Justice Charles B. Lawrence

  • Born:
    December 17, 1820 in Vergennes, VT
  • Education:

    Union College of Law

  • Illinois Supreme Court Justice:
    1864-1873
  • Illinois Supreme Court Chief Justice:
    1870-1873
  • Succeeded:
    Corydon Beckwith
  • Succeeded by:
    Alfred M. Craig
  • Represented:
    3rd Division (1864-1873), 5th District (1870-1873)
  • Political Party
    Republican
  • Other Political Offices:

    Circuit Court Judge (1861-1864)

  • Died:
    April 9, 1883 in Decatur, AL
  • Buried:
    Hope Cemetery, Galesburg, IL
  • Notes:
    Portrait courtesy of the Illinois Supreme Court

Images

  • Charles Lawrence cemetery image 1
  • Charles Lawrence cemetery image 2
  • Charles Lawrence cemetery image 3
  • Charles Lawrence cemetery image 4
  • lawrence-lg

Cases

Aldrich et al. v. Aldrich et al.

In 1849, Joscelyn obtained a military bounty land warrant for land in La Salle county. Though initially cancelled as fraudulent, subsequent restoration of the warrant rendered the cancellation void. As a result, two separate claims existed on the property. Stephen Aldrich, a claimant through Joscelyn's heirs, sued Cyrus Aldrich, a claimant through the government land office, in a bill of conveyance to obtain title to the land. The circuit court ruled for Stephen Aldrich and Cyrus Aldrich appealed. The Supreme Court affirmed Joscelyn's heirs' equitable rights over Aldrich and his successor, Harvey Morgan, due to their knowledge of the prior claim. 



Davidson v. Young et al.

David L. W. Jones died intestate in 1834, leaving land near Chicago. His administrator sold the land in 1837 to Newhall for his and Davidson's benefit, intending to fund Margaret Jones's education. Margaret consented as a minor but later disputed the sale. The Supreme Court ruled the administrator lacked authority to sell, voiding the sale. Davidson sought to estop Margaret from reclaiming the land, but the court found no basis for estoppel or ratification, dismissing his claim.

County

Cook County


Aird v. Haynie

Haynie, as the assignee of a promissory note, sued Aird, the assignor, in the Alexander County Circuit Court. Aird argued lack of jurisdiction as the cause of action arose in Marion County. The court found for Haynie, awarding $353.60. Aird appealed, citing the 1861 law barring suits outside a defendant's county of residence. Despite a defective plea, the court erred in not finding for Aird due to jurisdictional issues. The judgment was reversed and remanded.