Lawrence was born Lars Fredrik Jansson at Springsta, Skämsta Roten, Kärrbo Parish, Västmanland, Sweden to farm workers Jan Andersson and Anna Stina Pontusdotter. Anna died of cholera when Lars was only 9 years old. He left home in 1863 at age 14, working on various farms in Norrby Parish, Västmanland and finally emigrating to the US (New York City) on 16 March 1869. His whereabouts from 1869 until 1875 are unknown, however family legend is that he disliked his father's new wife and joined the English Navy, where he rose to the rank of Captain. Eventually he landed in Boston, Massachusetts. It is said that Rosanna Dolan was drowning in the ocean and he jumped in to save her, and that this is how they met. He married Rosanna in Boston on 5 June 1875. He worked as a coachman, machinist, and engineer at the McCormick Brewery, which was a short distance from his home. According to the 1910 census, he had 10 children, including Mary Ann (m. John Glynn), Margaret Elizabeth (became a nun), James Ellery, Lawrence Frederick (died as infant), Julia Christiana (became a nun), Christiana Julia (baptized Roseann Matilda, who died as a teen), Charles Frederick, Laurence Alphonsus, and two unnamed, stillborn infants, buried with their Dolan grandparents. He died of valve disease of the heart and an embolism of the popliteal artery.
Lawrence was born Lars Fredrik Jansson at Springsta, Skämsta Roten, Kärrbo Parish, Västmanland, Sweden to farm workers Jan Andersson and Anna Stina Pontusdotter. Anna died of cholera when Lars was only 9 years old. He left home in 1863 at age 14, working on various farms in Norrby Parish, Västmanland and finally emigrating to the US (New York City) on 16 March 1869. His whereabouts from 1869 until 1875 are unknown, however family legend is that he disliked his father's new wife and joined the English Navy, where he rose to the rank of Captain. Eventually he landed in Boston, Massachusetts. It is said that Rosanna Dolan was drowning in the ocean and he jumped in to save her, and that this is how they met. He married Rosanna in Boston on 5 June 1875. He worked as a coachman, machinist, and engineer at the McCormick Brewery, which was a short distance from his home. According to the 1910 census, he had 10 children, including Mary Ann (m. John Glynn), Margaret Elizabeth (became a nun), James Ellery, Lawrence Frederick (died as infant), Julia Christiana (became a nun), Christiana Julia (baptized Roseann Matilda, who died as a teen), Charles Frederick, Laurence Alphonsus, and two unnamed, stillborn infants, buried with their Dolan grandparents. He died of valve disease of the heart and an embolism of the popliteal artery.
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