Biography

11/13/1818 - 10/02/1904

George Van Eman Lawrence (W23) Washington County, 1849-1851; (R23) Greene and Washington Counties, 1861-63; (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, Whig, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1849-1851; elected, Republican, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, 1859-1860; elected, Republican, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1861-63 elected, Speaker of the Senate, 1863; enlisted, 18th Regiment, Civil War, 1862; elected, Republican, United States Thirty-ninth and Fortieth Congresses, Pennsylvania, 1865-1869; delegate, Pennsylvania State Constitutional Convention, 1872; elected, Republican, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1876-1882; elected, Republican, United States Forty-eighth Congress, Pennsylvania, 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 and 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 Thirty-ninth and Fortieth Congresses, Pennsylvania, 24th District, 1865-1869; not a candidate for renomination, 1868.

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

Pennsylvania House of Representatives Biography:

https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/BiosHistory/MemBio.cfm?ID=5949&body=H

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 Representative, Pennsylvania, 15th District, 1825-29; Pennsylvania State Treasurer, 1835-36; Pennsylvania delegate, Whig National Convention, 1839. United States Representative, Pennsylvania, 21st District, 1841-42, 1841-42); died in office, yellow fever, April 17, 1842 (age about 55 years). Interment at Congressional Cemetery, Washington, D.C.

Cited:

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

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/12544522/george-van_eman-lawrence