Name/Title
Lawrence family: Peter H. and Caroline (Ausen) Lawrence, 1878 pioneers of Traill County, Dakota TerritoryEntry/Object ID
2026.2.1Description
This family history folder on Peter H. and Caroline Matilda (Ausen) Lawrence contains photographs and documents describing their lives, and briefly the lives of their ten children. Nine of their children are shown in a 1900 Lawrence family C.E. Fuller Studio photo. This folder available for view at the Plummer House Museum in Hillsboro also contains a more detailed Lawrence family history as a printed pdf document.
Peter Lornson Romstad (also Lornse or Lornsen; later Lawrence) was born on 18 March 1850 on the Romstad farm in Tronhjem, Norway, as recorded in the RRV Genealogical Society files on Traill County Early Pioneers. In the 1870s, Peter immigrated to the United States and first settled in the area of Lanesboro, MN. There Peter met Caroline Ausen, and they married in 1875 [see one-page document on the life of Caroline Ausen, donated to the TCHS by daughter, Minnie (Lornson) Vang; this information is summarized below, and also in Catalogit entry 2022.336.1]. A US ELCA church record documents that Caroline Mathilde Ausen (written Olsen in record) married Peter Lornson (written Lorenzon in record) on 2 September 1875 at the Greenfield Lutheran Church by Harmony, MN, which is located in Fillmore County 14 miles south of Lanesboro.
Caroline Ausen was born in Norway on 12 March 1857. She immigrated with her parents to farm near Lanesboro, MN, where, as noted above, she met and married Peter Lornson Romstad. After they married, they evidently dropped the farm name, Romstad. While farming by Lanesboro, they had a daughter, Minnie Lornson, born in 1876 (see below).
In 1878, Peter and Caroline Lornson, and daughter Minnie, left Lanesboro in southern, MN, and joined a wagon train heading north. They came together as far as Lake Park, MN, but then Peter went on to Dakota Territory. Peter found and claimed a quarter of land in Caledonia Township in Traill County, ND; he made the claim in the name of his wife, Caroline Lornson. Their land claim was 160 acres of farmland located in the southwest quarter of Section 18, as shown below in a 1900 plat map. The northern portion of Caledonia Township later became Bingham Township. Their farmstead, shown in the March 1904 treeless photo, above, was located five miles east and two miles north of what became the village of Cummings, ND. The historic Peter and Caroline Lornson 11-acre farmstead is shown in the 2025 Traill County plat book as being owned by Brandon Nettum. In a TCHS Facebook page, Brandon stated in a post in February 2026: "I live on the farmstead now. The original barn shown in the [1904] picture is still here. I tore the grainery down last winter because of roof rot--my address is 16817 9th St. NE Cummings, ND 58223! I know where the original house is now about 20 miles north of the farm." The original Peter and Caroline Lornson house was moved and remodeled with additions into a modern house (see photo). Their former farmhouse is now located across from Calvary Cemetery South at 1020 11th St. NE, about 8 miles south of Grand Forks, ND.
On their Caledonia Township land claim, Peter Lornson built a 12' by 14' framed house insulated with sod on the outside. In the Spring of 1879, Caroline, Minnie, and a new infant daughter, Emma, joined Peter at the farm. Besides Minnie and Emma, Peter and Caroline had eight more children, including two more daughters, Ida and Olga, and six boys, Albert, Axel, Edwin, Herbert, Carl and Arthur. At the time the 1900 US Census was taken on 4 June in Caledonia Township, Peter (age 50) and Caroline (43) were listed with seven children, Ida (18), Albert (15), Olga (12), Axel (9), Eddie (7), Herbert (4) and Arthur (1). By 1900, their oldest daughters Minnie and Emma had left home, and their son Carl was not born until 8 May 1901. By the time the 1915 ND Traill County Census was taken in Hillsboro, only sons Herbert (age 19), Arthur (17) and Carl (14) remained at home.
