Submitted by Dee Burr Thanks Dee!

WILLIAM L. LAWRENCE was born 1844 in Ballard Co. KY, and died 1904 in Paragould, Greene Co., AR. He married NANCY SARAH SIMMONS 1865 in Hickman County, Kentucky, daughter of JESSE SIMMONS and SARAH ROBERTS. She was born 1847 in Fulton Co., KY, and died 1933 in Paragould, Greene Co., AR.

William L. Lawrence served in the Confederate army from 1861 till 1865. He served in Company E, Twelfth Tennessee Infantry until the middle of the Battle of Corinth. When Gen. Sydney Johnston was killed the Army of Tennessee regiments were re-organized. He was then transferred to "Company L, Third Kentucky Infantry. He was captured Sept. 25, 1864 near Athens, AL. and was transferred to Louisville Military Prison, in KY. He was to be transferred to the prison in Camp Chase, Ohio, but escaped enroute. After he escaped he rejoined his unit. He fought until the end of the War, riding with Gen. Bedford Forrest in the defense of Selma, AL.

William Lawrence died at the age of fifty five at his home. He had been active in the Ancient Order of United Workmen. Nancy lived to be 86, living out her years on Pruett St. He and Nancy are buried in Linwood Cemetery, Paragould.

William and Nancy were the parents of ten children, seven living to adulthood. William Alva, Emma D., and Clinton Olin all died young.

Gersham Avery, known as G.A., was born in KY and lived his adult life around the Brookland area. G.A. married Martha Elizabeth Shearer, daughter of Van Buren Shearer and Clarissa Thompson.

Ivy Jess Lawrence was also born in KY. He married Virginia Shearer, sister to Martha Elizabeth. He also lived in the Brookland area.

John Wesley Lawrence, born in KY, died as a young man in 1900. His wife, Mollie Johnson, had died shortly after giving birth to their only child, Anna Mae in 1894. Anna lived with her grandparents until her death in 1928.

Luther Lewis Lawrence was born 1875 in KY, and died 1958 in Paragould. He married (1) Eva Smith, 1901. She was born 1883 and died April 18, 1912. He then married Rosa Elmira Norton in , 1913. She was born 1888, and died 1969 in Paragould.

William James Lawrence born in 1877 in KY. He married Ila Caston in 1903. William died in 1913. Nothing more is known to this writer of this family.

Julia Barzilla Lawrence was born 1883 in KY and died October 13, 1927 in Paragould. She married George Hermann Kingston in1903. He was born 1882, and died 1961 in Paragould, Green Co., AR.

Numerous descendants of William and Nancy still reside in Greene and Craighead Counties. A Lawrence reunion is held bi-annually on even years. All Lawrence descendants are welcome.

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