Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Lawrence, Cyrus S. 1924
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Ionia County News, 20 Mar 1924

Lake Odessa Mourns Loss of 1864 Vet
Funeral of C.S. Lawrence Held Last Saturday From Methodist Church
Few Months From Reaching 80 Years
Father of Howard Lawrence of Ionia; Many Beautiful Floral Offerings

The funeral of Cyrus S. Lawrence, 80, Lake Odessa, Civil war veteran, town
builder and highly esteemed citizen, was held from the Methodist Episcopal
church of that village last Saturday afternoon.  It was the passing of one of
Lake Odessa’s “grand old men.”

The obsequies were attended by a host of friends and relatives.  Rev. Floyd H.
Kramer of the Lake Odessa M.E. church, of which Mr. Lawrence was a member, and
Rev. A.T. Luther, father of Mrs. Howard Lawrence of Ionia, of Rochelle, Ill,
were in charge of the services.  Mrs. R.A. Colwell and Chandler Haight of Ionia
furnished music.  Burial was made at Lakeside cemetery, in the family lot.

The men acting as pall bearers were all intimate friends of the deceased.  They
are A.O. Lapo, Guy R. Lapo, J.B. Myers, David Leak, William H. McCartney, Edgar
A. Tew.  Many beautiful offerings were banked around the casket at the funeral,
coming from friends and relatives in Lake Odessa and Ionia.  A dozen or more
large sprays and wreaths came from organizations of which Howard Lawrence,
secretary to Fred W. Green, a son, is connected with at Ionia.

He is survived by his third wife, a son, Howard, of Ionia, and two brothers,
Charles and Harry.

The flag at the Lake Odessa school house was placed at half mast following the
announcement of Mr. Lawrence’s death, as he had been a member of the school
board for about 16 years.

He was born June 14, 1844, in Orleans county, N.Y.  When he was three months old
his parents, Erastus Lawrence and Mercy (Smith) Lawrence, with their family
moved to southern Michigan, his mother carrying him on her lap in a lumber
wagon.  There in southern Michigan and northern Ohio he grew to young manhood
and from there enlisted in the Civil war, where he served from September, ’64,
to the close of the war.

He came to Ionia county and located on the farm home in Sebewa township in 1876
and has been for 48 years a resident of this county.

On January 24, 1881, he was united in marriage to Maggie Neidhardt.  Two
children came into their home.  The first son, Verner, was only spared to them
one year.  Eight years later their second son, Howard, was born.  The wife and
mother was taken out of the home by death in May, 1895.  The deceased took the
place of both father and mother until August, 1896, when he was married to Sarah
Benedict.  They continued the home on the farm until February, 1902, when the
family moved to Lake Odessa.  The home was again entered by death when the
second wife was taken in January, 1907.

On March 18, 1908, he was married to Margaret Sherwood, who, with his son and
family, two brothers, Charles and Harry, and other relatives survive him.

Early in life he identified himself with the Methodist Episcopal church,
transferring to Sebewa when he located there, and then later to Lake Odessa.  As
long as his health permitted he was always active and interested in church work
and community affairs.  During the last three or four years, however, his health
has been gradually failing and this past winter has seen him confined closely to
the house.  These days have been brightened by the gracious care and constant
attention of the loving wife.  The friends and neighbors have also contributed
much toward making his last days as pleasant as possible.

The end came Thursday evening, March 13, at 7 o’clock, when he, within three
months of his eightieth birthday, was called from his labors and suffering to
his eternal home.


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