About Us
The authors are indebted to local historian Mr. Hugo Holland for researching and compiling much of the family history in the late 1970s. The history of the family is not prolific. Subsequent research has been included in the following history of the family.

The Lawrence House was built in 1892 by William F. Lawrence and served as the family home until the death of his widow in 1940. It was subsequently unoccupied until it became the Lawrence House Suncor Centre for the Arts in the 1980s.

The first member of this branch of the Lawrence family to settle in Canada was Colonel John Lawrence. In 1782, he joined the United Empire Loyalist leaving the United States following the American Revolution. He took his family to Fredericton, New Brunswick where a son Peter was born. In 1791, the whole family moved to York in Upper Canada. From the British government various members of the family received land grants totaling 200 acres 200 acres. The land was located between present day Eglinton and Lawrence Avenues on the East and West side of Yonge Street in Toronto. The family grew and prospered in farming, lumber mills and tanneries. Lawrence Park and Lawrence Avenue became public memorials to the family in Toronto.

In 1812, John's son Peter married Elizabeth Cummer. They settled in Willowdale where they raised five sons and five daughters.

One of Peter's sons, Jacob started a sawmill in Wanstead, Lambton County in 1870. In 1873, Jacob moved to Watford and established mills in Kings Court and Sutorville. A lumber yard was operated in Bothwell. Over the years Jacob took his sons in partnership as Jacob Lawrence and Sons.

In 1878, Jacob moved to Sarnia and bought a mill on the St. Clair River. On his death in 1885, his son William F. moved to Sarnia to manage the business. It expanded and prospered, specializing in fine sash windows, doors and cabinets from local hardwoods and prime lumber carried by ship from the French River District. In January of 1889 the Sarnia Observer noted that the Lawrence's were "well up in the lumber business". (April 17, 1891)

On the death of William's brother, Henry P. Lawrence in 1902, the firm of Jacob Lawrence and Sons was dissolved and local operations continued as the Lawrence Lumber Company. William built a residence at the corner of Wellington and Christina Streets in 1892. The cost of construction was $30,000. This was at a time when the President of a large corporation commanded a salary of $15,000 per year. For a time, the home was named RESTHOLME. In 1912, William and his family moved to Toronto. The home was offered for sale. Never sold, the home was subsequently re-occupied by William and his family upon their return from Toronto. William died in 1922 and Elizabeth lived in the home until her death in 1940.

In the 1890's and early twentieth century, William and his wife were very active but with no great publicity in the Children's Aid Society and the local Temperance Movement. William was a City Alderman for a brief term. His greatest community involvement was with Central Methodist Church, now Central United.

The only substantial article about William in the local press was the coverage of a testimonial dinner to him in the Sarnia Observer on February 26, 1912.

From William, the Lawrence Lumber Company passed to the hands of his eldest son Edward who in turn was succeeded by his son Carroll. It was during these years that the company ceased expansion and existed mostly as a specialty lumber business. This feature wood and lumber were usually imported and not available at most other lumber yards.

Edward and Carroll lived in a residence on Brock Street which was a gift from William to Edward on his marriage to Ada Hanes in 1902. The lumber company was dissolved in 1978. The site was purchased by the City of Sarnia and became part of Prince of Wales park.