Lawrence Taliaferro Dade

Who was Lawrence Taliaferro Dade?

General Lawrence Taliaferro Dade of “Bell Forest,” was born in Orange County, Virginia in 1785. He died in Owensboro, Kentucky on March 25, 1842 at age 57. He married Anne Mayo on May 4, 1815 in Henrico Virginia. Anne was the daughter of William and Elizabeth Bland Mayo.

Lawrence entered the War of 1812 as Captain of the 2nd Regiment of the Virginia Artillery. At the time he was serving as a member of the Virginia Assembly. He also served as a member of the Virginia State Senate from 1819 to 1832.

During session of the senate in 1828 he spoke regarding Joseph Cabell of Nelson County Virginia who was nearly regarded as a co-founder of the University of Virginia this the words "If aught of good proceeds from the University, the pride and glory of Virginia, the member from Nelson cannot be forgotten; for he, in promoting that monument of wisdom and taste, was second only to the immortal Jefferson."

Before his death in 1842 General Lawrence Taliaferro Dade moved his family to Owensboro, Kentucky.