For detailed information on the lives of Peter and Caroline (Ausen) Lawrence's ten children, explore the Ancestry.com Public Member family tree titled: "Nordic Grand Forks Grand Forks North Dakota 1900" contributed to Ancestry by Paul Christensen. From their profiles in this tree, and from records in Ancestry and in Find-a-Grave, we know the following basics:
(1). Minnie Elise Lawrence was born on 14 July 1876 in Lanesboro in Fillmore County, MN. In 1879, at the age of three, Minnie came with her parents to settle on a farm in Caledonia Township in Traill County, North Dakota. Minnie attended rural schools in Caledonia Township. Minnie Lawrence married Edwin J. Vang in April 1900. In the 1900 US Census, Edwin and Minnie resided with his parent on the Vang farm in Ervin Township, Traill County. In the 1910 US Census, Edwin and Minnie operated the Vang family farm in Ervin Township as Edwin's father, Martin Vang had passed. By 1910, Edwin and Minnie had a daughter, Cora Vang (age 9) and a son Perle Vang (age 1). Daughter Cora Amalee Vang was born in Windom, Cottonwood County in southwestern MN, on 12 March 1901. It is unclear why Cora was born in MN when in the 1900 Census, Minnie and Edwin were on Edwin's parents farm in Traill County, ND. In the 1925 ND Census, Cora was in Hillsboro, but by 1929 Cora had moved to Billings, Montana. At age 40, Cora married Thomas E. K. Mirehouse on 23 May 1941 in Kalispell, Flathead County, MT. In the 1950 US Census, they lived in Butte, MT. They did not have children. Cora died, age 82, on 15 April 1983 in Portland, Multnomah County, OR. Son Perle Milford Vang was born on 17 April 1909 in Hillsboro. In the 1930 Census, Perle, age 20, was on the Vang family farm in Ervin Township. In 1931, Perle joined the US Army, and after serving by 1935 Perle was in San Francisco, CA. In the 1940 US Census Perle, age 31, was single and residing in Santa Cruz, CA. By 1944, he was in Oakland, CA. Perle did not marry. At the time of his death, age 86, on 24 April 1995, Perle resided in Cloverdale in Sonoma County, CA. By 1917, Edwin and Minnie had moved to Fifth St. in the City of Hillsboro, with their two children Cora and Perle. In the 1920 US Census, Edwin, age 44, was employed as a machinist, while daughter Cora, age 19, was a teacher. In 1930, Edwin and Minnie, and son Perle, continued to reside in Hillsboro, where Edwin now operated a service station and Minnie was a dressmaker. In 1940, Edwin and Minnie were still in Hillsboro, where Edwin was now with the City Police and Minnie continued as a dressmaker. In 1950, Edwin Vang, age 74, evidently had retired from the police force, and Minnie, age 73, was employed as a seamstress. In 1950, Minnie's mother, Caroline (Ausen) Lawrence, age 93, now resided with them on Caledonia Ave in Hillsboro, ND. Minnie (Lawrence) Vang died at age 84 on 5 October 1960 after an 8 month stay at the Hariman Sanitorium in Grand Forks, ND. She was interred at Hillsboro Cemetery #1.
(2). Emma Leonora Lawrence was born on 14 December 1878 at Lake Park, MN, where she was baptized on 27 April 1879 at Lake Park Lutheran. Soon after, in the Spring of 1879, Emma moved with her parents and sister Minnie to a farm in Caledonia Township in Traill County, DT, and was only 1 at the time of the 1880 US Census for Traill County. Emma attended rural schools in Caledonia Township. In 1900, at the age of 20, Emma was helping her grandmother, Martha Ausen, operate a farm in Lake Park Township in Becker County, MN. In 1910, Emma, age 29, continued to help her grandmother at the Lake Park farm. Interestingly, also listed with them in this 1910 census was a hired man, Peter Hagen, age 28. In 1920, at age 39, Emma Lawrence remained at the Lake Park farm helping her grandmother, age 90, and also her mother, Caroline (Ausen) Lawrence, age 62, and now widowed. In this 1920 census hired man, Peter Hagen, age 39, was still listed with them. On 18 February 1920, Emma Leonora Lawrence and Peder Gilbert Hagen married in Becker County. In 1930, Peder and Emma operated the farm in Lake Park Township, and Emma's mother, Caroline Lawrence, age 73, resides with them. In 1940, Peder, age 60, and Emma, age 61, continued to farm in Lake Park Township. Peder died, age 67, on 7 May 1950 while in Traill County, ND. Emma Leonora (Lawrence) Hagen lived to the age of 90, passing away in Clay County, MN on 14 September 1969. Emma was interred next to husband Peder in the Lake Park Cemetery located in Cuba Township in Becker County, MN.
