Lawrence Smith

 Lawrence Smith was born on 15 May 1823 in Newbury, Geauga, Ohio to John Paine Smith and Maria (Ferris).  In 1850, he was living with his brother Lucius in Ridott, Stephenson County, Illinois.

He married Elizabeth Baker on 8 March 1851 in Stephenson County, Illinois.

To this couple was born a son, Julius, on 18 April 1852 in Pecatonica, Illinois.  A daughter, Cornelia Rosetta was born on the 26 Feb 1855, also in Pecatonica.  

Sometime between 1855 and 1858, the family moved to Mitchell County, Iowa.  In 1960, the census shows the family living back in Illinois, this time in Winnegabo County.

A second son, Carlos was born in 1860 in Illinois.  Just two years later, in 1862, a third son, Charles, was born in Iowa.  By 1862, the family resided in Ellsworth, Hamilton County, Iowa.  Daughter Lizzie was born here on 2 Aug 1864.  Another son, Artemus, was born in 1867, probably in Ellsworth.

Both the 1870 and 1880 census records show the family living in Lyon Township, Hamilton County, Iowa.

By 1894, Lawrence and his wife had moved to Webster City, Iowa, residing at 505 Pleasant St & Seneca, where they lived until 1903.  It was then that they moved to Chicago, Illinois where son Julius was now living. 

Lawrence died on 18 July 1905 at the Cook County Infirmary in Chicago, Illinois.  He was buried in the Forest Home Cemetery, Sec 43 Lot 258, first grave from North Line West 1/2.

Lawrence wrote many letters to his sister Martha in Illinois. In a letter Dated 27 of Dec 1896, he tells a little about his political leanings: "McKinley is elected and I am glad he is. I think it is better for our party that he is elected. We haven't had time to educate the people to the condition of the country. We will have the next four yeares to fit our party. By that time they will guit enough of the Republican party. Some of [us] is guiting enough all redy. There confidence aint comeing as fast as they thought it would. This administration aint going to do much for the farmers."

For more information on the Smith family genealogy, click here.