John Henry, son of Julius and Eva (Heublein) Lawrence, was born in 
   Lincolnville, Kansas, April 20, 1898. He was baptized in the Lutheran
   Church there and later confirmed. At the age of fifteen, John, with his
   parents and other family members, came to make his home on the old
   Lawrence farm north of Nashville. There he grew to manhood and, after 
   1927, established his home there.
     Gretta B. Schiff, daughter of William Carl and Marie (Reinke) Schiff,
   was born at Earlham, Iowa, on February 10, 1905. She came to Kansas with
   her parents and settled on a farm near Sharon, Kansas, in 1910. The eldest
   of six children, she attended grade school at Central View School about
   two miles from her home. She rode a horse seven miles each day to attend
   high school in Sharon.
     John and Greeta were married September 28, 1927, at Nashville, Kansas. 
   Eight children, six sons and two daughters, were born to bless this home.
     As the family worked together to make its living, John was also active
   in the affairs of his church and the community. For eighteen years he
   served as a member of the local school board and for two years as community
   leader in 4-H work. John was an elder of St. John's congregation for six
   years and served as Sunday School Suberintendent on tow occasions, the last
   time for seven years. He served six years with other committees and board.
   At various times he worked with other committees and was always ready to
   put to use the talents God had given him.
     Greeta was quite active in raising eight children. She still found time 
   to volunteer at church with Ladies Aid. She had adopted a family in Germany
   that she sent clothes and things they needed.
     John passed away on January 19, 1957, at Nashville, Kansas, at the age
   of 58. Greeta then moved to Winfield where she raised the two girls who
   were seven and twelve years old. Greeta passed away in Winfield on July 23,
   1971. They are both buried in the Lutheran Cemetery at Nashville, Kansas.
     Their children are Wayne of Bartlesville, Oklahoma; Elwood of Pratt, Kansas;
   Dallas of Medicine Lodge, Kansas; Ronald of Wichita, Kansas; Sheldon of
   Hawaii; Verlin, deceased; Paula Lindon of Stillwater, Oklahoma; and Rita of
   Topeka, Kansas.
                     
  Source:St. John's Lutheran Church Centennial 1893-1993, Nashville, Kansas, pg. 66 
  Submitted by: Elwood and Bernta Lawrence & Ronald and Christa Lawrence