b. 7 April 1889, d. 24 April 1965
| Birth | 7 Apr 1889 | Albert Lawrence McLaurine was born in Jones County, Texas, probably on 7 Apr 1889.2,1 |
| | Albert's year of birth is unclear. His reported ages on the 1900 (11) and 1910 (21) census records suggest he was born in Apr 1889, the date recorded on his parent's 1900 census entry.
Albert himself stated that he was born 7 April 1887 on his World War I Draft registration. The same date was supplied for his Social Security record. Both dates precede his parent's marriage date of 20 Jan. 1888. The California Death Index lists his birth year as 1883 which is clearly in error. The same year appears on a Find A Grave memorial although the birth information was probably from the death certificate.
Albert's sister Cordye left an oral history in which she stated that Albert and his younger brother William Cecil McLaurine were born 18 months apart. William's generally accepted birthdate has been May 1891, suggesting Albert might have been born in April 1890. However William Cecil's 1900 census entry states he was born in Dec. 1890 and in 1910 he was 19. Hence the 1900 and 1910 census data, the only birth records probably created by the men's mother, or at least during her lifetime, suggest Albert was born in April 1889 and William Cecil in Dec. 1890.1,3,2,4 |
| Childhood | 6 Mar 1901 | Albert, or Lawrence as he was sometimes known, was the eldest of his parent's 6 children. His childhood was spent on a small farm at Ft. Phantom Hill in Jones County. However life changed dramatically in the spring of 1901 when Albert's father died suddenly from a ruptured appendix. Albert's parents had just sold their farm in the hopes of moving west. Albert grew to adulthood quickly as he supported his mother's attempts to resettle the family. Over the next 9 years the family moved numerous times, living first in the New Mexico territory and then in 4 different Texas counties (see mother's narrative for specifics).5 |
| | In later years Albert's sister Cordye wrote an account of these years. It describes in detail the challenges of daily living, but also the simple pleasures of saddling a horse and riding the range. Albert and his brothers were expected to attend school at least part of the year no matter how far they had to travel to do so. Once in New Mexico they were caught in an unexpected snowstorm and spent several weeks alone in a dugout with little food. They typically lived without running water or indoor plumbing and traveled miles to buy the simple items that could not be grown on their own land.5 |
| Cens-1910 | 30 Apr 1910 | The spring of 1910 found the family in the town of Merkel in Taylor Co., Texas. By then Albert and his siblings were employed in town where they worked in a mercantile store.3 |
| Marriage | 25 Jun 1912 | Albert married Gladys (?) on 25 Jun 1912. |
| | Gladys' surname is unclear at this time. She was most likely the Gladys Hottman who married Albert Lawrence McLaurine on 25 Jun 1912 at Bexar Co. Texas. However numerous Ancestry trees report her name as Gladys Debolt Allen (without documentation). Since Albert and Gladys's only child was born 16 Oct. 1914 the June 26 marriage date is plausible.6 |
| Divorce | before Jun 1917 | They divorced before Jun 1917. |
| Military | 5 Jun 1917 | Albert completed the World War I draft registration process at Hood County, Texas. He was described as of medium height and slender build with light brown hair and gray eyes. He worked as a farm laborer for Johnson Brothers. Albert went on to serve in the US Army during World War I.7,8 |
| Cens-1920 | 8 Jan 1920 | Following the war Albert settled in Houston where he worked as a salesman for a coffee company.9 |
| Marriage | 4 Mar 1922 | He married Eula Mae (?) on 4 Mar 1922 in Graham, Texas.10 |
| Cens-1940 | 15 Apr 1940 | By 1940 Albert and Eula Mae lived in Longview, Texas where they also provided a home for Eula's daughter Bessa Cunningham (27, divorced) and Albert's brother Jimmie (42, single). Albert was not employed but Eula worked as a seamstress, Bessa as a typist and Jimmie as a ranchman. In addition, 4 other men lodged with the family.11 |
| | Albert and Eula are reported to have been the parents of a son William Cecil McLaurine.10 |
| Death | 24 Apr 1965 | Albert died on 24 Apr 1965 at age 76.8 |
| Burial | | He was buried at Los Angeles National Cemetery in Los Angeles, California.8 |