Susan Lawrence
The Enigma in the Wright House
Roberta Volkmann
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Smashwords Edition
Copyright 2011 by Roberta Volkmann
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Table of Contents
Chapter 1: Sue C. Lawrence (Susie, Tag, Little Rheuna): Daughter
Chapter 2: Susie Dana: Bride and Mother
Chapter 3: Mrs. E. W. Dana: One of the “Four Hundred”
Chapter 5: Susie Lawrence Dana: Heiress
Chapter 6: Susan Lawrence Dana: Home Builder and Traveler
Chapter 7: Susan Lawrence Dana (Aunty Dana): Generous Hostess
Chapter 8: Susan Lawrence Dana: Spiritualist
Chapter 9: Susan Lawrence Dana: Butterfly
Chapter 10: Mrs. Lawrence Joergen-Dahl (Dede): Bride Again
Chapter 11: Susan Joergen-Dahl: Widow Again
Chapter 12: Mrs. Charles Lawrence-Gehrmann: Partner
Chapter 13: Susan Lawrence-Gehrmann: Divorcee
Chapter 14: Susan Lawrence-Gehrmann: Political Activist
Chapter 15: Susan Lawrence-Gehrmann: Seeker of Truth
Chapter 17: Susan Lawrence: Head of Household
Chapter 18: Susan Z. Lawrence (Aunt Susie): Declining Legend
Chapter 19: Susan Z. Lawrence: Invalid
Acknowledgements
This book is the culmination of the efforts of three groups of people on whose work I built and to whom I am deeply grateful.
The Gatherers of history: Researchers: David Diederich, Donald Hallmark, Nancy Long, Regina McGuire, and Kim Perez; those who conducted oral histories years ago; and those who were willing to share their memories with me: R Lou Barker, Joan Smith, and Audrey Vieau.
The Guardians of history: Mark Johnson, Illinois Historic Preservation Agency; Cindy Luton, Unity Church; the staffs at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library, the Dana-Thomas House and Foundation, and the Sangamon Valley Collection in Lincoln Library, Springfield’s public library.
The Reviewers of my work: Corrine Frisch, Ann Heelan, Donald Hoffmann, and my ever-patient and meticulous husband, Carl Volkmann.
One man played all of those roles. As a Gatherer, Guardian, and Reviewer, Dr. Richard Taylor was indispensible in the development of this project. For his meticulous research, wise counsel, and generous spirit, I am indebted and dedicate Susan’s biography to him.
Introduction
“Who was Susan Lawrence Dana?” The volunteer interpreter had heard that question time and time again as she led tourists through the 35 room Frank Lloyd Wright designed Dana-Thomas House. This tour group had stood in awe in the reception hall, the dining room, and the gallery, all two-story social spaces. They had walked through the library, the duck pin alley, and the master bedroom. They had peeked into the three other bedroom suites. The interpreter had pointed out the three original works of art that Wright had incorporated into the design of the house: George Niedecken's mural that surrounded the guests in the dining room and two original sculptures by Richard Bock.
More than 100 pieces of furniture, 250 leaded glass windows and doors, and over 100 art glass fixtures designed by Wright over 100 years ago had overwhelmed the tourists. When the young man asked the interpreter the inevitable question about the woman who commissioned Wright's design, the interpreter could have repeated descriptions of Susan Lawrence Dana used by reporters and authors over the years: beautiful, charming, brilliant, colorful, eccentric, willful, capricious, wealthy, social, or artistic. However, Susan was much more. Born in 1862, Susan Lawrence Dana lived during a period in history when women were finding their voices and carving out new roles in society. As the world changed around her, she assumed several names and played many roles. Over her lifetime Susan developed a complex, independent lifestyle that could not be captured in a few words. The interpreter answered the tourist with her usual response to that question: “It would take a book to discover the enigma that was Susan Lawrence.”
