Isaac F. Lawshe
For many years a physician in western Grant County, though now retired, Mr. Lawshe at the present writing has just closed a long term of service as postmaster at Swayzee, and is also owner of a fine country home and farm on the outskirts of this little city of Grant County.
Isaac F. Lawshe is a native son of Indiana, born at Somerset, in Wabash County, January 18, 1859, a son of Henry D. and Hester A. (Richmond) Lawshe. The father was born in New Jersey, and the mother in Switzerland County, Indiana, and they were married in southern Indiana by Rev. T. A. Goodwin, a Minister of the Methodist Church. After the marriage the parents located at Connersville, and about 1850 settled in Wabash County at Somerset. The father, who who was a cabinet maker and undertaker, spent fifty years in the village of Somerset in those occupations, and was one of the most honored men of his community. His latter days he spent in the home of his son, Dr. Isaac, at Swayzee. The father was a man of quiet, upright character, did his part in his community, and provided well for his family who have since lived to do him credit. Of his eight sons three died in early life, one at the age of twenty-one, and three three are living in 1913. Thomas Lawshe lives at Converse, in Miami County. Isaac F. is the second in age of those living; and A. L. Lawshe is the most prominent of the family in larger affairs, having formerly been third Assistant Postmaster General at Washington, and since resigning that place on account of ill health went west and is now Superintendent at San Carlos, Arizona, of the Indian Reservation and School.
Isaac F. Lawshe spent his boyhood in the village of Somerset, where he grew to manhood and received such education as the public schools could give him. When he had definitely decided upon a career he took up the study of medicine, and afterwards matriculated in the Kentucky School of Medicine, where he pursued a full course and was graduated in 1881, with the degree of M. D. His first place of practice was at Sycamore, in Howard County, Indiana, where he remained from August, 1881, until March, 1885. At the latter date he came to Swayzee, and continued in active practice there until 1895, in the latter year selling out to Dr. Fisk. In 1899 Dr. Lawshe was appointed Postmaster at Swayzee, and has held that place until in May, 1913. Three different commissions by three different Presidents have been given him, as title to the post office he began his service. Dr. Lawshe has always taken an active part in local politics, and is one of the stanch supporters of the old time Republican party, a firm believer in its principles and fallacies, which through half a century have kept the nation whole and prosperous.
On November 17, 1881, Dr. Lawshe married Sarah F. McConn, who was born in Wabash, and was educated in the public schools of that city. Her father, Thomas C. McConn, was a contractor and builder in Wabash. To the marriage of Dr. Lawshe and wife have been born two children.
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Gertrude M. is the wife of George A. Newkirk, of Sims Township, and a graduate of the public schools. They have one son, George Lawshe Newkirk.
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Charles H. is a graduate of the high school, and of the Pharmacy Department at Purdue University, and now the leading druggist at Swayzee. He married Rachael L. Spears, and has two sons, Charles H. and Leland M.
Dr. Lawshe is one of the Deacons in the Christian Church at Swayzee, and fraternally is affiliated with Swayzee Lodge No. 65 I. O. O. F., of which he is past Noble Grand, and a member of the Grand Lodge of Indiana, and is also a member of the Modern Woodmen of America. His career has been a prosperous one, and one of the most satisfying evidences of the same is his fine farm of eighty acres, half a mile east of Swayzee on the Marion & Roseburg Pike. This estate is known throughout this part of the county as the East Lawn Farm. The Kokomo and Marion Traction Line runs its cars close to the home, and the Clover Leaf Railway also bisects the land. Dr. Lawshe devotes practically all his attention to his farm. He occupies a beautiful home in what is known as the Clover Leaf addition to Swayzee.
Source: Centennial History of Grant County Indiana 1812-1912. The Lewis Publishing Co., 1914, page 1320.