Rulif VanCleve Lawrence (1871-1938)

From the Long Branch Daily Record, March 17, 1938.

  We continue our stay in New Jersey and visit Monmouth County to profile Rulif VanCleve Lawrence, a curiously named lawyer who served that county as prosecuting attorney and court of common pleas judge. After several years on the bench, Lawrence advanced to the New Jersey state circuit court, where he served until his death. Born on April 29, 1871, in Freehold, New Jersey, Rulif VanCleve Lawrence was the son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Woolley) Lawrence.

  Lawrence's early education was obtained in schools local to Freehold, including the high school and Freehold Institute. Wanting to pursue a career in law, Lawrence enrolled at the New York Law School and also studied in the office of Frank B. McDermott. He was commissioned as counselor-at-law in 1896 and began his career in public service in 1893 with his appointment to the Freehold board of elections. Lawrence married in 1899 to Adeline Swift Yard (1868-1942), to who he was wed for nearly forty years. The couple had three children, Elizabeth (1900-1974), James Sterling Yard (1903-1971), and Sylvia (1906-1963).

  Establishing himself in practice in Freehold, Lawrence also operated a law office in Asbury Park beginning in 1900. In 1912 he was appointed to the Monmouth County Tax Board by Governor Woodrow Wilson and continued service on the county board of elections. Before his appointment county prosecutor Lawrence "served as counsel to several municipal bodies" and was town counsel and attorney for Freehold and Neptune, respectively. Additionally, Lawrence served an indeterminate period as secretary of the Monmouth County Democratic Committee and was a member of the Freehold Board of Education and the Freehold Public Library board of trustees. Rulif Lawrence was affiliated with the Masonic fraternity for many years, being past master of the Mount Olive Lodge No. 16, and a past regent of the Royal Arcanum Lodge No. 1501 of Freehold.

  In January 1914 Governor James Fielder appointed Lawrence to succeed John Applegate as Monmouth County prosecutor, with the appointment going into effect February 1st. Lawrence's time in the prosecutor's office proved to be short, however, and in April 1915 Fielder appointed him as judge of the Monmouth County Court of Common Pleas, succeeding  John Slocum, who had been named to the state public utilities commission. Sworn in for a five-year term, Lawrence was reappointed to the bench in 1920 by Governor Edward I. Edwards.

From the Asbury Park Press, January 17, 1914.

   In January 1925 Rulif Lawrence was renamed common pleas judge by Governor George Silzer and was confirmed by the state senate. One year after his reappointment, Lawrence's name was bolstered to succeed circuit court judge Nelson Y. Dungan, who had resigned. In 1926, the New Jersey legislature voted to increase the number of circuit judges in the state from ten to twelve, and in April Lawrence and fellow judge Newton Porter were successfully nominated and confirmed to fill the new seats. 

  Lawrence was reappointed to the circuit court in 1933, for what would have been a seven-year term, but died in office. His death occurred shortly after he excused himself from a trial on September 17, 1938, having fallen ill. Returning to his chambers, Lawrence "dropped dead" shortly thereafter, and was discovered by physician H.H. Freedman, who had been summoned by court aides. In the days following his death, Lawrence was memorialized throughout Monmouth County newspapers, including a lengthy tribute in the Monmouth Democrat (via the Long Branch Daily Record), which eulogized him as "witty, considerate, and gracious." The Democrat further remarked that:

"In the death of Circuit Court Judge Rulif V. Lawrence, New Jersey has lost one of its most respected and outstanding citizens, and highly competent jurists. He was known throughout the length and breadth of the state, as an able, experienced, dignified and broadminded judge. He upheld the American ideals of equal rights and penalties for all, regardless of social or financial status, and never let politics play any part in his official acts as judge...The secret of Judge Lawrence's judicial contribution to the Judiciary of New Jersey and to its general welfare lies in the wisdom of Victor Hugo--"Law is a thing human; Justice is a thing devine." From a self made man he arose by serious application to the attainment of his objective--a skillfull and just judge."

 Lawrence was survived by his wife Adeline and their three children and was interred at the Maplewood Cemetery in Freehold. Sadly, Adeline Yard Lawrence survived her husband by only four years, committing suicide by asphyxiation in the kitchen of her home in July 1942. Distinguished in her own right, Adeline Lawrence attained prominence in political service in Monmouth County, being a Democratic candidate for the state senate in 1924 and was a member of the Democratic State Committee. She was also a member of the New Jersey Board of Institutions and Agencies and was interred at the same cemetery as her husband.

Rulif VanCleve and Adeline Yard Lawrence.