The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1898-02-24
MR.. John T. LAWRENCE DEAD
Along And Useful Life.

John Thomas Lawrence, son o
Thomas D. and Mary Bailey Powell
Lawrence, was born April %, 1922
and died Feb. &c, 1898, and was there
fore nearing his 10th birthday.
Naturally enfeebled by age, and the
results of an active life, he was moi
strong to resist any severe attack upon
| his system and for nearly two months
he had been suffering considerably at
times. He gradually grew weaker unit
last Saturday when he lost consciousness
altogether and fingered until Sunday
night about IL o'clock when the disem
bodied spirit took its flight to be "for
ever with the Lord"
| The funeral exercises were held in
the home of the deceased at Dawson
Monday, Feb. 21st, conducted by Rev
R. T. Vann, assisted by Rev. R. H
Herring, of Halifax, who is pastor Of
Dawson Baptist church, of which Mr.
| Lawrence was a member. A large
crowd gathered from the surrounding
country and from Scotland Neck. The
weather being cold and disagreeable the
exercises were held in the house.
The space in all the rooms opening
into the hall, including the dining room
and parlor, was occupied by friend s
eager to hear what was said OF the pa
trotic citizen, the consecrated christian
philanthropist, who had lived to the
ripe old age of more than three score
and ten, and whose full years were
crowded with honor through the high
est esteem of all who knew him.
Rev. R.. T. Vann read appropriate
Scripture selections and Rev. R. H.Her-
ring made some appropriate remarks con-
corning the life of the good man whom
he had known only a few months. He
was followed by Rev. r. T. Vann, who
spoke beautifully of the lite and char
acter OF the strong man Of God, of his
devotion to the cause of Christ and his
influence tor all that is truest and best
in life. At the close of his remarks
Mr.. Vann sang a beautiful solo, Mr..
Herring offered prayer and the con-
course of people repaired to the grave
for the concluding exercises.
The pail bearers were Messrs. S. w.
Edwards, John T. Applewhite, L. l..
House, J. Frank Brinkley. Balfour
Dunn and E. E. HiIl1ard.
In the family burying ground, by the
side of the wife of his early years the
body was laid to rest. A short,
but impressive benedlction was pro-
nounced by Rev. r. I. Vann, the cold
cIods were rolled in upon the coffin lid,
friends sang softly and sweetly "Asleep
in Jesus" beautiful flowers we're laid
upon the new-made mound, and loved
ones and friends turned sorrowfully
away, leaving the well-worn form of
clay to rest in the embrace of mother
earth until the resurrection morn, when
"the mortal shall put OH Immortality"
SKETCH OF HIS LEE.
John Thomas Lawrence was born
April %, 1922 in Northampton
county. He was reared on a
farm and there became Injured to those
sturdy habits OF industry which char
acterized his entire life.
In the spring of 1882 he moved from
Northampton to where Mr.. Mont
gomery Shields now llves,nea Scotland
Neck. At the age of 81 he moved to
the Lawrence homestead near Spring
Hill where he lived for many years.
On Dec. 31st, 1915 he was married
to Miss Ann Allen, daughter OF Daniel
B. and Lucretla FaulconAllen,w whose life
was given to him as helpmeet until
Nov. 25th, 1872, when she was called
to cross the river of death and leave
her husband behind. Their marriage
was blessed with eleven children, eight
of whom are still living, four sons and
four daughters. One of his SONS lives
in far away Texas whom Mr.. Lawrence
visited only about two years ago.
On May Goth, 1875 Mr.. Lawrence
was again married to Miss Lucy Cop
pedge, daughter of VIM. D. and Henri
eta I. Coppedge, of Franklin county,
who survives him.
Mr.. Lawrence was man OF almost
ceaseless activity all his life and we'll
succeeded in the honored vocation OF
of farming.
When the war broke out he went
CALAMITY to the army, leaving home,
wife, children and friends in 1861 as a
member of the Scotland Neck Mount
ed Rlflemen. He served only about
six months, when his health tailed.
He came home, but faithful to the
cause in which he had enlisted, he
hired substitute to fill the place in
the ranks which he had left vacant.
About the year 1916 he became a
roovrbor IF the RantiSt church to