Timeline

Pleasant H. Cates

Born July 1821, Tennessee – Died February 9, 1886, Ray County, Missouri. Buried in Cates Cemetery, Caldwell County, Missouri

Pleasant H. Cates was mayor of Lawson from 1881 – 1883

James H. Shutts

Born in 1822 in New York. Died March 11, 1895. Buried in Lawson Cemetery

Shutts lived in Lawson a number of years. He was postmaster under Cleveland’s first term (1885-1889), Mayor of Lawson, and for a time editor of the paper.

???? – ???? what year was he mayor? approx 1885-1889

C. P. Wright

According to The Ray County Review, Thursday, June 6, 1907, Wright was at one time editor of the paper, then called the Democrat. He served as constable for years, was mayor for a time and was engaged in the insurance business.

???? – ???? what year was he mayor?

W. A. James

W. A. James was Mayor of Lawson 1903-1904

Thomas Jefferson Meadows

[need photo]

Election Tuesday, April 4, 1905: Thomas Jefferson Meadows won over W. A. James by 8 votes. Meadows was Mayor of Lawson 1905 – 1906

Meadows was born December 8, 1863 in Missouri, the son of James Meadows and Susan Carter. He died January 28, 1939 at age 75 and is buried in Lawson Cemetery.

Jeff E. Deacy

[need photo]

Election day Tuesday, April 2, 1907: Jeff E. Deacy was elected mayor. He was Mayor of Lawson 1907 – 1908.

Deacy was born September 21, 1861, the son of James Deacy and Caroline Sparlock. He died May 14, 1939 at age 77 and is buried in Lawson Cemetery.

Frank Andrew Waers

[need photo]

Election day, Tuesday, April 6, 1909 Frank Andrew Waers was elected mayor. He was mayor 1909 – 1910 and a Missouri state representative 1941 – 1944.

Waers was born November 25, 1868 in Lawson, the son of William H. Waers and Julia Hines. He married Mary Elizabeth Mimms. On September 2, 1944, he died at age 75 in St. Joseph, and is buried in Greenlawn Cemetery in Plattsburg.

John Clifton Crowley

On election Tuesday, April 4, 1911, J. C. Crowley was elected mayor the first time. He served as Mayor of Lawson several terms: 1911 – 1912; 1931 – 1932; 1937 – 1945

John Clifton Crowley was born February 27, 1867 in Lawson, the son of John Crowley and Ann Fuller. His wife was Margaret Crowley. On September 12, 1951, he died at age 84 in Lawson and is buried in Lawson Cemetery.

John McBride Ward

[need photo]

On election Tuesday, April 5, 1913, John McBride Ward, was elected Mayor of Lawson. He served as mayor 1913 – 1914. Ward was in the furniture and undertaking business

Ward was born September 26, 1876, in Dawn, Livingston County, Missouri, the son of Anderson Ward and Rose Ann Bozarth. On October 17, 1939, at age 63, he died in Columbia Missouri and is buried in Lawson Cemetery.

Van Wyck Boen

On election day, Tuesday, April 6, 1915, Van Wyck Boen was elected Mayor of Lawson by 48 votes. He served as mayor 1915 – 1916.

Boen was born January 27, 1886. On May 9, 1962 at age 76 he died and is buried in Muskogee, Oklahoma.

Van Wyck Boen

Virgil Homer Russell

[need better photo]

On election day, Tuesday, April 3, 1917, V. H. Russell was elected mayor. He served as Mayor of Lawson 1917 – 1918. He associated in the produce business with his brother, J. E. Russell.

Russell was born April 6, 1877 near Union, east of Lawson, the son of Dolphus S. and Levisa Russell. He married Mary M. Hartman on December 23, 1897. On June 15, 1935 at age 58 he died and was buried in Lawson Cemetery.

John Clifton Crowley

On election Tuesday, April 4, 1911, J. C. Crowley was elected mayor the first time. He served as Mayor of Lawson several terms: 1911 – 1912; 1931 – 1932; 1937 – 1945

John Clifton Crowley was born February 27, 1867 in Lawson, the son of John Crowley and Ann Fuller. His wife was Margaret Crowley. On September 12, 1951, he died at age 84 in Lawson and is buried in Lawson Cemetery.

George Allen Rhodus

George Allen Rhodus served as Mayor of Lawson 1933 – 1936 and 1951 – February 15, 1955.

He was born July 18, 1892, the son of George Allen and Rose Ella (Rogers) Rhodus. In 1955 he resigned as mayor to become the superintendent of the Lawson water system, a position he held for 16 years before retiring in 1972.

He lived in Lawson his entire lifetime. On January 21, 1979 he died at age 86 and was buried in Lawson Cemetery.

John Clifton Crowley

On election Tuesday, April 4, 1911, J. C. Crowley was elected mayor the first time. He served as Mayor of Lawson several terms: 1911 – 1912; 1931 – 1932; 1937 – 1945

John Clifton Crowley was born February 27, 1867 in Lawson, the son of John Crowley and Ann Fuller. His wife was Margaret Crowley. On September 12, 1951, he died at age 84 in Lawson and is buried in Lawson Cemetery.

Claude Manford Clark

[Need a Photo]

Claude Manford Clark served two terms as Mayor of Lawson 1946 – 1949.

He was born December 16, 1887, the son of John L. and Louisa E. Clark. In 1911 he married Maude Mae Hartpence. On February 27, 1950 he died and was buried in Lawson Cemetery.

George Allen Rhodus

George Allen Rhodus served as Mayor of Lawson 1933 – 1936 and 1951 – February 15, 1955.

He was born July 18, 1892, the son of George Allen and Rose Ella (Rogers) Rhodus. In 1955 he resigned as mayor to become the superintendent of the Lawson water system, a position he held for 16 years before retiring in 1972.

He lived in Lawson his entire lifetime. On January 21, 1979 he died at age 86 and was buried in Lawson Cemetery.

Thomas Dudley Williamson

Thomas Dudley Williamson served as Mayor of Lawson 1955 – 1960.

He was born in Mayview, Missouri, the son of Thomas D. and Minnie Williamson. His wife was Helen (Risley) Williamson.

During his tenure as mayor he helped obtain the Lawson Army Nike missile base and a municipal water system. As head of the town which grew from 474 population in 1950 to 773 in 1960, he guided the civic activities needed to meet the growth caused by the missile base and the new population brought by an improved Highway 69 to Kansas City. He had the idea of formulating the Lawson Development Company which set out to build 17 homes for the missile base top personnel.

At the time of his unexpected death on July 10, 1960, he was president of the Ray County Library Board and Lawson Bank in addition to being in his third term as mayor. He was buried in Mount Moriah Cemetery in Kansas City.