John H. Lawson
Mr. and Mrs. John H. Lawson
Among the prominent citizens of Grant County, Indiana, is John H. Lawson, the well known farmer of Sims Township. He owns a large and prosperous farm and is also an owner of a fine real estate property at 811 Fifth Street, Marion, Indiana. Mr. Lawson is of fine old Kentucky stock, although himself a native of Indiana, and he has been a farmer all of his life. He is highly respected throughout the township and is a man of considerable influence.
John H. Lawson was born in Rush County, Indiana, on the 27th of December, 1846, a son of Theodore and Rebecca (Pickerell) Lawson, both of whom were born and reared in the state of Kentucky. They were married in Rush County, Indiana, and in 1850 came to Grant County to live. Here Theodore Lawson entered land in Richland Township and he lived there until during the later years of his life, after the death of his wife, when he made his home with his son, John, with whom he lived until he passed away. Theodore and Rebecca Lawson became the parents of four children, three of whom are now living, as follows: Elizabeth, who is the wife of David P. Draper, of Pleasant Township; E.F. Lawson, who married Helena Mower and lives in Sweetser, Indiana; John H., and Frances J., who was the wife of Christian Shaffer.
John H. Lawson was reared in Richland Township, attending the public schools of this township until he was fifteen years old. He did not receive a very thorough education for the schools in these early days were very crude and the life of the son of a backwoods farmer was filled to the brim with the many tasks that fell to the lot of a boy. After he became a man he continued along the lines for which he had been trained and became a farmer. He now owns 151 20/100 acres of land and is a general farmer and stock raiser. He also owns property on Fifth Street in Marion. All of this he has gained through his own labor with the exception of about $1,400, his share of his father's estate.
Mr. Lawson was married to Miss Sarah Canady in 1872, and seven children were born to this union, two of whom are now living, namely: Emma, who is a graduate of the common schools and the wife of James Fear, of Marion, Indiana; Ada, who married Charles Carver, of Kokomo, Indiana.
Sarah Lawson, Mr. Lawson's first wife, died in 1905 and Mr. Lawson married Miss Mollie Sullivan in 1907. Mrs. Mollie Lawson was born in Wyandotte County, Ohio, and did not come to Grant County until after her marriage. She was educated in a Roman Catholic School at Cleveland, Ohio. The Lawson farm is located on section one, of Sims Township, one mile east and four miles north of Swayzee, Indiana.
Mr. Lawson has always been a member of the Democratic party, but he has never cared to hold office. His only fraternal allegiance is with the Knights of Pythias, his affiliations being with Swayzee Lodge, No. 451.
Submitted by: Gina Reasoner