John W. Lawrence, 1861

stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org on Thu, 15 Feb 2001

Surname: LAWRENCE, SHEPECK

----Source: History of Clark County, Wisconsin (1918), by Franklyn, Curtiss-Wedge

JOHN W. LAWRENCE, the present postmaster of Humbird, and one of the leading citizens of that place, was born at Manitowoc, Wis., Nov. 29 1861 son of George W. and Isabella (Shepeck) Lawrence. The father was a native of Vermont and had come with his parents to Manitowoc when a young man. It was there that he married Isabella Shepeck, who had accompanied her parents to that place from Bohemia. For some years he followed the occupation of a sailor on the Great Lakes, but finally gave that up and engaged in farming about seven miles from Manitowoc. He was not permitted long to enjoy the fruits of his labor, however, as he died at the age of 42 years, six months and 14 days.

His wife died at about the same age. They had three children: Asa, now a soldier in the regular army, stationed at Panama; Anna, wife of L. L. Bacchus, of Chicago, and John W., of Humbird, Wis. John W. Lawrence, who was the youngest member of the family, was reared on his parents' farm, and when he grew up engaged in various lines of industry, including lumbering and rail road work, residing at Reedsville four years. In 1884 he was united in marriage, at Garden Valley, Jackson County, Wis., to Margaret Curtis, a daughter of W. D. Curtis, and then located at Fairchild, being employed on the railroad four years.

The fourteen years following he was engaged in farming in Garden Valley, and while there served nine years as school clerk. In the year 1900 Mr. Lawrence came to Humbird, Clark County, and engaged in the life insurance business, being one of the promoters and directors of the Farmers' Life Insurance Company of Humbird. He has since taken a warm interest in the affairs of the village, helping to organize the Commercial Club and the Automobile Club, and was made postmaster in August, 1915. He and his wife have two children: Harry L., and Ross C., both of whom are residing at home.