Lawrence, Amos Adams (1814-1886) - For whom Lawrence, Kansas was named. He was born in Boston, July 31, 1814. He was a merchant and philanthropist. In 1835, he graduated from Harvard and entered the mercantile business. He was interested in the manufacture and printing of cotton cloths and was president and director of several banks and industrial corporations.

On March 31, 1842, he and Miss Sara Elizabeth Appleton were married. Their son William became seventh Protestant Episcopal Bishop of Massachusetts. Mr. Lawrence became associated with Eli Thayer and others in the colonization of Kansas in 1853 and was treasurer and trustee of the New England Emigrant Aid Society.

On Oct, 6, 1854, the early settlers of Lawrence wanted to show their appreciation of Mr. Lawrence's generosity toward them and kind interest in them, so they named the town for him. Politically, Mr. Lawrence was a conservative Whig. He was a deeply religious man and was a man of the highest social position and of great wealth. His wealth was used largely for philanthropic purposes. Generous amounts of his money were used to help the early Kansas settlers. At one time, in their need, he sent them guns. An entry in Mr. Lawrence's journal says: "Paid $1000 for rifles for Kansas sufferers." Then in a letter to Dr. Webb, secretary of the Emigrant Aid Society, he says: "Write to Hartford to get their terms for one hundred more of the Sharps rifles at once." Casks marked "books" were soon on their way to Kansas and later, several "boxes of primers" were received.

In 1857, Mr. Lawrence made a gift of $10,000 towards founding a college on Mount Oread. This gift was in the form of two notes of $5,000 each. He placed the fund with Dr. Robinson and Mr. S.C. Pomeroy as trustees. This money later became the original endowment of the University of Kansas.