He is a little known figure in the early annals of Lassen County. He was one of six men to spend the winter of 1855-56 at Peter Lassen’s newly constructed a cabin. Prior to his arrival in the Honey Lake Valley, Lawrence had spent considerable time in Butte County where he earned the nickname “Commanche George,” though the circumstances behind the episode is not known. Like many prospectors he roamed the region, though never finding what he was looking for. In 1864, Lawrence and B.F. Murphy established the Buffalo Salt Works in the Smoke Creek Desert. In 1868, he was residing with the David Titherington family, who purchased Lassen’s ranch from the estate. On December 22, 1868, Lawrence died from small pox, that had become an epidemic in the area.. He was buried a short distance north of Peter Lassen’s grave, with no marker.