Encyclopedia Dubuque
"Encyclopedia Dubuque is the online authority for all things Dubuque, written by the people who know the city best.”
Marshall Cohen—researcher and producer, CNN
Affiliated with the Local History Network of the State Historical Society of Iowa, and the Iowa Museum Association.
LAWTHER, William Sr.
LAWTHER, William, Sr. (Belfast, Ireland, June 29, 1847--Dubuque, IA, May 23, 1928). Lawther came to Dubuque with his father in 1862 as a boy of fifteen. He worked as a clerk the business of his uncle, William Lawther, who was a partner in the mercantile firm of Lawther & Sturgeon. When his uncle died, he took his uncle's place in the business. (1)
In 1891 William purchased the KEY CITY STEAM CANDY COMPANY, located at 126 Main Street, from J. J Roach. Because of the success of the candy factory, he kept the logo and added his name to it. In 1902 he added a fourth floor to the three story building and expanded into South Dakota, Minnesota and northern Illinois. When a fire destroyed the building in 1906, he opened a temporary office until the factory could be rebuilt so his customers could continue to rely on his candy. (2)
Lawther owned land in North Dakota. The city of New Leipzig, North Dakota was renamed Lawther on January 15, 1912, apparently due to confusion with the still thriving inland village of Leipzig. The new name honored original townsite owner William Lawther of Dubuque, Iowa, who had also been the original namesake of Heil, but this name proved to be confusing with Lawton, Ramsey County, and the name New Leipzig was restored on August 2, 1912. (3)
Lawther eventually served many years as a trustee of WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH and as an officer of the DUBUQUE LUMBER COMPANY. His children included Anna LAWTHER and William LAWTHER, Jr.
--
Source:
1. Oldt, Franklin. History of Dubuque County, Iowa. Chicago: Western Historical Company, 1880, p. 837 Online: https://books.google.com/books?id=u9xDAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA464&lpg=PA464&dq=Burton%27s+Furnace+%28dubuque+history%29&source=bl&ots=0CkCGLFR0v&sig=a0Ou1vN3ew6nQUYoq2aOJsXF9Mg&hl=en&sa=X&ei=j3HVT5XALaP42QXVp9iFDw#v=onepage&q=William%20Lawther&f=false
2. "William Lawther, Sr." Linwood Legacies, Online: http://www.linwoodlegacies.org/the-lawther-family.html
3. "Lawther (Grant County)," Online: http://www.webfamilytree.com/North_Dakota_Place_Names/L/lawther_%28grant_county%29.htm