Luther Lawrence's General Store

Luther Franklin Lawrence, his wife Mary Meldra (Swann) Lawrence, and their five children, ages 3-12, moved from Sedalia, Kentucky to Howard County in 1907. Luther was in poor health, so his doctor advised him to move out west. He came to Howard County prospecting for land and bought 640 acres 15 miles northeast of Big Spring. The family arrived in Big Spring by train bringing with them all their worldly goods. This included a cow, two horses, a wagon, surrey, and six Bantam chickens, all shipped by the T&P railroad. They rented a house in Big Spring at 10th and Gregg streets and lived there until their home was built on the 640 acres. The Lawrence family moved into their new home on Christmas Day that year in 1907. Daughter-in-law Mrs. Charlie Lawrence said, “It was a beautiful sunny day but the very next day there was a huge snowstorm that kept everyone confined inside the new home.”

Luther Lawrence had been a postmaster in Kentucky and knew he had to have a community United States Post Office to receive mail in the area.

See Monday's edition of the Herald for the rest of the story.