From History of Walworth County Wisconsin by Albert Clayton Beckwith, Vol. II, 
Publ. 1912 - Page 891-893
 
JOHN LAWSON.  The name of John LAWSON, of Delavan, needs no introduction to 
those who peruse this history, for he has spent his long, useful and 
industrious life here, having been closely identified with the progress of 
Walworth county for three-quarters of a century, so that the history of the 
locality and his own life record is pretty much one and the same.  Heaven has 
bounteously lengthened out his span of years that he may yet be a blessing to 
the community whose interests he has so long had at heart.  His life has 
indeed been exemplary, and might well be held up as a model to the young man, 
hesitating at the parting of the ways.  One could not spend an hour more 
pleasantly than in listening to the interesting and instructive reminiscences 
of Mr. LAWSON, for his stories of the days of the first settlers here abound 
in both comedy and tragedy, touching on the common joys and hardships incident 
to the life of the sturdy pioneer.  We are glad to give him conspicuous 
mention in this volume.
 
Mr. LAWSON was born at Brockville, Ontario, Canada, December 6, 1836.  He is 
the son of Robert and Mary Ann (RILEY) LAWSON, the father having been a native 
of county Sligo, Ireland, and the mother was born in county Cavan, Ireland.  
They spent their early lives in the old country, emigrated to Canada in their 
youth and were married in Ontario.  In April 1837, when their son, John, of 
this review, was about five months old, they brought him to Chicago and in 
September 1839, they came on to Delavan, Walworth county, the father entering 
forty acres of land in section 9, and forty acres in section 10, Darien 
township.  It was heavily timbered land, and he entered it without seeing it.  
He never improved it but entered another forty on Turtle prairie, which he 
obtained after a hard race on foot to Milwaukee, the nearest land office, 
having beaten another man who desired the same land, he having been on 
horseback.  Mr. LAWSON was able to take short cuts across the ice and although 
the horseman passed him and taunted him about being too late, Mr. LAWSON 
persevered and beat the horseman, thus securing the land.
 
Robert LAWSON was a carpenter and found much work here in the early days. He 
lived about four years on the first tract he entered at the edge of Delavan, 
but made his permanent home about two miles west of Delavan.  He prospered 
through hard work and close attention to business and became the owner of 
about five hundred acres of land.  His family consisted of three children: 
John, of this sketch; Mrs. Sara A. TYSON, now of Independence, Iowa, and Mrs. 
Ellen WORMAN, deceased.
 
John LAWSON grew to manhood on the home farm west of Delavan.  When twenty-
nine years old he came to Delavan and worked for the Delavan Pump Company 
three or four years, then went into the fanning mill business as a salesman, 
which he followed two years, then returned to farming, being one hundred and 
sixty acres in section 17, Walworth township, and there made his home during 
the major part of his active life.
 
In 1866 John LAWSON was united in marriage with Elizabeth GODFREY, daughter of 
Thomas and Elizabeth (WEST-HIGHLAND) GODREY; he was a native of England, 
having been born in Kent in 1809, and there he grew up and married, and later 
emigrated to New York, Mrs. GODFREY dying soon after her arrival here, on the 
vessel, while it lay in quarantine in the harbor.  Mr. GODFREY lived in New 
York a few years, then came to Walworth county, Wisconsin, in June 1837, and 
settled in section 19, Walworth township.  He had been married a second time, 
in New York, to Mrs. Elizabeth (WEST) HIGHLAND.  He lived on his place in 
Walworth township until his death, in August 1878, his widow surviving until 
January 1881.  Eight children were born to them, Henry, Robert, Elizabeth, 
Charles and four others.
 
To John LAWSON and wife four children were born: Frank E., a sketch of whom 
appears elsewhere in this volume; Mary married William H. NELSON and lives at 
Spokane, Washington; Caroline married Glenn W. NICHOLS and lives a mile west 
of Delavan; Ruby married Homer S. JONES and lives a mile west of Delavan.
 
John LAWSON owned his farm in Walworth township from 1866 until about 1910.  
In the first mentioned year he purchased eighty acres there and in 1889 added 
another eighty.  He was very successful as a general farmer.  In 1897 he moved 
to Delavan and has lived here ever since.  His wife passed to her rest on May 
8, 1910.  On December 20, 1911, Mr. LAWSON married Mrs. Elizabeth M. (POUNDER) 
BURNS, widow of Matthew BURNS, of Delavan.  She was born in Franklin township, 
Milwaukee county, Wisconsin, and she was the daughter of John and Maria (DUNN) 
POUNDER.  Her parents were born and reared in Leeds, Yorkshire, England.  Her 
grandfather was a soldier in the British army, and was honorably discharged in 
1816.  Some of her ancestors were in the battle of Waterloo.  Her parents came 
to America on their wedding trip in 1838, and lived in Philadelphia two years, 
then came west, settling in Franklin, Milwaukee county, Wisconsin, when 
Milwaukee was a straggling hamlet.  Mrs. LAWSON lived there until the spring 
of 1862, when her two brothers went into the Union army, and since then she 
has lived in Delavan.  Here she was married to Matthew W. BURNS, a native of 
New York.  He died November 4, 1907.  He was a harness-maker by trade, also a 
carriage trimmer, which he followed until late in life then turned to 
farming.  He owned considerable property in Delavan.  He was a man who was 
highly respected by all who knew him.
 
Mr. LAWSON is a Royal Arch Mason, and he and his wife are members of the 
Eastern Star.  Mr. LAWSON has lived in the county from its first settlement, 
in fact is one of the oldest men in the county, in point of residence.  He is 
pleasant mannered, makes friends easily and is widely known.
 
Submitted by Carol