McDonough ILGenWeb

LAWYER, J. Newt, an energetic and progressive farmer, living in Eldorado Township, McDonough County, Ill., is a son of Thomas and Catherine (Comer) Lawyer, natives of the State of Ohio. Facts pertaining to the lives of his parents are contained in a record of the father, which appears elsewhere in this volume. The subject of this sketch was born in Eldorado Township January 22, 1856, and received his early education in the district school in his neighborhood. Of the eight children which blessed the union of his father and mother, he is the third in order of birth. He has five brothers and two sisters living, a sister having died in infancy. At the age of twenty years Newt Lawyer started out for himself. He worked at farming in Eldorado Township until his marriage, after which event he purchased the Mickey farm of fifty acres, where he engaged in general farming. Besides this he now owns the farm of seventy acres formerly belonging to his wife's father. In addition to general farming, Mr. Lawyer raises cattle, horses and hogs, and his energy and diligence, together with thrifty methods, are producing satisfactory results.

In January, 1880, Mr. Lawyer was joined in matrimony with E. Jennie McFadden, who was born in Eldorado Township, and received her early education in the district schools. Her father, Samuel D. B. McFadden, was one of the earliest settlers in McDonough County. Two children have been the result of this marriage, namely: Leah and Etha. Politically, Mr. Lawyer is a Democrat, served as Township Assessor in 1904, and held the office of Justice of the Peace from 1901 until 1905. Fraternally, the subject of this sketch is connected with the K. of P. and M. W. A.

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Source: The Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of McDonough County, compiled by Dr. Newton Bateman, and Paul Shelby, 1907, volume 2, page 932, extracted 15 Jun 2019 by Norma Hass.