Lawlers arrive in San Francisco 1835 November 12 1935 My Dear Niece, My Father and Mother and six of their children arrived in San Francisco Bay on New Year’s Eve, 1853. New Year’s Day, 1854, they docked in San Francisco. My father worked for my uncles in their flourmill. They had different kinds of business, wholesale merchandising, and they were also graduates of Trinity College, Ireland, were lawyers, etc. My father worked for three days in the mill, and said, “It is the first three days I have ever worked for any man and it is the last.” Father had $600.00 after arriving. He bought cows and went into the milk, butter and egg business. The corral was in Union Square, in front of where Charles has his store (Bullock and Jones), and across from the St. Francis Hotel, and the stables were right in back of the City of Paris. There is a little street there called Maiden Lane, which was a lane for the horses. I remember the horses he had at that time. He made enough money in two or three years to buy and establish the ranch located in the Sonoma Mountains, purchased from General Vallejo, and the deed for this 2000 acres was made out and signed in the General’s own handwriting, which is still on record in the Santa Rosa Court House.[5] The 500 acres, which you now own, is of course, a portion of this original 2000 acres. The mountains he purchased later from Bliss. I neglected to mention, that the cows pastured in what is now the Presidio. Lovingly, Your Aunt Lucy Letter 2 January 25, 1936 Mrs. Henrietta Hardin Welch (Granddaughter of Patrick and Bridget Dunne Lawler) 507 Sycamore Avenue Modesto, California My Dear Niece, I just received your letter and it is very complimentary, thank you, but I feel that I do not deserve it. My life has been spent rearing my children and caring for my home, and never very much out of it, but someone said we are all actors on the stage of life. We must play our part as it is given us and make the final bow. It pleases me to know that you enjoyed reading the history of our family. I believe that I forgot to mention that my father’s family played a part in British history. His first cousin, Patrick Lawler, was a member of the British Parliament and Speaker of the House. My father also spoke there on problems of farming and his opinions were always highly accepted with cheers. My father’s cousin, Patrick Lawler, as first mentioned, was educated and graduated from Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland, and his son Peter also graduated from this same college. Peter Lawler went to Australia after completing his education, and filled every office of honor as follows. He was elected to the Legislative Councils in November 1885; elected to the Legislative Assembly in 1886, as member of South Grant, and held that seat until 1891. He was Chairman of Committees during the period from 1859 to 1868 and from that time until 1874 devoted his time developing the constituency. In 1871, he lost his seat in Parliament and was re-elected in 1875 and held office as Commissioner of Trade & Customs. He also held office as Postmaster General during the same period. In 1880 he was elected Speaker of the House and held this position for years, being regarded as the finest Speaker that ever held such office in Australia. He retired on account of ill health and died in Melbourne, Australia on February 9, 1889, after taking a voyage hoping to improve his health. My husband had an uncle, John Rogers, who was a multimillionaire and publisher of the Melbourne Tribune. We lived in San Francisco, so he told Peter Lawler to visit us while on this voyage, which he did. My father never kept in close touch with his people as mail delivery was uncertain in those days. The people of Australia idolized Peter Lawler. In the Parliament House they have a statue of him, and also one in the Public Park. We have a book published there that tells all of these particulars and of his life in Australia. When he resigned from office, the Government offered him 4,000 pounds, which he refused to accept. The California Bank, I believe, was the first bank in San Francisco. My father met Mr. Burr, the first President, and they became fast friends. He lived on Van Ness Avenue at Union. Peter said the house still stands there. Then a cottage at the end of the lot, facing Polk Street, which my parents rented, was the birthplace of Patrick and I, and Lucy Burr, who was the wife of the President of the first bank in San Francisco was my Godmother, and she passed away a few years ago. I understand I was named for her, and I met an old gentleman recently who remembers them in the early fifties. I am going back to Ireland again in my story, which is very disconnected. England did just what the Mexican Government is doing now. Ireland was a school of the world before she came under the rule of England. She closed all her schools, which were Catholic and only the well to do could secure an education. My father attended night school and won a prize as the best reader in the school. He attended night school, because of family responsibilities, being the oldest son. His two brothers however, were graduates of Trinity College. Their Ancestors built a three-story stone house and after the battle of Waterloo, the English Government taxed the windows on the houses of the Irish. My father said his Grandfather had all the windows closed that they could do without. About this time, the black plague broke out and thousands died. My Father remembered the time when word came that Napoleon was defeated, as he was about four years old then. I think the Battle of Waterloo was fought in 1814. My Father said he always regretted Napoleon’s defeat. The English Government also taxed the Catholics to support the Protestant Schools. My father’s cousin, Patrick Lawler, was a Member of Parliament at this time and he fought this tax, and finally defeated it. When the Tax Collector called, he refused to pay and they told him they would take his cattle. He had his steward brand his cattle with black paint, with the word “TYTHE.” They were driven all over Ireland, and no one would buy them. After a while the boycott was on and it was defeated. I don’t know whether he was sent to Australia or not, but it looks that way, since his son Peter Lawler lived there, as this was the custom at that time, and if even Washington had failed, he would have been sent there also. Lovingly, Your Aunt Lucy