Moved to Vineland, New Jersey with is parents in the spring 1873, moved again to Dakota Territory in the summer of 1879. Lived at home and worked for neighbors while going to country school until December of 1887 when he left home and went to Cambridge, Mass. to live with his uncle, James H. Robinson, while he earned a living and went to school.
In the fall of 1890, he matriculated at the College of Physicians and Surgeons in Boston, graduating in May 1893 with the degree of M.D. While going to school he earned his living by being janitor of the college building and as janitor of the Wood Memorial Congregational Church in Cambridge of which he was a member. Returned to S.D. in 1894 and practiced medicine at Ethan & Mitchell for a year then at Egan for eleven years.
In 1906, removed to Dalton, Nebraska where he took a government homestead of 640 acres, lived on it about 7 years doing some farming for himself, some for the neighbors, teaching school during the winters and doing a little medical work occasionally. In 1912, he removed to Oregon, teaching school at Halsey, Springbrook , Siskiyol, Climay and Alaska.
In 1918, was appointed 4th Class postmaster at Alsea, worked the office up to 3rd Class and lost it through lack of political influence. Removed in the spring of 1925 to Philomath, thence to Mohler where he bought a small store and was again appointed postmaster, Was postmaster at Alsea over 6 years and at Mohlar, 9 years.
(1934) He became a member of the Wood Memorial Congregational Church at Cambridge, Mass. in 1888 and was a very active member of the Christian Endeavor Society of that Church, serving at different times in all the offices including president. Belonged to the Sunday School and was a teacher in it several times. At Egan he joined the Methodist Church and was Epwirth League president and S.S. Superintendent. At Delton, he helped to or ganize a Presbyterian Church and was one of its first Ruling Elders and its fir st Clerk of Sessions. He was also, S.S. Superintendnt while at Dalton, first of the Union S.S., then of the Presbyterian S.S. and later of the Simla Sunday School. In Oregon, he was a member at different times of the Methodist Church at Halsey, the Quaker Church at Springbrook, the Methodist Church South at Alsea, the United Brethren Church at Philomath, and the Methodist Church at Nehalem. At Alsea he was steward, treasurer, recorder and trustee of the church and teacher and Superintendent in the Sunday School. At Nehalem, he was treasurer, secretary, teacher of workers training class and classification secretary of the Sunday school as well as recording steward of the church.3
John went to Massachusetts with his mother and sisters, Mable and Dot in 1879 and then to Dakota Territory in the spring of 1880. He worked in the harvest fields of North Dakota in the fall of 1891 and worked on the Administration Building of the World's Fair at Chicago in 1893. Took a business training course at Dixon, Ill. Business College in 1894.
He was head of the Commercial Dept of Burdetts Business College of Boston, Mass. and acting head of the Normal Dept. He is a Decon in the Congregational Church, supervisor of the church school, member of the Social Service Committee of the Pilgrim Branches of the Church, President of the Village Study Club, executive chairman of the Citizens Alliance of Weymouth, President of the Faculty Club of the College, President of th e Eastern Commercial Teachers Association and an active member of the Sons of American Revolution.1
Dot graduated from Mitchell SD High School and a Commercial College of Webster City Iowa. She taught school in Hamilton Co. Iowa in 1900, 1901 and 1902. Was a lieutenant in the Salvation Army at Yankton, SD in 1899 and in Owattonna , MN. in 1900. Joined the Congregational Church at Mitchell in 1891 and was president and treasurer of its Y.P.S.C.E., was vice-president of the Ladies Cemetery Association and President of the W.R.C. at Egan, S.D. in 1912.
In 1928 she was secretary of a large hospital in New York City. Lived in Long Beach California in 1930 and had a little property there. Since leaving New York City she has traveled in Nova Scotia, gone through the Panama Canal, spent three winters in Alaska, one within the Arctic Circle. Present residence (1934) Ferry, Alaska. (1934.)1
Laurence was a member of the Yankyon College Glee Club and president of the Adolphia n Literary Society in 1907 and manager of the college "Student" the same year .
In 1912 he purchased the Parker-Press Leader and published it until he bought the Mitchell Gazette in 1920. He was president of the South Dakota Sunday School Association in 1916 and superintendent of the Congregational Sunday School at Mitchell in 1925. He was elected president of the South Dakota Press Association. In 1932, he owned a home in Parker.
In all matters religious, political and moral, he is prominent in S.D . Was vice-president of the S.D. Automobi le Club, was a delegate from S.D. to the National Republican Convention at Chicago, built a new $5,000 home in Mitchell.1