BIOGRAPHY :
The son of John L. & Elizabeth (Weaver) Lawrence, in 1860 he was a carpenter living in Oxford Township, Adams County, Pennsylvania. He stood 5' 10" tall and had light hair and dark eyes.

A Civil War veteran, he was drafted in Adams County October 16, 1862, mustered into federal service at Gettysburg November 6 as a sergeant with Co. H, 165th Pennsylvania Infantry (aka "Drafted Militia"), and honorably discharged with his company July 28, 1863, in Gettysburg.

He married Agnes C. Hart November 24, 1863, and fathered William Hugh Eugene (b. 01/10/65), Henry Francis "Harry" (b. 05/17/67), Mary Elizabeth "Lillie" (b. 12/04/68 - married Edward Augustine Hemler), Louisa Catherine "Lucy" (b. 08/07/70 - married William H. Losman), Stanislaus George (or vice-versa) "Stan" (b. 02/03/72), Anna Margaret (b. 05/11/75 - married Peter Joseph Long), Isabella Clara (b. 08/01/77), Charles Albert (b. 07/23/79), Fabian Joseph (b. 06/01/81), Emma Jane (b. 10/17/84), and Charles (Clarence) Edward (b. 03/03/88). I have found no evidence of a son Jerome as stated in the obituary.

Biography provided by Dennis Brandt FAG # 47232334.


OBITUARY :
JAMES A. LAWRENCE, one of Oxford township's most widely known citizens, died at his home in Irishtown, after a prolonged illness from a complication of diseases, at 9:15 o'clock on Wednesday morning, aged 80 years, 8 months and 25 days. For many years the deceased followed the carpenter and contracting business through out this section.

The deceased was a veteran of the Civil War, having served as a Sergeant in Company H, 165th Regiment, under Captain William H. Gordinier.

Surviving are a widow and the following children: Eugene W. Lawrence, Mrs. Edward Hemler, and Fabian J., of Irishtown; Mrs. William Losman, of McSherrystown; Mrs. P. J. Long, of Oxford township; Miss Isabelle Lawrence, at home; Rev. Jerome Lawrence, of St. Bernard's College, Cullman, Alabama; Miss Emma Lawrence, of Birmingham, Ala., and Stanley Lawrence, of Irishtown. One brother, George W. Lawrence, of Irishtown; and three sisters, Mrs. Kate Staub, Mrs. Sallie Overbaugh and Mrs. Anna Leonard, all of McSherrystown, also survive.

The funeral was held on Saturday morning with a Requiem High Mass in Conewago Chapel, at 9 o'clock, celebrated by his son, the Rev. Fr. Jerome Lawrence, of Cullman, Ala.

Interment was made in the Chapel cemetery.

Source : The New Oxford Item Newspaper - New Oxford, Adams Co., Pennsylvania - Thursday, August 1, 1918