Cookeville Citizen March 26, 1931

Judge Lawrence B Chism died at his home at Little Crab, Fentress County, Wednesday, March 4, 1931.
He was the eldest son of William and Elizabeth Ray Chism, born December 22, 1850 at Tompkinsville, Monroe County, Kentucky. He came to Livingston when a young man and then entered the drug business with his brother, Dr J N Chism, and from Livingston in 1885 he entered the mercantile business at Boatland, and in December 1888 moved to Little Crab where he remained until his death.
He was married to Mary C Wood by the Rev Jason S Clark on September 22, 1887. To this union were born 9 children, 8 of whom are living. One son died in infancy.
He professed his hope in Christ Aug 27, 1893 at Cedar Grove church at Little Crab, was elected church clerk July 1899 and served until November 1912; was ordained a Deacon June 1901 and liberated to preach in January 1902. He was ordained to the full work of the ministry the 3rd Sunday in October 1905.
He was elected county judge of Fentress in August 1894 and served 8 years. He was appointed by Governor Peay to the office of County Judge in September 1926, serving during a contest which was terminated in the early part of 1927. This was the only time in the history of Fentress County that the County Court was opened with prayer. He was Postmaster at Little Crab from 1893 to 1897 and again appointed to the same position in 1914, serving until the time of his death.
He was made an entered apprentice Mason July 10, 1897, advanced to the degree of a fellow-craft August 7, 1897; and raised to the sublime degree of a Master Mason September 4, 1897.
He is survived by his widow Mary C Chism; four sons, Fred and Ray of Jamestown, Joe and William of Little Crab; 4 daughters, Mrs. W K Manis of Forbus, TN; Mrs. J B Reagan, Roxy; and Ruby Chism, Little Crab, all of whom were present. One sister, Mrs. Laura Carter, Spokane, Washington; and one brother, William G Chism, Rock Haven, Ky. 3 brother preceded him in death: Jasper and Tollie, who resided in the West, and Dr. John Newton Chism of Jamestown.
Judge Chism was a very successful businessman of the Upper Cumberland, acquiring considerable property. He was a stockholder in the Farmers Bank, Jamestown, and for a number of years the Vice President and Director of that institution.
He was educated in the schools of Kentucky and Valparaiso University, Valparaiso, Ind, where he specialized in telegraphy but soon abandoned his career and entered the mercantile business which was continued until his death. While attending school in Kentucky, he was a schoolmate of former Governor Benton McMillin, for whom he named his son, Benton Ray Chism.
Funeral services were held at Cedar Grove Baptist Church by the Rev J P Bilyeu of Algood on Thursday, March 5, 1931, after which the remains were taken charge of by the Little Crab Lodge No. 614, F & A M, assisted by members of Jamestown Lodge, and laid to rest in the Reagan Family cemetery.