The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-11-05
MR. LAWRENCE DIES
HIS LIFE STORY A ROMANCE OF
 SURPRISING INTEREST.
Grandson of Commodore Lawrence, He Left Home in the Far East Years Ago and Never Saw
 His Relatives Again.

Edward H. Lawrence, State Lam Agent, died at 1:3O o'clock Sunday after | noon at the City Infirmary, after suffer
 ing intensely for several weeks.
 Mr. Lawrence was removed from { private infirmary to the City InfirmarI l four days ago. He had long been sui | ferer from insomnia, but the immediate cause of his death was dropsy. He re. | lapsed into inconsistencies Friday and | passed away Sunday afternoon without having recognized any of his friends foi two days.
 The life and death of Mir. Lawrence is a story of pathos-a story of deep human
 interest. Fifty-one years ago he wal born in New York City. His father was a naval officer. being the son of bluff old Commodore Lawrence. distinguished in American naval affairs. Young Lawrence had a great deal of the fire of his dis tinguished ancestor about him, and SC when he and his father disagreed when he was 21 years old, the young man went away. He had worked in the navy yard with his paternal parent, and he knew little of the real outside of New York but he took the step and he died without l ever looking again into the face of his | parents.
 From New York, MT. Lawrence went tc | Indiana He had intelligence, breeding and ability. In Indianapolis, the Capita City of the Hoosier State, he secured em' ployment and prospered as most young men possessing these advantages pros- per. In Indianapolis he lived until he ripened into manhood. The years went by and he had no messages from his Eastern home.
 Time came when progressive young sons of the Western country looked to the great South. Developments were making, and young men of brains and energy were needed MT. Lawrence studied the conditions and located in Birmingham early in the seventies. He had investi- gated real estate matters and was we'll informed. He made money but he spent it. The Magic City was overrun with in- vestors. and Mir. Lawrence went to Shef- field. city which had sprung up in a night. He had indifferent success there, but what was more to him than money ne made friends. They were tried and true, and he settled in Sheffield.
 In the summer of 1898. Hon. Walter s. White, then Auditor of Alabama, was casting about for a man to take the desk of Land Clerk in his office. MT. Law renee was his personal friend and he was induced to come to Montgomery. The new clerk brought to his duties vast store of information about the public
 lands of Alabama. and he worked with such a cheerful spirit that he was soon the warm friend of each attache of the historic old building on Capitol Hill.
 At the close of the administration of Auditor White Mir. Lawrence returned with his chief to Sheffield. but later made a trip throughout Alabama. investigat-
 ing into the location of lands in which he was interested. He continued at this work until July of this year. when Gov ernor Jelks selected him to be State Land Agent. Then Mir. Lawrence showed his magnanimity. His predecessor, T. w. de Yampert, was an old man. He had been in the service of the State many years, and Mir Lawrence suggested that he be retained until October 1st. His suggestion was adopted. On October 1st MT. Lawrence assumed his new duties. With several of his friends. about the Capitol he rented the handsome resi- dence at 523 Dexter Avenue. and 1t was furnished as bachelor apartments. Then Mir. Lawrence was stricken down. He was sent to a private sanitarium. Later he was sent to the City Infirmary. His friends were loyal. He struggled on, looking on the bright side and assuring them that he would soon return to his cffice in the Capitol. The end came Sun day and his friends are in sorrow.
 Throughout all these years MT Law renee did not mention his distinguished family connection except to those who were dear friends to him. To those with whom he enjoyed the sweet intimacy Of friepdship he sometimes poured out the sorrow which burdened his heart. He said he was for many years relentless. He loved his people, but he had gone away with bitterness in his heart and that pride which surpasseth understand ing kept him away. Not often did he re- fer to the fact that he was a grandson of Commodore Lawrence. Few persons oil dignified bearing and ti'nly chiselled fea- lures of this proud man, for two years a familiar figure on the streets or Mont gomery, knew that Lawrence Street, that beautiful thoroughfare of the Capital City. got its name from his famous grandfather. Lawrence was not the man to tell them.
 Two years ago Mir. Lawrence confided to a friend that he had borne his sorrow too long. He would go East, he said. and see if there was not some heart to greet him with responsive welcome Surely, he said, there must be dear rela- tives there. He went to New York but came back with a still greater sorrow All of his dear ones were dead. No trace of them could be found.
 And so he died. Death called and he went away again. Went away to a strange land. leaving behind friends who loved him. These friends will mingIe their tears together today when they stand beside his bier.
 1ne DOdy was IeHloNeu oulluaS 'o dI undertaking establishment on Commerce Street from which the funeral will take place at 10 o'clock this morning. Hon. Walter S. White, former State Auditor Dr. C. B. Ashe and other citizens of Shef- field will come to Montgomery to attend the funeral. Rev. Edward k. Cobbs, As sistant Rector of St. Johns Episcopal Church. will offciate.
 The body of Mir. Lawrence will be laid away in beautiful Oakwood Cemetery Ind the following gentlemen who were warm friends of MT Lawrence, will act as pail bearers: J. K. Jackson, Robert Tait Charles F. TIogue, F. c. Thomas, w. F. Claughton and A. C. Sexton.
 A Violent Attack of Group Cured
 Last winter an infant child of mine had croup in a violent form,' says Elder r,-..-. :. hrintinn E,Nn nnnliat