Changes

|party= [[Democratic Party|Democrat]]​

|party= [[Democratic Party|Democrat]]​

|religion=[[Episcopalian]]​

|religion=[[Episcopalian]]​

|occupation==[[Attorney]]​

|occupation=[[Attorney]]​

|alma_mater=[[University of Virginia]]​

|alma_mater=[[University of Virginia]]​

[[Tulane University]]<br>

[[Tulane University]]<br>

==Background==

==Background==

Lawrason was born in [[New Orleans]] to George Carson Lawrason and the former Zelia McCutcheon, hence his middle name. He was educated in [[France]] and [[Spain]] before he received a degree in 1872 in [[civil engineering]] from the [[University of Virginia]] in Charlottesville, [[Virginia]]. Two years later he received an [[LL.D.]] degree from [[Tulane University]] Law Schoo], then part of the institution known as the University of Louisiana at New Orleans, where he subsequently launched his law practice.<ref name=lahist/> Lawrason also held interests in [[cotton]] and [[sugar]] planting at different locations along the [[Mississippi River]].<ref name=liblsu/>​

Lawrason was born in [[New Orleans]] to George Carson Lawrason and the former Zelia McCutcheon, hence his middle name. He was educated in [[France]] and [[Spain]] before he received a degree in 1872 in civil [[engineering]] from the [[University of Virginia]] in Charlottesville, [[Virginia]]. Two years later he received an [[LL.D.]] degree from [[Tulane University]] Law Schoo], then part of the institution known as the University of Louisiana at New Orleans, where he subsequently launched his law practice.<ref name=lahist/> Lawrason also held interests in [[cotton]] and [[sugar]] planting at different locations along the [[Mississippi River]].<ref name=liblsu/>​

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In 1875, Lawrason married the former Harriet "Hattie" Mathews, daughter of Charles Lewis Mathews and the former Penelope Stewart. He then relocated his law practice and residence to West Feliciana Parish. The couple had nine children: Zelia Lawrason, Annie Mathews Lawrason Butler, George C. Lawrason, Charles Lawrason, Helen Stewart Lawrason Kilpatrick, Margaret Butler Lawrason, Thomas Butler Lawrason, and Levering Lawrason.<ref name=liblsu>{{cite web|url=http://www.lib.lsu.edu/special/findaid/m4358.html|title=Mathews-Ventress=Lawrason Family Papers|publisher=lib.lsu.edu|accessdate=December 27, 2010}}</ref> In 1891, the Lawrasons' next-to-the-youngest child, Samuel, Jr., died at three months of age on May 8.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/b/e/n/Julia-Benson-PA/WEBSITE-0001/UHP-1146.html|title=Samuel Lawrason, Jr. (1891)|publisher=familytreemaker.genealogy.com|accessdate=December 27, 2010}}</ref>​

In 1875, Lawrason married the former Harriet "Hattie" Mathews, daughter of Charles Lewis Mathews and the former Penelope Stewart. He then relocated his law practice and residence to West Feliciana Parish. The couple had nine children: Zelia Lawrason, Annie Mathews Lawrason Butler, George C. Lawrason, Charles Lawrason, Helen Stewart Lawrason Kilpatrick, Margaret Butler Lawrason, Thomas Butler Lawrason, and Levering Lawrason.<ref name=liblsu>{{cite web|url=http://www.lib.lsu.edu/special/findaid/m4358.html|title=Mathews-Ventress=Lawrason Family Papers|publisher=lib.lsu.edu|accessdate=December 27, 2010}}</ref> In 1891, the Lawrasons' next-to-the-youngest child, Samuel, Jr., died at three months of age on May 8.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/b/e/n/Julia-Benson-PA/WEBSITE-0001/UHP-1146.html|title=Samuel Lawrason, Jr. (1891)|publisher=familytreemaker.genealogy.com|accessdate=December 27, 2010}}</ref>​

 

Lawrason was affiliated with the Grace [[Episcopal]] in St. Francisville, the parish seat of West Feliciana Parish. He was also a member of the Masonic lodge.<ref name=lahist/>​

Lawrason was affiliated with the Grace [[Episcopal]] in St. Francisville, the parish seat of West Feliciana Parish. He was also a member of the Masonic lodge.<ref name=lahist/>​

==Career==​

==Career==​

In 1876, Lawrason was elected as parish judge and served until 1879, when the position was abolished. He was active in the Ballot Reform League and served on the West Feliciana Parish School Board from 1884 to 1905. From 1887 to 1923, he was a member of the board of supervisors of [[Louisiana State University]] in Baton Rouge, through which forum he became an early advocate of co-education.<ref name=lahist/>​

In 1876, Lawrason was elected as parish judge and served until 1879, when the position was abolished. He was active in the Ballot Reform League and served on the West Feliciana Parish School Board from 1884 to 1905. From 1887 to 1923, he was a member of the board of supervisors of [[Louisiana State University]] in Baton Rouge, through which forum he became an early advocate of co-education.<ref name=lahist/>​

 

Lawrason's state senate terms were twenty years apart - 1896-1900 and 1920-1924.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://senate.la.gov/Documents/Membership/1880membership.pdf|title=Membership of the Louisiana Senate, 1880 - Present (East and West Feliciana parishes)|publisher=Louisiana State Senate|accessdate=May 11, 2020}}</ref> He was the vice-president of the Louisiana Constitutional Convention of 1898, the same year that he authored the Lawrason Act. In 1908, he ran unsuccessfully for the office of lieutenant governor, losing to his fellow [[Democratic Party|Democrat]], Paul M. Lambremont. From 1908 to 1912, Lawrason was a member of the Louisiana State Board of Education (now the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education),  with parallel service still on the LSU board of supervisors.<ref name=lahist/>​

Lawrason's state senate terms were twenty years apart - 1896-1900 and 1920-1924.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://senate.la.gov/Documents/Membership/1880membership.pdf|title=Membership of the Louisiana Senate, 1880 - Present (East and West Feliciana parishes)|publisher=Louisiana State Senate|accessdate=May 11, 2020}}</ref> He was the vice-president of the Louisiana Constitutional Convention of 1898, the same year that he authored the Lawrason Act. In 1908, he ran unsuccessfully for the office of lieutenant governor, losing to his fellow [[Democratic Party|Democrat]], Paul M. Lambremont. From 1908 to 1912, Lawrason was a member of the Louisiana State Board of Education (now the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education),  with parallel service still on the LSU board of supervisors.<ref name=lahist/>​

 

Lawrason's place of death is unknown. He is interred at the Grace Episcopal Church Cemetery in St. Francisville.<ref>''The New Orleans Times-Picayune,'' November 9, 1924.</ref>​

Lawrason's place of death is unknown. He is interred at the Grace Episcopal Church Cemetery in St. Francisville.<ref>''The New Orleans Times-Picayune,'' November 9, 1924.</ref>​

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