| J.Thomas Lawler |
J. THOMAS LAWLER, a widely and favorablyknown citizen of Woodstock township, Schuyler county, Illinois, is a nativeof Virginia, having been born in Fauquier county, that State, May 7, 1824.His parents were Alexander and Margaret (WHITE) LAWLER, both natives ofVirginia. His father served with distinction in the war of 1812. His fatherwas a cooper, and followed his trade in his native State until the sprinof 1839, when he with his family drove from Virginia to Ohio, and thenceto Schuyler county, bringing all their wordly goods in their wagon. Arrivedin Illinois, they purchased 160 acres of wild timber land in Woodstocktownship, on which they built a log house, and began the life of pioneers.Both father and mother lived here until their death, although it had beenmuch improved during their possession, both with buildings of a substantialkind, as well as the land well cultivated. The father died here at theage of sixty-four years, while the mother survived him for a long time,dying at the advanced age of seventy-three years. The Lawlers were originallyfrom Ireland, where they were well-to-do people.Our subject was one of a family of fourteenchildren, seven of whom are now living. He was reared in Woodstock township,and received his education at the country schools of his day. He livedat home until he was twenty-two years of age, working on the farm and athis trade of coopering. He then enlisted in the army, and served in theMexican war for thirteen months, and now gets a Mexican pension. Afterreturning from the war, he married , on May 7, 1848, Miss Sarah E. Pinkerton,who was born in Putnam county Indiana, June 14, 1831. She was a daughterof William and Anna (JACKSON) Pinkerton. Her father was a native of Kentucky,while her mother was a native of one of the Carolinas, having come withtheir parents to Indiana in a very early day. Her father died in Indiana,aged about thirty years, after which her mother moved to Illinois, locatingin 1855, in Rushville, later moving to Augusta. She is still surviving,and lives with her daughter, the wife of our subject. She had three children,only two of whom are living.
Joseph and Sarah Jackson were Mrs. Lawler’sgrandparents. They were pioneers of Indiana and later moved to Illinois.Mrs Jackson died in Indiana aged fifty years, and her husband died in Illinoisat the advanced age of ninety-six years. They were related to General Jackson,so famous in the war of 1812.
David and Margaret Pinkerton, the grandparentson her father’s side both died in Indiana, at a very advanced age. Theywere both natives of Kentucky, and of English ancestry.
After marriage, our subject settled wherehe now lives, residing there continously ever since. He built at firsta little log cabin, in which he and his family lived, until 1865, whenhe erected his present substantial and comfortable home. His farm was unimprovedwhen he bought it, but it is now one of the best farms in the country,being highly cultivated, and well improved with substantial barns for grainand stock, besides other modern conveniences for the care of grain andother agricultural products.
Mr. And Mrs. Lawler have eleven children,nine of whom are living. Margaret E., married and has seven children; HenryW., married, having three children; Silas E., married , has four children;Albert C., married, has five children; Simon A. and Jane A., twins; Simon,a school teacher; and Jane, married, and has two children; Nancy E., married,with two children; Hattie E., married, and has one child; and Thomas A.,at home, and works the farm with his father.
Our subject and wife are consistent membersof the Methodist Episcopal Church, and contribute liberally towards itssupport.
Mr. Lawler and family are highly respectedby people of the community on account of their many admirable traits ofcharacter.
Biographical Review of Cass, Schuylerand Brown Counties, Illinois, Biographical Review Publishing Co., Chicago,1892.
Submitted by Tammie Orr Brown
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