Lapeer County MI Archives Biographies.....Lawrence, Evert W. 1799 - 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com February 14, 2007, 4:05 am

Author: Chapman Bros. (1892)

CAPT. EVERT W. LAWRENCE, a farmer residing on section 31, Almont Township, is
one of the influential citizens of Lapeer County. He was born in Catskill
Township, Greene County, N. Y., January 9, 1799, and was the son of Merchant and
Sarah (Wynkoop) Lawrence. His father was a soldier in the War of 1812 and was
born in Connecticut. He was of English ancestry while our subject's mother was
from Holland. Our subject's paternal grandfather, Uriah Lawrence, was killed in
the Revolutionary War and the maternal grandfather, Hezekiah Wynkoop, was also a
soldier in the Revolutionary War and Capt. Lawrence well remembers that his
father took part in the defense of Sackett's Harbor.

  The subject of our sketch was reared upon a farm and had the most meager
chances for an education, but on attaining his majority he was elected Constable
and as the position required more education than he had, he began studying and
was soon fitted for practical work of that kind. At the age of twenty-four he
was made captain of a uniformed company and received his commission from Gov.
DeWitt Clinton. He served as Captain for about five years and then resigned his
commission. He still, however, has the commission.

  Our subject is the third in a family of eleven children, eight of whom grew up
and became heads of families. Our subject was married in January, 1827. He first
lived for a short time in Canada and then came to Michigan in 1838-39 and
located at Almont, his family being brought hither with a horse team. The first
purchase of land comprised forty acres the most of which he had to go in debt
for. His brother-in-law, William F. Myers was security so that he did not have
to give a mortgage. He built a log cabin and cleared off the farm, not
attempting to put in a crop the first year and making his living by working out
for others; the supply of meat was easily obtained by hunting, game being
plentiful at that time.

  In his political views Capt. Lawrence was a Democrat and voted first for
Jackson, helping to reelect him, but in 1840 he cast his vote for Harrison and
in 1888 voted for the grandson. He has had nine children, of whom four daughters
and one son are now living: Adaline the eldest lives in Maryland and is the wife
of John Wiley; Caroline married Emery Ferguson; Matilda is the wife of M. D.
Closson and lives on the homestead, taking care of her father; Harriet lives in
Philadelphia and is the wife of a Mr. Lutz; Lamira married S. C. Williams and
lives in Virginia; Nelson makes his home in Australia.

  Capt. Lawrence at first owned but forty acres of land and although he reared a
good-sized family, when a fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres of land was
offered for sale at $4,000, he purchased it, asking for only one year in which
to complete the payment. Outside of his farming interests he has handled
considerable pine lands and has made some money from this. He is a member of the
Congregational Church and has helped to build two edifices in Almont.

  In connection with this sketch the reader will notice a lithographic portrait
of Capt. Lawrence.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

Portrait and Biographical Record of Genesee, Lapeer and Tuscola Counties,
Michigan, Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative
Citizens, Together with Biographies of all the Governors of the State, and of
the Presidents of the United States

Chicago:
Chapman Bros.
1892


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