(3). Ida Josephine 'Jo' Lawrence was born on 14 March 1882 in Traill County, ND. Jo was raised on the home farm in Caledonia Township, where she attended rural school. By 1900, Jo, age 18, had finished schooling and remained on the home farm. At age 25, on 14 June 1911 in Spokane, WA, Ida Josephine Lawrence married Matthew J. Doheny, who was age 22 and employed as an "Expressman". Matthew was born on 24 March 1889 in Devils Lake, North Dakota to parents Michael A. and Margaret Ann (Haggerty) Doheny. In 1920, Matthew and Jo, and their 9-year-old daughter Florence Doheny, were boarding in the residence of Charles Martin in Valley County, MT, which is located in north-central Montana. Matthew was employed as a farm laborer. By 1930, Matthew and Ida, age 47, and six-year-old daughter Helen, lived on Hannsfin St. in Bismarck, ND, where Matthew was employed as an agent selling lubricating oils. By 1935, they had moved to Roulette, ND, but in 1940, Ida (Lawrence) Doheny, age 58, was residing in Red Wing, MN, near her mother, Caroline (Ausen) Lawrence, age 83. In 1950, Matthew and Jo, age 69, had moved to Fargo, ND, where Matt was employed as a carpenter. In 1950, Ida's mother Caroline, age 93, was living with Jo's sister, Minnie Vang in Hillsboro, ND. Ida Josephine (Lawrence) Doheny lived to the age of 93, passing away in Hennepin County, MN, on 11 November 1975. Ida was interred in Cemetery #1 in Hillsboro, ND. Ida's husband, Matthew John Doheny died, age 90, on 31 March 1979 in Hennepin County, MN, and was interred next to Ida in Hillsboro's Cemetery #1.
(4). Albert Victor Lawrence was born on 17 December 1884 on the home farm in Caledonia Township in Traill County, ND. Albert was raised on this farm and attended a local rural school. In 1900, Albert was on the home farm, age 15, and at school. At age 28, Albert Victor Lawrence married Myrtle Hulda Swanson on 14 October 1913 in Plentywood in Sheridan County, MT. Myrtle was born on 12 May 1896 in Goodhue, County, MN. Albert and Myrtle After they married, Albert and Myrtle homesteaded land in in northeastern, MT, up near the Canadian border near Outlook, MT. They had a daughter, Margueritte Evangeline Lawrence, born on 21 August 1914 in Scobey, MT, and sons, Alton Stewart Lawrence born on 14 Jun 1916 in Outlook, MT, Howard Mitchell Lawrence about December 1917 in Scobey, Vincent Leroy Lawrence born on 10 June 1919 in Scobey, MT, and Paul William Lawrence born on 19 March 1922 in Scobey. Albert and Myrtle raised their children on farms in the Scobey area of Montana [1920 & 1930 Census data]. By the time Albert registered for the WWII draft on 26 April 1942, he and Myrtle had moved to Red Wing, Goodhue County, MN. Myrtle was born and raised in Goodhue County. Albert operated a trucking business out of Red Wing. In 1950, Albert, age 65, and Myrtle, 63, had retired to a home off of County Rd 34 in Burnside Township in Goodhue County. Evidently by 1951 they spent their winters near their daughter Marguerite (Lawrence) Godwin in San Bernardino, CA. Myrtle (Swanson) Lawrence died, age 64, in Riverside, CA, but was buried in the Burnside Cemetery, Red Wing, MN. Albert Victor Lawrence died, age 78, on 19 August 1963 in San Bernardino County, CA. Albert was interred next to Myrtle in the Burnside Cemetery.
