History of Michigan, / by Charles Moore. [Vol. 3]

1712

HISTORY OF MICHIGAN

ness at Toronto. This was not the hoped-for success and in 1882 he
moved to Muskegon. Here he opened a photographic studio, to which
he gave his attention for nearly thirty years. He is well remembered
as one of the old-time photographers of Muskegon, and his work may
be found in hundreds of homes in the city and vicinity, as good today
as the day it was produced. After he moved from Canada to the
United States, he spent a short time in the city of Chicago, and also
in Detroit, before locating permanently in Muskegon.
In I905 Mr. Lawson was elected mayor of Muskegon on the Democratic ticket. Normally, Muskegon had at that time a Republican majority of about i,6oo. However, such was the platform of principles and
the personal popularity of Mr. Lawson that he was returned to office by
a majority of 461 votes. So great an influence had the Lawson administration during I905-6 on the progress and uplift of this municipality
that something should be said concerning the definite reforms and improvements inaugurated by Mayor Lawson. It was in every sense a
progressive administration, and yet, was remarkably economical. The
records of the city will show that he left his office with nearly fourteen
thousand dollars in the treasury more than he found when he began his
term. At the same time all permanent improvements were of the better class. No poor pavements were laid and no small sewers installed.
Mr. Lawson pushed the meat inspection proposition, and secured inspection of milk a few weeks before he left office. Sanitary conditions in
the city were improved in every direction. An illustration of his scrupulous honesty was his refusal to accept street-car passes, and his example in this particular was sufficient to induce the members of the
council to likewise refuse free transportation on the city lines. The
purchase of the so-called market site by Muskegon was another important act of the Lawson administration. The property purchased for
this purpose has since become very valuable, testifying in no uncertain
terms to the ex-mayor's wise foresight in all real estate transactions.
During his term of office a comprehensive plan was inaugurated for creating a park system in Muskegon and throughout the county. Many other
items concerning his administration might be enumerated, but enough
has been said to indicate the thorough public spirit and broad-gauge
character of the man in his connection with all public affairs.
Mr. Lawson has always been active in behalf of his city, and much
of his work has brought substantial gain to this community. He was
one of those who realized, some twenty years ago, that with the disappearance of the lumber mills other manufacturing plants must be substituted in order that the city might not lose in population or prestige.
It was largely through his instrumentality and leadership that a bonus
fund was raised to secure additional factories. A'similar fund, raised
a few years ago, and used by'the Chamber of Commerce to carry out
projects of benefit to Muskegon, was in no small degree the result of
his energy and public spirit. He has concerned himself actively of late
in an effort to secure additional railway and interurban transportation
for Muskegon, and at the present time is president of the Muskegon
and Casnovia Land & Development Company, a concern which has been
organized to build an electric road to Saginaw.
In I9IO Mr. Lawson embarked in the real estate and insurance business and this has proved to be a very profitable field for his endeavor.
He is now the owner of several choice downtown parcels of realty, chief
of which is Muskegon's leading business block, known as the Flatiron
Building. As a real estate specialist Mr. Lawson has consummated some
of the larger deals, both in Muskegon and elsewhere.
In I885 occurred the marriage of Norman B. Lawson with Miss