Evening star., 1913-12-07
A Golden Wedding.

Mr.. and Mrs. Richard S. Lawrenson
the former the second oldest employe in
point Of service in the Post Office Depart.
ment will celebrate their fiftieth wedding
anniversary tomorrow. Mrs. Lawrensor
was Caroline E. Brown. The marriage
took place December s. 1858, at the Nc
Kendree M. E. Church, the Rev. William
Mitchell, In the absence of Rev. William
Krebs, the regular pastor, officiating.
Mr.. Lawrenson and his wife were born
In this city, attended the same church
and public school. They are both in the
best Of health. No cards will be issued
for the anniversary event. but they will
to call at their home. 1091s K street
northwest, where they will be surround
ed on this occasion by five sons and
daughters, ten grandchildren and two
great-grandchiidren.
Mr.. Lawrenson entered the employ OF
the Washington city post office In 1862.
and the Post ONCE Department August
8, 1896 where he has been continuously
employed ever since. He was member
of the Post Office Guards in 1852, which
was organized to protect the government
departments from Confederate raids.
In a reminiscent mood Mr.. Lawrenson
said when a boy his home was on the
spot where the present Post Office De-
partment building is located, and next
to his home was The Star building. which
newspaper and one called the organ ne
sold on the streets. From the windows
Of his home he viewed the inaugural
parade of President Buchanan along the
then muddy Pennsylvania avenue. He
has seen the number or employees IN tne
Post Office Department grow from $50 to
the present number Of 1.5OO He has
record OF never having been late during
his service Of forty-seven years in the
department. Once, however, during his
employment in the city post office here
he was ten minutes late, and thus saved
his life from an explosion Of gas which
killed A. ne. Moses and injured James
A. Kennedy and ]. w. Doubleday, fell
low-clerks. and Postmaster Bowen.
The night of the assassination of Lin
coin he was awakened at his home, on n
street near 7th street, by the pursuers OF
Booth and his companions His father.
ploye Of the Post Office Department from
1919 to 1890, learning Of the attack on
Lincoln and suspecting plot to Kill menu
bers Of the cabinet as well. rushed to the
home Of Postmaster General Dennison,
his personal friend. in order to protect
him. For this thoughtfulness ne received
a letter Of thanks from Gov. Dennison,
which Mr.. Lawrenson, jr., now possesses
with many other interesting papers OF
his fathers, who was widely known
among public men In his day.
In speaking Of his father. Mr.. Lawren-
son said he remembers him telling about
the trip from Baltimore by stage in 1884.
when he was transferred from the post
Office in that city to the department prop
er In Washington. Judge James Lawren-
son swore into office twentysix Postmas-
ters General, Wanamaker being the last.
He was correspondent Of the Baltimore
Sun from 1896 to 1861. In the days when
correspondents used nom de plumes. he
being known as Mercury" OF the Bal
timore >Sun. Judge Lawrensons home
was near to the Post Office Department
building, where the land office now stands
during the partial destruction by fire in
1886 of that building, and his home was
used to place many of the records of the
department.