391 Woodland Avenue
Lawrence House

Lot 45 and part of 44 Nelson Place Addition

On  August 29, 1905, the Lawrences purchased lot 45 for $900 from Lepha P. Stack and Harriett J. Robb. On December 26, 1907 they purchased 1/2 of 10 feet off the north side of lot 44 from Theodore M. Livesay.

This house was probably constructed about 1906 for the Lawrences. It is much larger than the other homes at this end of Woodland Avenue.

Wayman Clarkson Lawrence was born April 11, 1853 in Ohio, son of Theophilus G. and Ariadne Stockton Lawrence. He married Margaret Katherine Gaines in Washington, DC on July 23, 1884. Katherine was born about 1854 in Ohio.
They had 8 children, 3 were living in 1900: Wayman C. Jr., (April 8, 1888 - January 9, 1959), Theophilus Gaines ( January 5, 1886 - June 17, 1915), and Julian Heath (May 19, 1890 - January 11, 1957).

About 1886 to 1890 the Lawrences lived in Low Moor, Virginia. In 1900 they lived at 30 Monroe Avenue in Columbus. Wayman was a traveling salesman in wholesale grocery.

The auditor's parcel sheet notes that there was a frame garage as well as a chicken house on the property in 1924.  

In 1930 the Lawrences lived at 28 North 5th Street. Wayman was then a commercial traveler in food products.

Wayman died in Columbus on April 27, 1936. 

The Lawrences sold the house on October 9, 1922 to real estate dealer, Samuel Weinfeld. 

Weinfeld sold the house on March 6, 1923 to Morris Levinson. Three months later, Levinson sold it to Theodore D. Stevenson of Columbus including the unspecified balances due on two mortgages, one originally for $6,000 and the other originally for $2,000.

On September 3, 1924, Stevenson sold the house to the Bakers, James A. and Louise M. Baker. The Bakers sold the house to Harold L. King on September 5, 1924, both transactions including the unspecified balances due on two mortgages, one originally for $6,000 and the other originally for $3,000.

On October 3, 1924, the Martlins purchased the house including the unspecified balances on the two mortgages. 

Issac B. Martlin was born about 1881 in Ukraine, son of Harris and Molly Soreyrotsky Martlin. He married Jeanette Goldsmith in Franklin County on February 19, 1902. Jeanette was born February 4, 1881 in New York, daughter of Joseph J. and Dina Rosenbusch Goldsmith.

Isaac was a tailor and Jeanette had been a milliner. In 1920 the Martlins lived on East Mound Street. In 1925, Isaac was President of The I.B. Martlin Company (tailors), and they lived at 121 Wilson Avenue. Isaac died in 1950. Jeanette married Fred Josephson about 1952. Jeanette died in Columbus on February 23, 1968.

The Martlins never lived here, but rented out the house from 1924 to 1953.

In 1924, Alice Light, the widow of Chester G. Light lived at the house. In 1925, the Hensons, Millard F. and Zelda, lived here. From 1925 to 1926, Mrs. Mabel B. Peck was a resident.

In 1926, the Davises moved in and the family lived here for over 30 years.

Raymond Rosco "Ray" Davis was born March 2, 1888 in Greencastle, Indiana. He married Velma McCathey before 1913. Velma was born in 1892 in Alabama, daughter of Henry and Elizabeth McCathey. They had four children, including Juanita (December 2, 1912 - February 6, 2015).

In 1917, Davis worked for the Pennsylvania Railroad. 

Velma's parents, the McCatheys lived with the Davises here. Henry C. McCathey was born August 5, 1861 in Tennessee, son of W.C.H. McCathey. He married Elizabeth before 1892. Elizabeth was born about 1871 in Tennessee.

On June 20, 1940, Juanita Davis married Stanley Eugene Webster (September 20, 1909 - July 15, 2009) in Franklin County. They had a son, Stanley E. Webster, Jr. (May 1949). The Websters lived here after their marriage. 

Juanita graduated from Fisk University and earned a masters in art education from Ohio State University. Juanita was a teacher at Garfield School and Pilgrim Elementary. She was a school principal (Eastgate Elementary) and later director of Model Cities education for Columbus Public Schools. Juanita died February 6, 2015 at age 102. 

Henry died March 14, 1949. Elizabeth on November 19, 1961. Velma died July 12, 1965 in Morrow County. Raymond died on July 12, 1984. They are buried at Greenlawn Cemetery.

On July 23, 1953, Jeanette Josephson sold the house to the Davises.

In 1957 the Websters were living at 1192 South Weyant Avenue. In that year, Jessie L. Garrett, Norman W. and Imogene L. King lived here. 

On May 7, 1981, Raymond Davis and Juanita Webster sold the house to the Burrells.

Roosevelt Burrell, Jr. was born October 10, 1944 in Newport News, Virginia, son of Roosevelt and Australia Burrell. He married Teresa Faye White about 1969. Teresa was born in Columbus on January 24, 1950, daughter of George and Georgia Vaughn White. They had six children: Yalanda A., Yavonne A., Yavette A., Brent A., Bryant and Brandon A.

The Burrells died in Columbus, Roosevelt on March 13, 2008 and Teresa on April 26, 2012.

On June 7, 1985 the house was foreclosed and transferred to HUD. On March 6, 1986 to Robert L. Martin. Again foreclosed and transferred to HUD on June 20, 1988. 

On October 7, 1988 the Al-Saburs took possession of the house. 

391 Woodland Avenue, April 2014

This 1921 Sanborn Fire Insurance map shows the garage at the right rear of the property, and probably the chicken house just to the left.

Juanita Davis Webster

Stanley E. Webster, Sr.