(5). Olga Clarise 'Lorene' Lawrence was born on 8 November 1887 on the home farm in Caledonia, Traill County, ND, and on 10 July 1888 Olga was baptized into Highland Lutheran Church, rural Cummings, ND. Olga was raised on the family farm and went to a local school. In 1900, Olga was 12 and at school. In 1910, Olga, age 23, was living with her Uncle Martin Lorensen and family on Chestnut Street in Grand Forks, ND. From a news item in the Grand Forks Herald, we know that in June 1915, Olga Lornson (Lawrence) was going to Minneapolis after accepting a Stenographer position at the Radisson Hotel. In Minneapolis, Olga resided in an apartment on Emerson Ave S [1916 City Dir.]. In 1920, Olga Lawrence, age 32, was still in Minneapolis and was a Stenographer in an Insurance Office. Olga 'Lorene' Lawrence married Fred Winthrop Wright, who was born on 29 September 1878 in Greeley, Colorado to parent Winthrop and Mary (Bronk) Wright. Fred W. Wright had been married to Harta E. Fuller (26 Mar. 1899 in Milwaukee, WI) and was still married to Harta when he registered for the WWII Draft on 27 April 1942 in Minneapolis, MN. Harta died on 31 July 1949 in Minneapolis. Fred W. Wright then married Lorene and they moved to Yucaipa in San Bernardino County, CA. Fred passed away, age 77, on 9 October 1955 in Los Angeles County, and was interred at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, Los Angeles County, CA. Lorene C. (Lawrence) Wright died, age 90, on 7 September 1978 in San Bernardino County, CA. Lorene was interred next to Fred at Forest Lawn Memorial Park.
(6). Axel Milton Lawrence was born on 21 May 1890 in Hillsboro, Traill County, ND, and grew up on the home farm Caledonia Township. In 1900 Axel was age 9 and in school. At age 27, when Axel registered for WWI on 5 June 1917 in Valley County, MT, he stated that he was "on my farm near Glentana", which is located about 60 miles north of Glasgow in northeastern MT. He declared that he was single (he did not marry). In 1920, Axel, age 29, continued to farm near Glentana. In 1930, at age 40, Axel was renting a place in Scobey, MT, while he was employed as laborer for an oil company. At age 52, when Axel registered on 27 April 1942 with the US Selective Service for WWII, he was now farming by himself 16 miles northwest of Scobey in Daniels County, MT. Axel Milton Lawrence died, age 75, in March 1966 in Rochester, MN, and was interred in the Daniels County Cemetery by Scobey, MT.
(7). Edward Leonard 'Ed' Lawrence was born on 28 July 1893 in Hillsboro, ND, and was raised on the home farm in N Caledonia (later Bingham) Township, Traill County. Eddie was age 7 in the 1900 US Census. At age 17, in 1910, Ed went to Montana, where his brothers, Albert and Axel had homesteaded. Edward Leonard Lawrence married Wheete Bernice 'Peggy' Knapp on 17 January 1918 in Ward County, ND. Peggy was born on 19 December 1899 in Cleveland, Ohio. After they married, Ed and Peggy farmed in Opheim School District, south of Glentana and west of Richland in Valley County, MT. By the 1930 Census for Valley County, Ed (age 36) and Peggy (29) had four children, Jean Lawrence (age 9), James Lawrence (4), Donald Lawrence (2) and Robert Lawrence (newborn). In 1930, Ed's brother, Arthur Lawrence farmed nearby. By the 1940 US Census, Ed and Hazel's daughter Jean (Lawrence-Fossum) Willis (age 19) had left home, but Ed (age 47) and Peggy (38) were listed with six children, Edward 'James' Lawrence (age 13), Donald Boyd Lawrence (11), Robert Louis Lawrence (10), Carl Wayne Lawrence (8), Shirley (Lawrence) Smith (6) and Charles Lawrence (4). When Edward Leonard Lawrence registered with the US Selective Service on 27 April 1942 in Glasgow, MT, Ed declared that he farmed 4 miles west of Richland in Valley County. By the 1950 US Census, Ed (age 57) and Peggy (49) continued to farm west of Richland and four of their seven children remained at home: James Lawrence (age 23), Donald Lawrence (22), Shirley Lawrence (16) and Charles Lawrence (14). When Ed and Peggy retired from farming, they moved to a home on 5th St. N in Glasgow, MT. Hazel Wheete Bernice 'Peggy' (Knapp) Lawrence lived to the age of 72, passing away on 1 June 1972 at Deaconess Hospital of heart failure in Glasgow, Valley County, MT. Peggy was interred in Glasgow's Highland Cemetery. Edward Leonard Lawrence lived to the age of 84, passing away of a heart attack on 26 July 1978 in Los Angeles, CA. Ed was interred next to Peggy in Glasgow's Highland Cemetery.
