My Genealogy Hound

DANIEL T. LAWRENCE, our subject, who passed to his rest in 1887, universally mourned as a sincere friend and upright citizen, had for thirty years been identified with the advancing interests of Berrien County, Mich. Born in Toronto, Canada, he removed from his birthplace with his parents to the State of New York, where he was reared and educated. His ancestors were natives of England, but the father and mother, appreciating the advantages offered by the United States, early located in the dominions of the Federal Government, and as citizens were true and loyal. Our subject made his home in Cincinnati, Ohio, while young, and was there united in marriage with Miss Jane Crawford, and with his estimable wife continued to reside in the Buckeye State for many years. A family of eight sons and daughters, all born in Ohio, blessed the fireside with their cheerful presence. In 1857, Daniel T. Lawrence decided to try the farther West, and following the tide of travel journeyed to Michigan with his family and settled permanently a short distance from Benton Harbor.

In time death deprived the brothers and sisters of their devoted mother, and a twelvemonth later the father also died. The children now residing in Berrien County are William, John and two daughters. John Lawrence was but a little lad when he left his native State, Ohio, and came to Michigan. He attained to manhood in the county, attended the excellent schools of his home district, and enjoyed the benefit of a course of instruction in the Indiana College at South Bend, from which well-known institution he graduated with honor. He successfully taught school in the county twenty-four years, twenty-two years of which time he was a valued teacher of Benton Township. A public-spirited citizen and active worker in all matters of mutual welfare, John Lawrence was appreciated by his fellow-townsmen, and in 1882 he was elected to the office of Supervisor, the duties of which position he continued to discharge with faithful ability for about nine years. At the expiration of this length of time he resigned in order to accept the office of County School Commissioner, tendered to him in the fall of 1891. A prominent factor in educational advancement, Mr. Lawrence had since 1881 continuously been a member of the Board of Examiners, and for one term gave universal satisfaction in his official work as County Commissioner of Schools.

While John Lawrence has with genuine enthusiasm given his time and earnest efforts to the cause of education, and has aided materially in the advancement of the schools of the county, giving especial attention to the methods and manner of instruction, his brother William has found active and profitable employment in another field of work. William Lawrence is numbered among the substantial general agriculturists and fruit-growers of Berrien County. The brothers, unmarried, own together a finely cultivated farm of fifty acres, which is partially devoted to the culture of fruit and annually yields an excellent crop of hay. John and William Lawrence occupy positions of useful influence and, widely known and highly esteemed as representative men of the county, actively participate in social and business enterprises. Fraternally, John Lawrence is a valued member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. The brothers are in political affiliation stanch Republicans, but our subject, Daniel T. Lawrence, was a lifetime adherent of the Democratic party. The father was ever deeply interested in local and national issues. The sons are thoroughly posted in the affairs of the day and intelligently do their full duty as earnest American citizens.