. Lawrence is a Democrat and has served on the township advisory board. His farm, which he has occupied since 1905, comprises one hundred and forty-eight acres, and is well improved with a comfortable residence, good barns, fences, kept in thorough repair, and the fields indicate a high state of cultivation
Submitted by: Gina Reasoner