Sidebar: Born into Resolve

Lawrence Brown was born in 1881, a time when there was no relief from hardship. If a wage earner fell ill or a crop failed, the burden was on the family. The same was true in Henry County, Missouri. Families were expected to withstand hardships without complaint.

Government safety nets did not exist. There was no health insurance, unemployment insurance, or social security benefits. When a family member suffered an injury, illness, or financial hardship, support came from other relatives, neighbors, and churches. Lawrence would have seen this firsthand, witnessing how relatives and townspeople helped each other through difficult times.

These lessons in self-reliance formed who he was to become; they built his character. They weren't beliefs or words spoken out loud, but they showed up in the way Lawrence handled setbacks, honored commitments, and held faith in the value of hard work. For him, personal responsibility was real, practiced, and expected. He developed an unshakable belief that people rise or fall by their willingness to persevere. This culture taught Lawrence the principle of resilience.