Alexander C. Lawrence

The History of West Virginia, Old and New

Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc.,

Chicago and New York, Volume II

Pg.320

Alexander C. Lawrence has had his home at Charleston for the past 
thirty years, but his interests and activities as an old operator 
connect him vitally with one of the biggest industries of the state. He 
is familiar figure in nearly all of the important oil fields. He is a 
man inured by almost life long experiences to work, both mental and 
physical, has earned his own way, and has commanded the respect of all 
good men by his earnestness as well as by his attainments.

Mr. Lawrence was born in Kanawha County, April 8, 1875. He comes of one 
of the very substantial families of this section of the state. The 
Lawrences in the different generations have been strong, sturdy, 
healthy, an outdoor race of people, long-lived, and seldom any serious 
illness has appeared to afflict individuals of the name. The first 
American branch of the Lawrence family settled in old Virginia about 
165o. The grandfather of Alexander C. Lawrence, the late John Marshall 
Lawrence, was a pioneer settler in Kanawha County in the early forties, 
locating at Fields Creek. He had a large farm or plantation, and though 
a Virginian and reared in the traditional Southern atmosphere he was an 
ardent Union man, strongly opposed to secession, and when the war came 
on advocated his convictions so vigorously that he influenced his four 
sons, James R., William, Ward M. and John W. Lawrence, the latter then 
a youth of seventeen, to enter the Union Army, where they made their 
services effective for the flag of the Union until the close of 
hostilities. By intermarriage and otherwise the Lawrences are
related to the Thompson and Townsend families, also of old Virginia 
stock and pioneers of Kanawha County. John W. Lawrence and his wife 
America (Da Jernett) Lawrence, parents of Alexander C., still live in 
Charleston.

Alexander C. Lawrence was born near Malden in Kanawha County, not far 
from his grandfather s old place at Fields Creek. While he came of a 
good family, his people being substantially represented among the tax 
payers of Kanawha County his independence and self reliance caused him 
earl to do for himself. He acquired some good school advantages. The 
first work he did for his self support was at the age was at the age of 
nine as a furnace boy in the coal mines, later did farming, and a 
number of years ago was elected and served as circuit clerk of Kanawha 
County. For seven years he was a popular landlord conducting several of 
the leading hotels in Charleston, including the Hotel Kanawha, which he 
and E. W. Staunton erected and opened April 11, 1904.


Since about 1914 r. Lawrence has engaged his energies and time 
in business as an oil operator and producer in the West Virginia 
fields. His success has been noteworthy in this industry, and his 
name stands in the front rank of prominent operatorss. His oil 
interests are mostly in Lincoln, Boone, Kanawha, Clay and Braxton 
counties. He is active manager of the Lawrence Oil & Gas Company, 
Ring Oil Company, Little Oil Company and the Oil Ville Gasoline 
Company. Successful in business, he is thoroughly public 
spirited in his relationship to all matters of progress in Charleston.

Mr. Lawrence married Miss Ida Mae Phoff, now deceased, and to this union
was born a daughter Marble Faun Lawrence. In 1913 Mr. Lawrence married Miss
Nellie Martin.

Mr. Lawrence is a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Charleston,
and is especially active in church and religious work. He is superintendent
of the Union Mission, of which a more extended account is given elsewhere
in this work, and he is also one of the leading members of the Billy Sunday
Men's Club of Charleston. In fraternal and social organizations he is a
member of Kanawha Commandery, Knights Templar, a member of the Charleston
Lodge of Elks, and of the Kanawha Country Club.



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