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Chapter 1
SUSIE LAWRENCE (SUSIE, TAG, LITTLE RHEUNA): DAUGHTER
It's a girl! Rheuna and Mary Lawrence were elated! Still grieving for their first daughter Agnes Salome who had died less than two years earlier when she was just 11 months old, the young couple welcomed a new life to nurture and to love. Grandma Lawrence, who had been living with her son's family since Agnes Salome's death, had special reason to rejoice. Rheuna and Mary chose to name their new daughter Sue C., a variation of Susan, Grandma Lawrence's given name. Although her parents later expanded the C to Caroline, from her birth on October 13, 1862, the little girl was called Susie.
Rheuna and Mary were just beginning their life together. Born in Ohio, twenty-five year old Rheuna had come to Springfield, Illinois, by way of Chicago about five years earlier. He had married Mary Agnes Maxcy, daughter of early Springfield settlers John and Farnetta Maxcy, on January 24, 1859, when he was 22 and she was 17. Rheuna began his diverse career in the young city’s burgeoning building industry as a mason. Soon he was supporting his young family as a building contractor, a grocer, and a Union Army supplier.
Rheuna Lawrence was an intuitive entrepreneur and an astute opportunist. Over the years his business instincts served him well as his wealth grew through investments in such ventures as real estate, railroad construction, and coal mine development. His most successful endeavors were his gold and silver mines in Colorado and Oregon. While he was building his material assets, he was cultivating friendships with powerful people including governors. These connections led to numerous appointments to local, state, and national boards and commissions. As an active Republican, he was elected to one term as mayor of Springfield and appointed to the Springfield School Board which he chaired for several years. In 1898 the street on which Rheuna's home stood was changed from Wright Street to Lawrence Avenue, presumably to honor him. Additionally, Rheuna was an active Mason, a volunteer fireman, and the president of the State National Bank.
As Rheuna's fortune and reputation grew, he and Mary remained unpretentious. Contrary to the stereotype of the nou-veau riche, the couple continued to be grounded in the core values of their humble beginnings. They shared a strong work ethic and a commitment to serve others in their community. An anonymous biographer of Rheuna described him in this way:
“He used and enjoyed costly things, but, in the main, lived simply, while he abhorred ostentation and disliked an expenditure on luxuries which was all out of proportion to any real enjoyment he got from them. [and] He deplored the tendency among many rich people to consume on expensive domestic establishments the entire income of great properties.”
Rheuna did, however, indulge in one public manifestation of his newly acquired wealth. Six years after Susie's birth he bought the lot on the corner of Fourth and Wright Streets in the neighborhood that was called “Aristocracy Hill.” There he built a tasteful 13 room brick Italianate- style home for his immediate and extended family which was always changing. Rheuna's mother and Mary's mother Farnetta Maxcy each spent her last years in the home. One extended family member, Florence Cliffen Lawrence, who was the daughter of Rheuna’s brother, was a permanent resident. Nine years older than Susie, “Cousin Flora” joined the household when Susie was 10 years old and lived with the family for more than 55 years.
Much of Mary’s time and energy was spent on clubs and charitable activities, and she took her projects seriously. Her involvement with the Lincoln Colored Home exemplifies her values and leadership skills. The home was founded by Eva Monroe, an African-American woman who had saved enough of her own money for a down-payment on an old house which she opened for African-American orphaned children and elderly women in 1898. To keep her doors open, she solicited money and materials from both the white and black Springfield community. Mary Lawrence came to her aid. Mary assumed the $1,400 mortgage on the house. Later she acquired the deed to the property so that the old house could be razed and a new one built. She supervised the design of the new home and donated windows, doors, and chandeliers from her own former home. During the building process, the 37 residents and staff lived in tents with no water. Mary Lawrence arranged city water service to the property. In addition to her many personal contributions, she organized fund raisers, enlisted local business leaders for service on the board of directors, and obtained annual funding from the county for the home.
After Mary’s death, the building was dedicated as a memorial to her. In May 1906 Susie transferred the deed clear of all indebtedness to the board of directors with the stipulation that the building would be used for its original purpose or be returned to Susie. Mary Lawrence continued to be remembered in the Springfield African-American community. In 1915 Eva Monroe opened the Mary Lawrence Industrial School for Girls, and the Mary A. Lawrence Woman’s Club was organized by a group of African-American women. For many reasons the Lincoln Colored Home continued to struggle financially, and due to a number of societal changes and legal difficulties, the doors closed in 1933.
