submitted by: Freddie Northcutt, Steele, Missouri

Lawson recieved his education in the academy at Altamont, TN. After the death of his father he took charge of the estate and also cared for his mother until her demise. He was a member of the Christian church, in which he served as an elder. He was a member of the Alto lodge, No 478, F. & A. M., where he served as master and respresented the lodge in the grand lodge. Politically he was a Democrat. For 4 years, from 1880 to 1884, he served as Justice of the Peace. In 1883 and 1884 he represented the District, composed of Grundy and Marion Counties in the State Legislature, serving on several important committees. During the civil war he supported the cause of the Confederacy. His service began as a non-commissioned officer, in Captain Patton’s company, Peter Turney’s regiment, which was mustered in as the First Tennessee Confederate Volunteer Infantry. He participated in the battle at Fair Oaks, VA, and in the seven-days battle before Richmond, where he was wounded. While at home on furlough, July 4, 1863, he was capured and sent as a prisoner of war to Camp Chase, OH. Later he was moved to Camp Douglas, Chicago and from there to Point Lookout, MD, where he was finally released July 24, 1865. Fortunately he was never seriously wounded.