(8). Herbert 'Herb' Clarence Lawrence was born on 18 May 1896 in Cummings, ND, and he was baptized on 5 July 1896 into Highlands Lutheran Church by Cummings, ND. Herb was raised on the home farm in N Caledonia (later Bingham) Township, Traill County. In the 1900 US Census taken on 4 June at the home farm, Herb was age 4. In 1904, Herb moved with his parents and siblings to the small farm by Hillsboro. Herb attended school in Hillsboro, and in 1911, a TCHS photograph shows Herb with the HHS band [photo courtesy Carolyn Lawrence]. After graduating from Hillsboro HS in June 1915, he attended summer school at the university in Grand Forks. Herbert also continued to play with the Hillsboro Band, and then in September 1916 he was employed as a clerk at the Hillsboro Post Office. On 1 June 1917 in Fargo, Herbert joined the US Navy. In the 1920 US Census, taken on 27 January, Herb (age 23) was stationed with the USS Mississippi at the Naval Base in San Pedro, CA. Herb served on the USS Mississippi in the Atlantic and the Pacific before being assigned to the Naval Base in the Puget Sound area. On 13 February 1924, Herbert Clarence Lawrence, age 27, of Tacoma, WA, married Daisie F. (Fellows) McKibbon, age 28, of Olympia, WA, at Shelton, Mason County, WA; they were married by a JP [WA Marriage Stats; this was Caroline's 2nd marriage]. On their marriage record, Herb gave his occupation as "Doctor" and Daisie as "School Girl", indicating they had a sense of humor. Daisie Isobel Fellows was born on 10 August 1890 in Saguache, Colorado to parents William and Lottie (Williams) Fellows. On 8 June 1915, Daisie Isobel Fellows had married Robert Emmett McKibbon in Tacoma, Pierce County [WA Marriage Certif.]. But they soon divorced and after Daisie served in the military from 27 June 1918 to 30 June 1920, she married Herb in 1924. In the 1930 US Census, Herb and Daisie resided on Pleasant Ave in Bremerton, Kitsap County, WA. In 1930, Herb and Daisie had a daughter, age 4, Caroline S. Lawrence (Mrs. Broten). Herb was employed as a "Packer" at the naval shipyards. Herbert Lawrence was discharged from the Navy on 26 October 1935 but continue to work at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard as a packer foreman. In the 1940 US Census, Herb (age 43), Daisie (46) and Caroline (14) continued to reside on Pleaasant Ave in Bremerton. At age 45, when Herb registered for the WWII Draft on 26 April 1942 in Bremerton, WA, he stated that he resided on Times Ave in Bremerton and was employed by the US Government. In the 1950 US Census, Herb (age 54) and Daisie (50) continued to reside on Times Ave, while Herb worked as a "Packer" at the naval shipyards. After Herb retired from working at the shipyards, Herb and Daisie lived for a time in Guadalajara, Mexico [info, courtesy Carolyn Lawrence]. But by 1974, Herb and Daisie had moved to Roswell, Chaves County, New Mexico. Two years later, Daisie (Fellows McKibbon) Lawrence passed away, age 86, on 23 September 1976 in Roswell. Daisie was cremated in Albuquerque, NM. After Daisie's passing, Herb returned to live in the Pacific Northwest at Bremerton, WA. Herbert Clarence Lawrence died, age 81, on 18 February 1978 at the Resthaven Nursing Home in Bremerton in Kitsap County, WA. Herb was cremated in Bremerton.
