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LAWRENCE RAMSEY HARRINGTON. While Nature often seems careless in her work, flinging her varied brood recklessly into being and leaving all of her offspring to look out for themselves, she is yet provident and systematic to a high degree, fitting almost every man for some particular work in the world's great industrial contests, but usually leaving it to him or his friends to find out what it is. She seems to have fitted Lawrence R. Harrington, of Carbondale, par ticularly for the banking business, and he soon found the congenial atmosphere for the development and exercise of his special faculties.

Mr. Harrington is a native of Illinois and has all of a loyal son's devotion to the welfare of his mother state. He was born in Gallatin county on September 18, 1883, and is a son of John W. and Elizabeth (Ramsey) Harrington, prosperous farmers of that county, and standing well in the estimation and regard of its people. They furnished excellent examples of fidelity to duty in private life and in connection with public affairs, and in their characters and conduct represented the best elements of the sturdy citizenship of their locality and county.

Their son Lawrence obtained his education in the public schools at the Central Normal College in Danville Indiana, and the Southern Illinois Normal University of this state. Soon after leaving the institution last named he located in Carbondale and was appointed assistant cashier of the Jackson State Bank. He held this position until the reorganization of the bank into the Carbondale National Bank, and then was made cashier of the new corporation, in which capacity he has served it well and wisely ever since.

He has ever shown an earnest and intelligent interest in the welfare

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of the city of his home, and given it expression in the most practical and helpful way. He gave the city excellent service for a time as city treasurer and collector of special taxes, securing good returns for his efforts in the latter and eminent satisfaction to the people in the management of the former position, and winning warm commendation for his manner of discharging the duties of each.

In his connection with the bank he has been a shining success as a financier and popularizing force. He has so conducted the office of cashier in this strong and admirable institution as to add considerably to its body of patrons and the volume of its business, and thus and in other ways to strengthen its hold on the confidence and regard of the people of the, whole county, and of every locality in which it does business. He is also secretary and treasurer of the J. A. Patterson Company, an extensive dealer in clothing, shoes and kindred commodities, and in that position also is doing good work and achieving gratifying results. He is everywhere recognized as one of the most capable and careful business men in the city, and one of the most estimable and useful citizens of the county.

On February 22, 1911, Mr. Harrington was united in marriage with Miss Mabel Patterson, of Carbondale, a daughter of Gabriel and Susan (Zimmerman) Patterson, long esteemed residents of the city, where for years the father was a leading merchant and grain dealer. In religious matters Mr. Harrington gives his faith and allegiance to the tenets and regulations of the Christian church, and serves as a deacon in the congregation to which he belongs. In fraternal relations he is a member of the Masonic order of the Royal Arch degree, and also belongs to the Order of Odd Fellows and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. His interest in all these fraternities is warm and his services to them are valuable and appreciated.