Lawrence Boswell, was likely born in or near Carterville, Illinois on June 2, 1887 to John B.P. Boswell and Lydia A.J. Trull. This is where his parents were living when the 1900 federal census was taken. His father worked as a carpenter and the couple were living in a rental home in Carterville. By the time the 1910 census was taken, his parents had made the move to Marion and were living in their permanent home at 305 S. Bentley St. In this census, 22 year-old Lawrence had already begun his career as a carpenter.
On September 4, 1916, Lawrence married Ida Anne Clarida in Jackson County. When he filled out his WWI draft record in 1917, Lawrence and Ida were living at 1113 W. Chestnut Street. He was physically described as medium height and build with blue eyes and dark hair.
In the early 1920’s Lawrence began working for the city of Marion as a building inspector and in September of 1923 he resigned his position to the city council. His father, John B.P. Boswell, was a current commissioner and accepted his resignation on behalf of the board.
One year later in September of 1924, his father John passed away and Lawrence was appointed to fill out the rest of his father’s term as city commissioner under Mayor James H. Clarida until 1927.
Street directories indicate that by at least 1927, the couple had moved into a large home at 818 W. Main Street. This is where they were located when the 1930 federal census was taken. At the time Lawrence was 39 and Ida 38. In the home was their son John L. 3, John’s widowed mother Lydia 69 and six roomers. The couple owned the home free of mortgage and valued it at $2,500. There was no radio in the home.
An article in the Southern Illinoisan in 1934 indicated that Lawrence had been chosen by the county commissioners to serve as the county farm supervisor.
When Lawrence filled out his WWII draft record, he was 54 years old, working as a carpenter and living with his wife at 202 W. Hendrickson St. He was described as 5’ 7”, 140 lbs, blue eyes, brown hair and light complexion.
When the 1940 census was taken the couple was living at 202 S. Liberty St. in a home they owned and valued at $3,000 along with their son John L. 13. Lawrence indicated that his level of education was 2 years of high school while Ida had done 3 years of college.
When Lawrence filled out his WWII draft record he was living at 202 W. Hendrickson St. and was physically described as 5’ 7”, 140 lbs., brown hair, blue eyes and light complexion.
In the last available census record taken in 1950, Lawrence 62, Ida 59 and son, John L. 23 were living in an apartment at 202 W. Union Street and Lawrence was still working as a carpenter.
Lawrence’s wife, Ida, passed away on March 23, 1961. She had been born August 29, 1890. She was a member of the First Baptist Church, the Order of the Eastern Star and was an employee of the Marion Junior High cafeteria staff from 1944 to 1958. Burial was in Rose Hill Cemetery.
Lawrence took a second wife and married to Eva Norman Cutrell in Pinckneyville, Illinois on January 22, 1964.
On November 1, 1972, Lawrence passed away at his home at 713 E. Mains Street in Marion. According to his obit, he was a retired carpenter and a member of the local Carpenter’s Union, as well as a 50 year member of the Marion Fellowship Lodge No. 89 of the A.F. & A.M. He was survived by his wife Eva and a son John L. Boswell of Rt. 3, Marion and four grandchildren. Burial was in Rose Hill Cemetery.
Note on Children:
John Lawrence Boswell, born in Marion on March 11, 1927, married Ida Mae Motsinger in June 1950. Served in the U.S. Navy during WWII and died September 23, 1994.
(Sources: Federal census records, Williamson County Marriage records, WWI and WWII Draft records, Marion Weekly Leader, Marion Daily Republican, Marion city street directories, Marion City Cemetery records, FindaGrave.com. Compiled by Sam Lattuca on 6/05/2024)