My Genealogy Hound

Dr. G. W. Lawrence is one of the most substantial and prominent practitioners of Hot Springs, in which place he has been located as a resident for over thirty years. Originally from Plymouth, Montgomery County, Penn., his birth occurred July 4, 1823, on the grant of land ceded and settled by his ancestors seven generations ago, and granted by William Penn. The Lawrence family is of Quaker origin, early history stating that some of its members came to America with Penn, a grant being made to them by him at Plymouth, Dr. Lawrence’s parents were William and Sarah (Hitner) Lawrence. He is the great grandson of Daniel Hitner, who was killed at the battle of Germantown, where Washington was defeated by Howe, while his grandparents on both sides were agriculturists. Young Lawrence received his academic education at the Concord Seminary, Germantown Academy, Provost’s Grammar School in Germantown and the Susquehanna Institute in Marietta, Lancaster County, Penn., institutions of learning which admirably fitted him for any position in life. He then studied medicine at Baltimore, Md., under Dr. J. H. Miller, subsequently attending the University of Pennsylvania, from which he graduated in April, 1846, and following this settled in Baltimore, Md., where he joined his preceptor, Prof. Dr. Miller, in practice. In 1849 he went to California as surgeon of the barque Kirkland, and discovered the Gallepago Banks, west of the Gallepago Islands, in July, 1849, and on October 14, of the same year, discovered the Grass Valley Quartz Mines, near Nevada City, Cal. In 1850 he was appointed first assistant surgeon-general of California. When the Governor, John McDougal, ordered out forces under Gen. Thomas Jefferson Green, he was obliged to obey, and was engaged in a ten days’ fight with the Wymer Indians. He was the first assistant surgeon-general of California, until 1851. In 1851, returning to Baltimore County, Md., he remained until his health failed, and in 1859 arrived at Hot Springs, Ark., to recuperate, but liking the locality, decided to settle permanently. His residence here since that time has been of true value to the community. The Doctor is a member of Hot Springs Medical Association, and for a time was president of the County Board of Examiners, and a member of the Arkansas State Medical Association. In 1859 he was appointed by the president of the American Medical Association to the British Medical Association and other European societies, also to the same in 1873. He was the correspondent member of the Tennessee State Medical Association, Cincinnati (Ohio) Scientific Society, the Philadelphia College of Physicians, and College of Physicians and Surgeons of Little Rock, and licentiate of the medical and chirurgical faculty of Maryland. He has published a report on the Climatology of Arkansas, transactions of the American Medical Association, Vol. XXIII, and numerous papers on various medical subjects. He was United States centennial commissioner of the State of Arkansas in 1876, appointed by Gen. Grant. In 1843-45 he was acting assistant surgeon in the United States Navy, surgeon of the barque “Kirkland” from Baltimore to California, as stated, and served as inspector of hospitals under Gen. A. S. Johnston in the central army of Kentucky. He was also medical director of Gen. Hardee’s division. After the evacuation of Nashville he served as medical director of the third corps of the Army of the Mississippi until after the battle of Shiloh, was in 1862 president of the Army Medical Board, Trans-Mississippi department, under Gen. Hindman. He was inspector of mines in 1863 for the Trans-Mississippi department, and chief surgeon of the Bureau of Conscription in that department under Gens. E. Greer and F. T. Nicholls until the surrender, at Shreveport, La., in June, 1865. Since October, 1859, he has been medical examiner and resident physician of Hot Springs, Ark. Dr. Lawrence was married, June 6, 1848, in Baltimore, Md., to Miss Mary S. Golder; was married the second time, December 10, 1872, at Little Rock, Ark., to Mrs. Clara E. Lillienthal, by whom he has four daughters: Ida M., Sarah E., Alice R. and Libbie E. The Doctor owns 1,600 acres of land near Hot Springs, besides land in Mississippi, North Carolina and Maryland. He is the oldest physician in Hot Springs, and is a member of the Maryland Historical Society. As a physician he has few superiors, enjoying the warm friendship of many acquaintances all over the United States.