Susie was the center of the busy life of Rheuna and Mary. She was especially close to her father. He called her “Tag.” Observing the close relationship, friends of the family dubbed her “Little Rheuna.”
Susie's only formal education of record was at ages seven and eight when she attended the Bettie Stuart Institute located just down the street from the Lawrence residence on Fourth Street near the Governor’s Mansion. The Institute Catalogue defined the “thorough and efficient” curriculum offered at the school. It included reading, writing, spelling, mental arithmetic, object lessons, primary geography, Child’s Book of Nature, drawing, and gymnastics. Among Susie’s classmates were Leigh Gross, a close friend into adulthood, and Charles Gehrmann, the man who would become her third husband.
Although it is possible that Susie had further formal education, no record has been found of her attendance in any other school. Some evidence suggests that she was a student at Mrs. J. F. Brooks’ School for Young Ladies at 617 South Fifth Street. The school was run by the second wife of Reverend J. F. Brooks, a renowned educator who had established a female seminary with a progressive curriculum including drawing, painting, and music at that address in 1849. The school was closed four years later when Brooks’ first wife died. Her sister became his second wife and re-opened the academy. With her husband’s assistance, she offered an expanded curriculum to many of Susie’s contemporaries.
To assure that their only daughter was exposed to the finer things in life, Rheuna and Mary provided her with instruction in art, music, and even roller skating. The local newspapers reported that at age 14 Susie performed “Echo of Lucerne” in a piano recital “with the precision of a Swiss music box” and won the lady's gold medal prize at the Springfield Roller Skating Association. Miss Susie Lawrence exhibited a plush mirror frame in an art show of the students of Miss May Lee, a resident of New York who came to Springfield to give art lessons to the community at Mrs. Brooks’ school.
On February 7, 1879, the house on Fourth and Wright Streets was lit up as it had never been before. Although they rarely entertained on a large scale, Rheuna and Mary were proudly hosting Qui Vive, a social club for the young adult offspring of Springfield's elite. The festive dance introduced 18 year old Susie into Springfield society. After that party, the guest lists published in the newspapers for every social occasion of note from 1880 through 1883 always included Susie Lawrence. For example, she and her parents were among the guests at the wedding of Ella Cullom, daughter of Governor Shelby Cullom.
Even some of her romantic interests were documented in the newspapers. According to news reports, on January 1, 1880, Susie invited Ed Payne to a leap year party at the Leland Hotel. At that time Payne was a young bank teller with a promising future in the financial business. In later life he would be one of Rheuna's partners who established the State National Bank. Rheuna was the bank's first president, and Payne assumed that position at Rheuna's death. Ed Payne, however, was not destined to be a member of Rheuna's family because by December 20, 1882, Edwin Dana, Susie's future husband, was her escort to another dance at the Leland.
Susie's world extended beyond Springfield. The newspapers noted on several occasions that Susie and her mother took trips to Chicago and Lincoln, Illinois, a town 30 miles north of Springfield. She was such a fixture in the social scene that the press chose to note when she was “confined to her bed with sickness.” Rheuna and Mary Lawrence's lovely daughter was at the top of the Springfield social ladder. They had provided a life of privilege and entitlement for her. Yet Susie grew up with a father who “abhorred ostentation” and a mother characterized by Frank Lloyd Wright in his Autobiography as “dear old Mother Lawrence - salt-risen bread, blackberry preserves.” The contradiction between her parent's lifestyle and the social world in which she found herself created an identity ambivalence that plagued Susie for the rest of her life. Susie Lawrence was destined to assume many roles and multiple names as her world constantly changed around her, and she attempted to find her place in those worlds.
