Biography

11/13/1818 - 10/02/1904

George Van Eman Lawrence (Whig23) Washington County 1849-1851 (R23) Greene and Washington Counties, 1861-1863 (R46) Beaver, Greene and Washington Counties 1876-1882

Early Life: 

George Van Eman Lawrence, born November 13, 1818, Washington County, Pennsylvania; son of Joseph and Rebecca Van Eman Lawrence; common school education; Washington College (now Washington and Jefferson College), Washington, Pennsylvania; engaged, agricultural pursuits; elected, Whig, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, 1844; elected, Whig, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, 1847; elected, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1849-1851; elected, Whig, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, 1859-1860; elected, Republican, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1861-1863 elected, Speaker of the Senate, 1863; enlisted, 18th Regiment, Civil War, 1862; elected, Republican, United States House of Representatives, 1865-1869; delegate, Pennsylvania State Constitutional Convention, 1872; elected, Republican, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1876-1882; elected, Republican, United States House of Representatives, 1883-1885; elected, Republican, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, 1893-1896; president, People’s Bank of Monongahela; director, Monongahela division, Pennsylvania Railroad; married, Elizabeth Welsh Lawrence (d.1855), children, Mary Virginia Lawrence, Joseph Lawrence; married, Mary Reed Lawrence, 1857, children, George R. Lawrence, Carrie Belle Lawrence Wood, William Lawrence; died, October 2, 1904 (age 85 years, 324 days), Monongahela, Washington County, Pennsylvania; interment, Monongahela City Cemetery, Monongahela, Washington County, Pennsylvania.

Early Career:

Enlisted, 18th Regiment, Civil War, 1862. Farmer. 

Professional titles; business ownership; board memberships; local government; club memberships:

President, People’s Bank of Monongahela; director, Monongahela division, Pennsylvania Railroad. 

Pennsylvania Politics:

Elected, Whig, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, 1844; lost re-election by twelve votes.  

Elected, Whig, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, 1847; not a candidate for reelection 1847.

Elected, Whig, Pennsylvania State Senate, 23rd district, Washington County, 1849-1851. 

Elected, Republican, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, 1859-1860.  

Elected, Republican, Pennsylvania State Senate, 23rd district, Greene and Washington Counties, 1861-63; chairman, Banks Committee; elected, Speaker of the Senate, 1863. 

Delegate, Pennsylvania State Constitutional Convention, 1872; chairman, Townships and Boroughs Committee, where he framed the home rule provision.

Elected, Republican, Pennsylvania State Senate, 46th district, Beaver, Greene and Washington Counties 1876-1882; committee assignments, Agriculture, Centennial Affairs, Constitutional Reform (Chairman) Finance, New County and County Seats, Vice and Immorality. 

Elected, Republican, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, 1893-1896; not a candidate for reelection, 1896.  

Continued Government Service/National Politics:

Elected, Republican, United States House of Representatives, Thirty-ninth and Fortieth Congresses, Pennsylvania, 24th District, 1865-1869; not a candidate for renomination, 1868.

Elected, Republican, United States House of Representatives, Forty-eighth Congress, Pennsylvania 24th District, 1883-1885; not a candidate for renomination, 1884. 

Pennsylvania House of Representatives Biography:

Official Website - PA House Archives Official Website (state.pa.us)

Legacy: 

Father, Joseph Lawrence, (1786-1842) of Washington, Washington County, Pennsylvania; Born near Hunterstown, Adams County, Pennsylvania, 1786. Whig. Member, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, 1818; United States House of Representatives, Pennsylvania, 15th District, 1825-29; Pennsylvania State Treasurer, 1835-36; Pennsylvania delegate, Whig National Convention, 1839. United States House of Representatives, Pennsylvania, 21st District, 1841-1842; died in office, yellow fever, April 17, 1842 (age about 55 years). Interment, Congressional Cemetery, Washington, D.C.

Cited:

Cox, Harold. "Senate Members "L"". Wilkes University Election Statistics Project. Wilkes University.

Smull’s Legislative Handbook, (1881). Smull, W.P., (Editor) Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, pages 674, 680-682, Biographical Sketches of Senators, page 644.

(Brady-Handy Collection, Library of Congress) History of Washington County, Pennsylvania, ed. Boyd Crumrine (Philadelphia: L.H. Everts & Co., 1882) 597- 598; G.V. Lawrence to Simon Cameron, February 11, 1855, Roll 2, Cameron Papers; also: Bradley, 343.

George Van Eman Lawrence (1815-1904) - Find a Grave Memorial