Izard Co., AR - Biographies - William Lawrence

***********************************************
This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb
Archives by: The Goodspeed Publishing Co

Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgenwebarchives.org
***********************************************
William Lawrence, farmer, Melbourne, Ark. In the early settlement of Izard
County, Ark., Mr. Lawrence bore a prominent part in developing and opening the
way for civilization and is one of the representative men of the county. He was
born in Alabama, in 1823, and is the son of James and Cynthia (Franks) Lawrence,
natives of Tennessee. James Lawrence moved to Alabama, in 1822, settling in
Marion County, and after remaining there a short time removed to Fayette County,
where he remained until 1839. From there he journeyed to Louisiana, entered land
and followed farming for about two years, when he moved to Izard County, Ark.,
and settled in Sylamore, now in Stone County. After a residence there of two
years, he moved to the western part of the county, where he improved some
government land. Two years later he moved to the eastern part of the county and
remained there until a short time previous to his death, when he went to live
with his son, William Lawrence, and died there in 1859, at the age of sixty five
or seventy years. He had held the office of justice of the peace in the county
for four years, and was an excellent citizen. He was twice married, his first
wife being a Miss Tucker, who bore him five children, two sons and three
daughters, all living at last accounts. They are named as follows: Martin,
Edward, Sarah, Catherine and Mary. His second marriage was to Miss Cynthia
Franks, and to them were born nine children, two now living, William and James,
who reside in this county. Mrs. Lawrence died in 1865. Both were members of the
Baptist Church, and in politics he was a Democrat. William Lawrence was married
in his twenty-third year, and commenced work for himself by farming on his own
land, which he had purchased in the central portion of the county. He sold this
farm in 1850 and entered his present property, which he has improved and which
consists of 200 acres. He now has about seventy or seventy-five acres of cleared
land, all the result of his own efforts, unassisted by any of his family. In
1862 he joined the Confederate army and served under Gen. Thompson and Capt. C.
C. Cook until the close of hostilities, when he returned to his farm. He has
been three times married, his first wife being Elizabeth King, whom he led to
the altar in 1846, and the fruits of this union were six children, all living:
James, G. W., John, Isaac, Thomas and Edward. Mrs. Lawrence died in 1859, a
worthy member of the Baptist Church. His second marriage took place in 1861, to
Miss Elizabeth Clark, who bore him five children, all living: Henry, Cynthia A.,
wife of J. W. Freeman; Mary F., at home; Rebecca J., at home, and Walter, also
at home. The mother of these children was a member of the Baptist Church, and
died in 1879. Mr. Lawrence's third marriage was to Mrs. A. N. Ivins (Bryant), a
member of the Christian Church. He is a member of the Baptist Church, belongs to
the Masonic fraternity, and in his political views is a stanch Democrat.