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DAVID W. LAWRENCE
Originally published in 1900 |
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DAVID W. LAWRENCE, of Jersey City, N. J., was born in the City of
New York, November 10, 1850. While a child his parents moved to Pike
County, Pa., and continued to reside there and in the contiguous County
of Monroe until 1863. That region was then (and is still) a wilderness.
While the family lived at Shawnee, Monroe County, the Civil War broke
out, and Mr. Lawrence's two older brothers enlisted. In 1863 the family
returned to New York,
and Mr. Lawrence's father also enlisted. He was
wounded in the battle of
the Wilderness, taken
prisoner, and subsequently died in Andersonville military prison.
This left Mr. Lawrence,
then a boy of thirteen, as
the main support of his
widowed mother and
two brothers younger
than himself. He obtained employment in a
retail store, attending
school at night.
In 1868 Mr. Lawrence moved to Jersey City and engaged in a mercantile business until 1872, when he accepted an appointment in the New York post office, where he remained eight years, discharging his duties with ability and satisfaction, and being promoted to Assistant Chief Clerk of the Registry Department, which position he resigned in 1880. In 1877 he was elected a member of the Board of Aldermen in Jersey City over ex-Mayor John B. Romar, a popular Democrat. He declined a renomination in the spring of 1879, but accepted the nomination for Assembly in the fall and was elected over David J. Post, receiving more majority than his opponent had rotes. He was re-elected in 1880 and 1881. At the session of 1881 he was appointed Chairman of the House Committee selected to represent the State of New Jersey at the centennial celebration of the battle of Cowpens at Spartanburg, S. C. At the session of 1882 he was the Republican nominee for Speaker of the House. Prior to the close of the session be was elected in joint session of the Senate and House of Assembly a Police Justice for Jersey City for the term of three years. At the expiration of his term of Police Justice Mr. Lawrence decided to retire from political life. Two days later, however, he was appointed by the Board of Finance and Taxation, at the request of a Citizens' Committee, Assessor for the Fifth Aldermanic District. This position he filled for three consecutive years, each year being unanimously elected President of the Board of Assessors. In 1888 he was nominated as a Republican and citizens' candidate for Sheriff of Hudson County. Though not elected, he received a very gratifying endorsement. In 1889 he was appointed by Mayor Cleveland, under the new city charter, a member of the Board of Tax Commissioners for the long term of three years, and while he was the minority member his associates unanimously elected him President of the board. Before the expiration of his term he publicly announced that he would not accept any other political office. But on the request of Justice Lippincott he has served on several commissions appointed by the court. He was formerly a member of Monticello Lodge, No. 140, I. O. of O. F., of the Orion Rowing Association, and of the Palma, Berkeley, and Jersey City Clubs. He is also a member of Bergen Lodge, No. 47, F. and A. M., of Jersey City Consistory, No. 51, of the Hopatcong Club, of the Union League, and of the Lincoln Association, and a life member of the Carteret Club. He is also one of the managers of the Provident Institution for Savings, a Trustee of the New Jersey State Home for Boys at Jamesburg, and is trustee and executor for a number of important estates. He has been faithful and popular in every position he has held, and few business men in Jersey City have been more successful, and none more highly trusted and respected. He is still engaged in the real estate and insurance business, which he established in 1885, and is a large real estate owner in Jersey City.
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