(9). Arthur Julius 'Art' Lawrence was born on 11 January 1899 by Cummings, Traill County, ND, and on 31 March 1890 Arthur was baptized into Highlands Lutheran Church by Cummings, ND. Art was age 1 in the 1900 US Census. Art was first raised on the Lawrence farm in N Caledonia (later Bingham) Township, but then in Hillsboro when his family moved to the west edge of town in 1904. Art attended school in Hillsboro, finishing two years at Hillsboro High School before joining the US Army to serve in WWI in France for two years, and fortunately survived. On 16 November 1922, Arthur Julius Lawrence married Esther Adeline Berdahl in Moorhead, MN. Esther was born on 6 March 1905 in Cummings, ND, to parents Carl and Anna (Sandvig) Berdahl. After Art and Esther married, they moved to Portland, OR, where Art worked in brickyards and Esther worked as a stenographer. Then in 1929, Art, age 30, and Esther, 24, went to northeastern Montana, where Art's brothers, Albert, Axel and Ed Lawrence were already farming. In the 1930 US Census for the Opheim School district, Art, age 31, Esther Adeline, age 25, and son Arthur H., age 5, were listed on rented farmland next to Art's brother, Ed Lawrence. In the 1940 US Census Art and Esther were still listed on rented farmland but now had three children, Art Jr (age 15), William (8) and Trixie (age 4). Art and Esther's farm was located next to Ed's in Valley County, west of Richland, where Art and Esther raised their three children, Arthur H. Lawrence, William 'Bill' Lawrence, and Martha Marie 'Trixie' Lawrence (Mrs. Robert Floyd). In the 1950 US Census, Art and Esther Angeline continue to farm next to Ed's west of Richland. In 1950, son William (age 19) and daughter Martha 'Trixie' (age 14) remained at home. Art Julius and Esther Angeline Lawrence retired from farming in 1965, with their son Bill Lawrence and family then operating the farm. On 27 December 1986, Arthur Julius Lawrence died, age 87, of cardiopulmonary failure at the Daniels Memorial Hospital in Scobey, MT. After funeral services held at the First Lutheran Church of Opheim, Arthur was interred in the Lawndale Cemetery by Ophiem. Esther Adeline (Berdahl) Lawrence lived to the grand age of 95, passing away at a nursing home on 30 July 2000 in Glasgow, MT. After funeral services held at the First Lutheran Church of Opheim, Esther was interred next to Art at the Lawndale Cemetery by Opheim, MT.
(10). Karl Julian 'Carl' Lawrence was born on 8 May 1901 by Cummings in Traill County, ND, and he was baptized on 28 July 1901 into Highland Lutheran Church of rural Cummings, Traill County, ND. In 1904 Carl moved with his parents and siblings to a farm on the west edge of Hillsboro. Carl attended school in Hillsboro. In the 1915 Traill County Census for Hillsboro, Carl was age 14. At Hillsboro High School, Carl played multiple sports, as reported often in the Hillsboro Banner. Carl Lawrence graduated from HHS with the Class of 1919. In February of 1921, Carl entered studies at Concordia College in Moorhead, MN, while also doing teaching in between in 1922 at Pekin in Nelson County, ND. As a senior in 1926, he began a successful career in coaching, where he went by Karl Lawrence. Karl earned a degree in biology from Concordia College in May 1926. Starting in September, of the 1926-27 school year, Karl taught and coached for two years at Warren High School in Marshall County, MN. In September 1928, Karl started at Springfield College in Massachusetts where he majored in physical education and played football, as reported in the Hillsboro Banner. Karl earned his BS degree in Phys. Ed from Springfield College in 1930. Then for five school years from 1930-31 to 1935-36, Karl coached at Midland College in Fremont, NE, where his basketball team won consecutive championships. In Fremont, Karl J. Lawrence met Iva Marie Hinman and they married on 9 August 1936 at the First Lutheran Church in North Platte, NE. Iva was born on 3 November 1908 to parents Vaughan E. and Minnie (Distel) Hinman