ALBERT C LAWRENCE
Bio-Pen Pictures
SURNAMES: FESSENDEN, WARE, HARPER, SLEEPER, PURDY, EATON, KEITH
deceased. The subject of this sketch was
born in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1810. In his youth he learned the
cabinet-making trade, at which he worked for many years. He was
also employed in Mr. Chickering's Piano Factory in Boston for some
time. In 1834 Mr. Lawrence married Miss Rhoda Ann Fessenden, who
was born in 1834, the daughter of Samuel Fessenden ( a native of Maine
but a resident of Massachusetts) and Sarah (Ware) Fessenden a native of
Massachusetts. Both parents were descendants of distinguished New
England families.
In 1849, when the gold excitement swept through the county, the subject
of this sketch was caught in the whirl, and laying aside the tools of
his trade he started for the El Dorado of the West. The
journey was made in the sailing ship Carthage, which left
Boston in September, 1849, and rounding Cape Horn, arrived at San
Francisco early in 1850. After spending a short time in
that city, Mr. Lawrence commenced working the mines, and continued it
for nearly tow years, when he came to Santa Clara County and took
possession of the estate upon which his widow now lives. The
property is situated at Lawrence, a station on the Southern Pacific
Road, in the Braley District. There he commenced his life as one
of the pioneer farmers of the county, being greatly assisted in
the work of cultivation and management of the farm by his son
Albert C., who left the family in Boston to join his father in
1852. The father and son actively engaged in the clearing
and seeding of the rich soil. Mrs. Lawrence, her son William and
daughters, arrived in January, 1861, and found a house in course of
erection Mrs. Lawrence avoided the tediousness of a longer
journey by choosing the Isthmus route. With his happy, re-united
family, Mr. Lawrence now commenced a life of useful, honorable
activity, during which he gained the respect of neighbors and
friends. As one of the county's earliest settlers, and as an
esteemed citizen, he was widely and well known.
To years previous to his death, which occurred in March , 1886, Mr. and
Mrs. Lawrence celebrated their golden wedding, a fitting symbol of a
long and happy married life. Nine children were born to Mr. and
Mrs. Lawrence, of whom five are now living, viz.: Albert C., Jr., now
living at Lompoc, Santa Barbara County, California, who married Miss
Rosa E. Harper, of San Jose; William H., a resident of Los Gatos, Santa
Clara County, who married Miss Susie E. Sleeper, of Boston,
Massachusetts; Ellen E., the widow of Daniel Purdy, of San Francisco,
now residing on the old homestead with her mother, as is also her son,
Arthur F. Purdy, who is the railroad and express agent at Lawrence;
Elvira E., who makes her home with her mother; and Adra A., who married
Henry Eaton, of San Francisco, and being left a widow , married P. G.
Keith , of Campbell Station, Santa Clara County.
The farm, which now contains but thirty-four acres, is devoted to the
raising of hay and grain, with the exception of five acres in
fruit-trees. It originally comprised eighty acres, but since the
death of her husband Mrs., Lawrence found the care of so large an
estate more than her health would permit her to undertake, and so has
decreased the acreage by sales, chiefly for orchard purposes. In
her pleasant home, surrounded by her children, she quietly spends her
declining years, enjoying the prosperity earned by the united efforts
of herself and husband during their pioneer days. She is a
consistent member of the Presbyterian Church of Santa Clara.
SOURCE: Pen Pictures From The Garden of the World or
Santa Clara County, California, Illustrated. - Edited by H. S. Foote.-
Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1888. page 479-480
transcribed by cdf