ROBERT P. LAWING. This well-known pioneer, who is everywhere respected for his sterling worth, came originally from Rutherford County, Tennessee, where his birth occurred August 4, 1825. He is a son of Robert and Mary A. (Sublett) Lawing, and the grandson of Andrew Lawing who was a native of the Old North State, where he received his final summons. The Sublett family came to Tennessee from Virginia, and our subject’s grandfather, William Sublett, was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, being captain of a company. He was of Irish descent. Mrs. Lawing was but seven years of age when the family moved to Tennessee, and in that State she died in 1843. The father of our subject was born in Mecklenburgh County, N. C., in 1787, but came to Tennessee at an early date and was here married to Miss Sublett. Ten children were born to this marriage, eight of whom grew to mature years and four are now living: Sarah, now deceased; Mary, now resides in Tennessee; Allen died in Arkansas in 188l; Susan resides in Springfield and is the mother of Judge Vaughan; Robert P., subject; Frances, married a Mr. Sibley, and died in Tennessee; Louisa is still a resident of this county, and is single, and James B., who died in Texas. The father of these children came to Christian County, Missouri, in 1856, and located on a farm where he resided until his death, in 1864. He was a farmer, considerable of a mechanic, and became well and favorably known all over this section. In politics he was a Democrat. His second marriage occurred in Tennessee to Miss Ellen Ward, of Kentucky. Four children were born to this union: John W., Steven A., Emma and Smith, the latter deceased. Our subject with his brothers, Will-iam and Allen, came to this county from Tennessee in 1843, and Robert and William engaged in the saw mill business, following this for the first three years. Theirs was one of the first mills in the county, and was operated by horse power.
About 1847 our subject came up to near where he now lives and in 1847 married a Miss Margaret B. McDaniel, daughter of Samuel McDaniel, a native of North Carolina. She came to this county in 1842. After marriage Mr. Lawing settled in this county about two miles north of Ozark, and there resided until 1866, when he moved to the farm where he now lives, two miles northwest of town. He has always followed farming and stockraising, and has met with fair success. His wife died on the 19th of November, 1891. Thirteen children were born to this marriage: Sarah, wife of G. M. Wright-man, became the mother of six children, and died in 1883; Robert J. resides in Ozark; John 0. is living three miles north of Ozark; Marshall M. lives in Ozark; Samuel S. is a farmer of Webster County; F. V., single and a farmer; Mary C., at home; William E., married and resides three miles northwest of Ozark; Effie, wife of William L. Woody; George, at home; Fred H., a clerk in the bank of Springfield; and two, Susan and Marion, deceased. Some members of this family are united with the Christian and others with the Baptist Church. In political matters Mr. Lawing supports the platform of the Democratic party. Early in life he was a Whig. He was with the State troops during the Civil War. He reared a large family and has twenty-two grandchildren. He has witnessed many changes in the country since he first settled here and has contributed his share toward its advancement. In the milling business he and his brother were successful, and he is now the owner of 240 acres, although at one time he owned 800 or 900 acres. He started his children with farms and money, and they are all doing well. His farm is on the railroad and is nicely located. It is one of the best in the county. The place where he now lives is one of the oldest places in the county, having been settled sixty-four years ago.