of North Platte. Iva was raised in North Platte where she graduated from high school in 1925. After they married, Karl and Iva lived in Meadville, PA, where Karl had been hired as Athletic Director by Alleghany College located in Meadville. In the 1940 US Census, Karl (age 38) and Iva (31) resided on Smith St. in Meadville, while Karl was a teacher and Iva was a bookkeeper at Alleghany College. In five years from 1936-37 to 1940-41, Karl's Alleghany College teams had great success. In 1941, Karl took a position at Colgate University located in Hamilton, NY. When Karl registered for the WWII draft on 16 February 1942 in Madison County, NY, he declared that he and Iva resided on Utica St. in Hamilton, and that he was employed by Colgate University. On 12 November 1942, Iva (Hinman) Lawrence gave birth to their daughter Carolyn Diane Lawrence at St Luke's Hospital in Utica, NY, In April 1948 the Hillsboro Banner reported that for seven years from 1941-42 to 1947-48, Karl's basketball teams captured multiple titles. In the 1950 US Census for Hamilton, Madison County, NY, Karl (age 48), Ina (41) and daughter Carolyn (7) resided on Preston Hill Rd, while Karl was employed as a "Physical Ed. teacher" at a "Private college". Iva taught high school at Hamilton Central School. At age 70, Karl retired as Professor Emeritus of Physical Education at Colgate University. Karl was inducted into athletic halls of fame at Concordia and Alleghany Colleges and at Colgate University. After retiring, Karl and Iva remained in Hamilton, residing on W. Kendrick Ave. They often visited Hillsboro from Hamilton [for example, 1964 & 1978 news items, Hillsboro Banner]. Karl Julian Lawrence lived to the age of 90, passing away on 11 January 1992 at the Community Memorial Hospital in Hamilton, NY. After funeral services at the First Baptist Church, Karl was interred at Hamilton's Colgate Cemetery. After Karl's passing, Iva (Hinman) Lawrence lived to the grand age of 97, passing away on 23 September 2006 at the Barnwell Health Facilities in Valatie, NY. After a memorial service at the First Baptist Church in Hamilton, Iva was interred next to Karl at the Colgate Cemetery in Hamilton.
Peter and Caroline Lornson (Americanized to Lawrence) raised their ten children on the farm for 25 years. In early 1904, for $5000, they purchased a small farm just west of Hillsboro from Lewis Bekkedahl, as documented by Real Estate Transfer news in the Hillsboro Banner (below). Their 80-acres of land (E-half of SE-Qtr.) was in Section 6 of Hillsboro Township. Peter had a house and barn built on the farm, as reported in the Hillsboro Banner newspaper. On 23 March 1904, Peter held an auction sale at the Bingham Township farm to sell livestock and machinery not required at the new smaller farm by Hillsboro, as advertised in the Hillsboro Banner (below). The former Lornson (Lawrence) farm still exists at the west edge of Hillsboro across the street from the TCHS Pioneer Museum complex, as shown in a 2026 winter photo (below).
Peter and Caroline operated their small farm on the west-edge of Hillsboro for a number of years from 1904 on, raising their children, who attended school in town. Only three of Peter and Caroline Lornson's ten children, sons Herbert, Arthur and Karl, remained at home by the time the 1915 ND Census was taken in Traill County, ND.
In September 1917, Caroline advertised to rent their farm at the edge of town [Banner news, below], and successfully rented the Lawrence farm with pasture and an acre for vegetables to Harry McChane [Banner news]. Caroline and Peter, who was evidently ill, and family had moved into Hillsboro.
Three months later, on 21 December 1917, Peter H. Lawrence passed away, age 67, at the family home in the City of Hillsboro [ND Death Certif. data, below]. Peter was interred on 24 December in Hillsboro Cemetery #1 [US Find-a-Grave marker photo]. At about the time of Peter's passing, Caroline organized for a family photograph to be taken with eight of her ten children.
