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HARRISON COUNTY WEST VIRGINIA
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Submitted to the West Virginia Biographies Project by:
Valerie & Tommy Crook
vfcrook@earthlink.net
July 23, 2000
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The History of West Virginia, Old and New
Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc.,
Chicago and New York, Volume III,
pg. 531-532
Harrison
JESSE G. LAWSON, president and the organizer of the
First National Bank of Bridgeport, Harrison County, has
been one of the world's constructive workers, has enjoyed
his work and has found life full of compensation. He has
shown a fine sense of civic and personal stewardship, and
has been specially interested in educational affairs.
Mr. Lawson is a native son of Harrison County, his birth
having occurred on the family homestead farm on Bushy
Fork of Elk Creek, seven miles south of Bridgeport, on
the 17th of February, 1856. He is a son of Abner and
Magdalena (Nutter) Lawson, who passed their entire lives
in Harrison County, where the respective families were
founded in the early pioneer days. Abner Lawson was one
of the substantial farmers and honored citizens of Harrison
County, and was influential in community affairs of public
order.
After receiving the discipline of the rural schools Jesse
Of. Lawson was for two terms a student in West Virginia
College at Flemington, Taylor County. Later he continued
his studies in well conducted "pay schools" in his native
county and in Lewis County, and he put his acquirements
to practical test when he became a teacher in the rural
schools, his first term of school having been taught in
Lewis County, in 1877, and he having later been a successful
teacher in the schools of Harrison County. He continued
his activities in the pedagogic profession for twenty years,
was progressive in his attitude, broadened his studies to
meet the requirements of the advancing standards in local
educational affairs, and did a service of enduring value
as is ever true when practical aid is given in teaching the
youth of any locality in any period. Mr. Lawson's deep
appreciation of the value of popular education has caused
him to maintain at all times a deep interest in the further-
ing of educational work in his home county and state.
In 1896 Mr. Lawson was elected assessor of what was
then known as the lower assessment district of Harrison
County, of which office he continued the incumbent four
years, besides which he served four years as deputy asses-
sor. While engaged in teaching he maintained his home on
his well improved farm on Bushy Creek, a property which
he still owns, though Bridgeport has been his place of
residence since March 17, 1898.
In 1920 Mr. Lawson became one of the leading promoters
in the organization of the First National Bank of Bridge-
port, and through his vigorous and well ordered campaign
was effected the sale of all of the stock of the new institu-
tion, which received its charter on the 19th of October of
that year and which bases its operations on a capital stock
of $50,000. He was elected president of the bank, and as
its chief executive has directed its policies with character-
istic discrimination and ability. In politics Mr. Lawson
gives staunch allegiance to the republican party, he is af-
filiated with the Masonic fraternity, and he and his family
hold membership in the Methodist Protestant Church at
Bridgeport, he being a teacher in its Sunday School and
the leader of the parents' class in the same.
On the 8th of September, 1897, was solemnized the mar-
riage of Mr. Lawson and Miss Minnie C. Henry, of Tyrcon-
nell, Taylor County, she being a daughter of John H. and
Eliza (Marker) Henry. Mr. and Mrs. Lawson have three
children: Marion G., who remains at the parental home,
is a musician of exceptional and well developed talent;
Magdalena H. is, in 1922, a student in Western Maryland
College at Westminster, Maryland, where she is preparing
herself for teaching; and John H. Abner is a member of
the senior class in the Bridgeport High School.
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