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Chapter 2
Susie Dana: Bride and Mother
The house at Fourth and Wright Streets was once again the scene of a joyous celebration. According to a florid newspaper account, Susie Lawrence entered “upon woman's highest sphere in life” when she married Edwin Ward Dillingham Dana on December 4, 1883, in her parent's home. Reverend Peter Wallace of Saybrook, Illinois, not only officiated at the wedding but also baptized the bride as “Susie Lawrence” with no middle name or initial. After the 10 a.m. ceremony, which was witnessed by a few friends and family members, everyone sat down to a celebratory wedding dinner. At noon the young couple was driven to the Chicago & Alton Depot. There they boarded a train to their new home in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where Edwin was engaged in the real estate business.
The journalist who reported the wedding of Susie and Edwin pointed out that the marriage “robs the doting father and mother...of an only child and Springfield society of one of its brightest ornaments.” The parents had lost “the dearest object of their earthly affections.” However, Susie did not sever her parental or Springfield connections for long. After the December 4, 1883, wedding, she was back in town to assist Mrs. C. M. Smith, a neighbor of her parents, in welcoming guests at the traditional open house on New Year's Day, 1884. Despite the fact that her address was Minneapolis, Susie remained a constant figure on the Springfield newspaper society pages. On New Year's Day 1885, for example, she assisted her mother at her New Year’s Day open house, and on February 3 of that year, gowned in wine colored velvet with satin embossed flowers over the front, she attended Governor Oglesby’s inaugural reception.
Susie’s new husband, twenty year old Edwin Dana, was born in Burlington, Vermont, in 1863. He grew up in Lincoln, Illinois, where his family moved when he was a toddler. His father, Henry Ward Dana, was a Lincoln attorney who owned the Logan County Abstract Office which also advertised as a real estate, loan and collection agency. Like Rheuna, the senior Dana was a successful entrepreneur. He was involved in multiple enterprises in both Logan County, Illinois, and in Minnesota. The two men were business associates.
Edwin moved to Minneapolis sometime after 1880 to take advantage of the real estate business opportunities in that city. The population of Minneapolis grew from 47,000 in 1880 to nearly 75,000 by 1883. With the help of his father, Edwin established E. W. Dana & Co., Real Estate and Loans at 319 Nicollet Avenue in Minneapolis. The newlyweds established a home in Minneapolis, and by 1885 the “E. W. Dana & Co. [was] doing a very good business” according to the 1885 issue of Real Estate and Building Review.
That same year Edwin and Susie were excited to learn that Susie was pregnant. Although most Victorian women removed themselves from society during their pregnancies, Susie remained very active. She traveled frequently to visit her parents in Springfield. There she continued to lead a busy social life. A pregnant Susie even took classes at what was then called Mrs. Brooks’ Art School, and a large panel of hollyhocks painted by her was exhibited at the school's student show that year. The dreams of both Susie and Edwin were fulfilled when Lawrence Henry Dana was born on December 19, 1885. The little boy only lived 12 hours.
Finding emotional support from her parents, Susie continued her travels between the two cities. She spent three weeks in her parent's home in October of the next year. Returning to Minneapolis, she became pregnant again. Following the pattern she had established with her first pregnancy, Susie returned to her parental home for support and again honed her creative skills at Mrs. Brooks' Art School. In June of 1887 a still life study by Susie Dana was displayed at the school’s student exhibition. On August 22, 1887, just two months later, Edwin Whitney Dana was born to Susie and Edwin. Little Edwin was not yet 2 months old when he died on October 5. The grieving parents and grandparents buried the baby beside his brother in the family plot in Springfield's Oak Ridge Cemetery.
After two devastating losses, Susie and Edwin were confronted with another catastrophe. The Minneapolis real estate bubble burst in 1890, and the couple's income dropped substantially. No longer able to maintain the life they had come to expect, Edwin changed professions in 1892. He opened the Western Business Agency at 912-916 Guaranty Building in Minneapolis, a company which offered “[to] secure partners and capital for parties wishing to increase their business, [to] locate manufactories of all kinds, and…[to] furnish businessmen generally with high grade clerks…fields of practice found for physicians, lawyers and other professional men.” The officers of the company were E.W. Dana, President, J. A. Sims, Secretary, and S. L. Dana, Treasurer. Edwin was a business consultant and head hunter, and Susie, who had no prior business experience, was handling the money for the company. The identity and responsibilities of J. A. Sims are unknown.