The time and attention of Joseph M. Lawrence is devoted to the
cultivation of an excellent farm of one hundred and ninety acres in
Brushy Mount township, Macoupin county. He is a native of this county,
his birth having occurred on the 24th of January, 1864, and a son of
James P. and Sarah (Culbertson) Lawrence. The father was born in
Yorkshire, England, on the 24th of February, 1836, and there he spent
the first sixteen years of his life. At the expiration of that period he
emigrated to the United States, locating in Carlinville, where he has
ever since continuously resided. He has always engaged in agricultural
pursuits, but has been living retired since 1903, he and his wife now
making their home in Carlinville. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence
numbered six, and in order of birth they are as follows: Emma, the widow
of George Walton, a farmer of Brushy Mound township, who continues to
live on her farm; William H., and John W., both of whom are deceased;
James L., who is engaged in the real-estate business in St. Louis,
Missouri; Joseph M., our subject; and Martin P., a farmer and gardener
of Phoenix, Arizona. During the childhood of the elder members of the
family Mr. Lawrence was managing and living upon the Sunny Home Stock
Farm, located east of Carlinville and the property of C. A. Walker.
While residing there his eldest son, William H., who was then about
eight years of age, was one day attacked by a buck in the deer park. The
child’s screams brought his mother and sister Emma to his rescue, but
before they reached him his skull had been fractured, both arms broken
and his body badly bruised and cut. When the mother tried to shield her
child the buck turned on her, but being a resourceful and capable woman,
she seized him by the horns, clinging to them with almost superhuman
strength until the faithful old shepherd dog “Trip” attacked the
infuriated animal and killed it.
Joseph M. Lawrence spent his
boyhood and early youth in Bird township, this county, where at that
time his father was engaged in farming. In the acquirement of his
education he attended the district schools of the vicinity during the
brief winter terms, his vacations being devoted to the work of the
fields and the care of the stock. He made the most of such educational
advantages as were afforded him and applied himself to the thorough
mastery of the common branches. With these for a foundation, by careful
reading, keen observation and deep thinking, he has become a well
informed man. He remained on his father’s farm until he had attained his
majority, and then began to set out for himself. Having decided upon an
agricultural career, for three years thereafter, he farmed as a renter
in Brushy Mound and Carlinville townships. At the expiration of that
period he removed to Honey Point township and rented for ten years,
going from there to Shaws Point, where he rented for seven years and
then bought eighty-six acres in that township. He disposed of this land
in 1906 and moved to Brushy Mound, where he bought the farm upon which
he has ever since continuously resided. This property contains one
hundred and ninety acres of land, thirty of this being in natural
timber, located on sections 10 and 15. Here he engages in general
farming and in connection raises good graded stock. Mr. Lawrence has one
of the attractive and valuable properties of the community. His land is
thoroughly cultivated, the improvements upon his place substantially
constructed, ample provision being made for the protection of stock and
farming machinery. The grounds are given careful attention and present a
pleasing appearance to the passer-by, while he is most fortunate in
having excellent drinking water. Everything about his home suggests
thrift and the capable supervision that always bespeaks success.
Mr. Lawrence’s plans for a home had their culmination in his
marriage on the 24th of January, 1889, to Miss Florence E. Morgan, a
daughter of Thomas E. and Harriet (Walton) Morgan. The father was born
in Shropshire, England, where he was reared and educated, subsequently
learning the carpenter’s trade. When he was twenty-one years of age he
left his home and emigrated to the United States, locating in
Carlinville. Here he met the lady whom he subsequently married. Mrs.
Morgan was a native of the state of New York and of English parentage.
Up to the time of his marriage he followed his trade, but subsequent to
this event he settled on a farm two and a half miles west of Nilwood. He
continued to reside there until his death on the 2d of November, 1910.
The mother also passed away on the homestead, preceding her husband
about in 1895. To Mr. and Mrs. Morgan were born five children: Mary, the
widow of John Cain, who is residing in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; William
L., a farmer living on the old Morgan homestead in South Otter township;
Minnie, the wife of Newton Johnson, a farmer of Carlinville township;
Thomas E., who is a resident of Nevada; and Florence E., now Mrs.
Lawrence.
Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence are the parents of six children:
Martin S. and Fred J., both of whom are at home; Harry, who passed away
in 1909, at the age of fourteen; and Edna May, Glenn O. and T. O.
Morgan, all of whom are at home. Three years ago when the youngest son,
Glenn O., was out in the pasture looking after the stock he had the
misfortune to be shot, presumably by some hunter. Forty-seven shot
entered the lad’s arm, lung and side, only two of which the physicians
were able to find, the other forty-five are still supposedly in his
body. The entire affair is a complete mystery to the family, it never
having been ascertained who committed the deed, as there were no
witnesses to the act.
Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence and their three
youngest children are all members of the Methodist Episcopal church of
Carlinville. Mr. Lawrence is identified fraternally with the Modern
Woodmen of America, belonging to the Womac Camp. Politically he has ever
been an earnest supporter of the democratic party, and is now serving
his second year as commissioner of Brushy Mound township. He also served
for one year as collector of the township of Honey Point, while for
eleven years he was district school director in both Honey Point and
Brushy Mound townships, his service in this capacity still continuing in
the latter place. Mr. Lawrence is one of those men whose efforts in
anything he may undertake are always so intelligently directed that his
work is ever characterized by rare efficiency, this quality in itself
invariably being indicative of success in any undertaking. Progressive
in his ideas and methods, he is constantly striving to advance his
community, and it is very largely due to his efforts that the telephone
line was extended from Carlinville to Brushy Mound township. This
extension was done in 1909, six miles of Bell Telephone Company wires
being strung at that time, and has proven a boon to the entire
community.
Extracted 15 Nov 2018 by Norma Hass from History of Macoupin County, Illinois: Biographical and Pictorial, by Charles A. Walker, published in 1911, Volume 2, pages 427-429.
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