Lawrence, PA

Lawrence Map

Joseph Lawrence (1786 – April 17, 1842) was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania.

Joseph Lawrence (father of George Van Eman Lawrence) was born near Hunterstown, Pennsylvania. He moved with his widowed mother to a farm in Washington County, Pennsylvania, in 1789, and attended the common schools. He engaged in agricultural pursuits.

He was a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 1818 to 1824 and served as speaker from 1820 to 1824. On December 7, 1819, he was elected speaker with a vote of 56 of 93 representatives voting, out of 94 (other votes were: Phineas Jenks - 21, Rees Hill - 14, Wilson Smith - 1, William Lehman - 1). On December 3, 1822, he was elected speaker with a vote of 65 (other votes were John Gilmore - 23 and Jacob Holgate - 8). In the general election of 1820, he received 3,083 votes.

Nearby cities include Hickory, Midway, West Mifflin, New Eagle, Washington.