1925 obit Jarry R. Lawrence-Brattleboro, Windham Co,, Date: 98-05-01 10:06:18 EDT From: tess@sover.net (Terry Perham) from the Brattleboro Reformer Brattleboro, Windham County, VT 1925 SUDDEN DEATH OF H.R. LAWRENCE Stricken on Common This Morning with Brain Hemorrhage Was collector of Rare Volumes Former Bank Cler, and Later Interested in Several Enterpirses--Lived at Lawton Hall--Had Attack Last June in Canal Street Apartment Harry R. Lawrence, 72, a lifelong resident of Brattleboro, and for many years a collector of rare books and pamphlets, died suddenly of cerebral hemorrhage between 7 & 8 o'clock this morning on the village common. It was his second attack, the first occuring about May 31 of this year in his former apartment in the Abbott on Canal street. At that time he remained in his room in a helpless condition several days, until friends visited his apartment because they had missed him. He was in the Memorial hospital for some time, later going to Lawton hall to live, and between 7 and 8 o'clock this morning he left Lawton hall to go to Main street as was his custom. He followed a pathway to the bank to the common and was stricken there. A short time later he was found by persons connected with the Retreat. Mr. Lawrence was born in Brattleboro Aug. 27, 1853. His long and varied activities here made him known to almost everyone in town, and his friends have regretted to see him lately lose ground in his health. He seemed to have premontion some time ago that he might suffer a stroke, but up to last June he continued to live entirely alone, as he had done for years, among his books and a collection of rare local antiques in his two-room apartment. Mr. Lawrence traced his ancestry back to the very early families of this region. His grandmother, Cynthia (Baker) Lawrence, was born in 1789 in old Marlboro, one of a family of 13 children. In 1808 she married Nathan Lawrence and went to live on his farm in Chester. When he died in 1842, she came to Brattleboro and lived here for nearly 50 years dying at the home of her grandson, Harry R. Lawrence, at his home then on South Main street, in May 1888 , within a year and a half of her centenary. Her son, George C. Lawrence, who was the father of Harry R., was born in Chester in 1812. He learned the printer's trade in Springfield, but came in 1825 to Brattleboro as clerk in the well-known store of J. R. Blake & Co., in which firm he later became partner, and which he finally bought out, in partnership with his brother, Charles. Harry Lawrence was one the three children born to George C. Lawrence and Frances E. Root, daughter of Sabuel Root. The other two children, Elizabeth and Richard, died in 1873 and in 1878 respectively. Harry R. was born in 1853, and from his 14th to 22d year was clerk in the Vermont National bank. He was later in partnership for four years with I.K. Allen in the lumber business, and was also later interested in development of the tool and sewing machine industry here. With William H. Minor, Charles Barrett and Edward G. Frost, he bought out the Newman & Tyler shop in 1888. They were manufacturers of paper-making machines which were at that time in use in mills in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Mr. Lawrence continued in this business until 1893, when he became interested in the breeding of Morgan horses. He was a member of the Morgan Horse club of New York for many years and frequently was a judge at the annual Morgan horse show held at the government Morgan house farm at Weybridge, near Middlebury. Mr. Lawrence promoted several enterpirses of importance to the town. To him was due the credit for securing plans and ripening public sentiment for building the present Auditorium, in which improvement he personally superintended every detail of the work. His uncle, Charles G. Lawrence, was identified with the successful management of Brattleboro hotels for over 40 years, including the old Phoenix House, Brattleboro House, American House, and Brooks House. Mr. Lawrence was a charter member of the Quonekticut tribe of Red Men, and was chief of the records for 10 years and was a member of the Vermont Wheel club up to the time of its recent disbandment, taking an active part in its affairs. Mr. Lawrnece in recent years made the collection and sale of rare books and documents and local antiques his special hobby. Among his collection of the antiques are many relics of Dr. Wilson the famous British highway bandit known as "Thunderbolt" who lived in this section for many years as a successful and popular physician. Mr. Lawrence was an authority on rare boooks and was agent for many wealthy collectors. He also was an authority on local history and assisted Miss Mary R. Cabot in the collection of material for her two comprehensive volumes known as the Annals of Brattleboro, 1681 to 1895. ************************************************************************ (c)1998, Terry Perham Courtesy of Terry Perham Hinsdale, NH tess@sover.net ************************************************* * * * * NOTICE: Printing the files within by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged, as long as all notices and submitter information is included. Any other use, including copying files to other sites requires permission from the submitters PRIOR to uploading to any other sites. We encourage links to the state and county table of contents. * * * * The USGenWeb Project makes no claims or estimates of the validity of the information submitted and reminds you that each new piece of information must be researched and proved or disproved by weight of evidence. It is always best to consult the original material for verification.