After Peter's passing in 1917, Caroline (Ausen) Lawrence arranged to sell the small farm by Hillsboro. By the time of the 1920 US Census, Caroline (age 62) and daughter Emma Lawrence (39), had moved to a farm in Lake Park Township in Becker County, MN, to reside with Caroline's widowed mother, Martha O. Ausen (age 90).
By 1930, Emma Lawrence had married Peter Hagen, and in the 1930 US Census Peter is listed as "Head" of the household at their farm in Lake Park Township, Becker County, MN. Emma's mother, Caroline Lawrence, age 73, is listed with them.
By 1935, Caroline M. Lawrence resided in a house she owned on Bluff St. in Red Wing, Goodhue County, MN [1940 US Census data]. In this 1940 census record Caroline was age 83.
By the time of the 1950 US Census, Caroline (Ausen) Lawrence, age 93, was now residing with her daughter, Minnie (Lawrence) Vang on Caledonia Ave. in Hillsboro, ND. In this 1950 census, Minnie, age 72, was employed as a seamstress. Minnie's husband, Edwin Vang, age 74, was retired.
Caroline (Ausen) Lawrence lived to the grand age of 94, passing away on 12 May 1951 [ND Death Certif., below]. Caroline died in Hillsboro at the home of her daughter Mrs. Ed (Minnie Lawrence) Vang [obituary info, below]. Caroline was interred next to Peter at Hillsboro's Cemetery #1 [US Find-a-Grave marker photo].
A family photograph of Caroline's ten children was likely taken at the time of her funeral in May 1951. Included in the photo from the left were Albert Lawrence, Lorene (Olga) Lawrence (Mrs. Fred Wright), Herbert Lawrence, Ida Josephine (Jo) Lawrence (Mrs. Matthew Doheny), Edward Lawrence, Emma Lawrence (Mrs. Peter Hagen), Axel Lawrence, Minnie Lawrence (Mrs. Edwin Vang), Arthur Lawrence, and Karl Lawrence.Acquisition
Accession
2026.2Source or Donor
Carolyn Lawrence, TCHS (Traill County Historical Society)Location
* Untyped Location
Resource RoomBuilding
Plummer House![1900 C.E. Fuller Studio photograph of the Peter & Caroline Lawrence family. Photo courtesy of Carolyn Lawrence, daughter of Karl Lawrence.: Front (l-r): Edward, Peter, Axel, Arthur, Caroline, Herbert, and Ida (Jo). Back (l-r): Minnie, Emma, Olga (Laurene) & Albert [missing, Karl, born in 1901].](https://d8e7jbdw4fu0e.cloudfront.net/1937/b593f720-270c-11f1-a174-b5a416e8b479-wxROYbY.lg-nt@2x.jpg)
![Traill County historic farmsteads: Peter and Caroline Lawrence farmstead, located about 7 miles NE of Cummings, ND [16817 9th St. NE Cummings, ND 58223]; photo taken March 1904](https://d8e7jbdw4fu0e.cloudfront.net/1937/a194cd60-0b57-11f1-bb4b-87384a127063-wxROYbY.lg-nt@2x.jpg)
![Traill County historic farmsteads: Former Peter and Caroline Lawrence farmhouse, now located at across from Calvary Cemetery South at 1020 11th St. NE, 8 miles south of Grand Forks, ND]; photo taken 9 May 2026.](https://d8e7jbdw4fu0e.cloudfront.net/1937/509fc7d0-4bf7-11f1-b38e-290f2196578f-wxROYbY.lg-nt@2x.jpg)
![Caroline (Ausen) Lawrence family photo, likely taken in December 1917 when Peter passed away. Photo courtesy of Carolyn Lawrence, daughter of Karl.: Front (l-r): Minnie, Caroline & Axel; Middle (l-r): Herbert & Emma; Back (l-r): Albert, Olga (Laurene), Ida (Josephine) & Arthur [missing: Edward & Karl].](https://d8e7jbdw4fu0e.cloudfront.net/1937/7e309ae0-4d90-11f1-ae02-b75969ec8184-wxROYbY.lg-nt@2x.jpg)
