FRANK LAWRENCE GAFNEY

Sacramento County

Biographies

FRANK LAWRENCE GAFNEY

FRANK LAWRENCE GAFNEY.--Critics of California, impressed with her phenomenal progress, have more than once commented on the great work accomplished, from the admission of the state into the Union until the present day, by the California bar, so ably represented in Sacramento County by the popular attorney, Frank Lawrence Gafney. A native son, always proud of his association with the Golden State, he was born in Eldorado County in 1880, first seeing the light on Washington’s birthday, the son of Nicholas Gafney, who came out to California in the early fifties, crossing the great plains with the typical ox-team outfit of that day. He came from Maryland, and married Miss Margaret McDonald, a native of Illinois. Both were admirable people, and devoted parents; and both are highly esteemed, now that they rest forever from their labors—Mr. Gafney as one of the early miners in Eldorado County who worked hard, and helped others as well as himself, and Mrs. Gafney as one of those noble women whose very presence did much to ameliorate the rude and sometimes harsh conditions of pioneer mining life.

Frank Lawrence Gafney was lucky to attend both the grammar and the high school of this locality, and growing up, to study law under Grove L. Johnson, than whom there was no one in his time and neighborhood who understood more about legal complexities. Mr. Gafney was a law stenographer for a number of years, or until, on February 24, 1915, he was admitted to the California bar. For eight years prior to that he had been deputy county recorder under the Hon. C. A. Root, and that activity alone afforded him the most valuable experience. He has practiced law here continuously ever since, and it is safe to say that there is no member of the Bar Association more esteemed for both ability and character, and the relation of the two in daily professional work. Very naturally, Frank Gafney is deeply interested in the welfare of Sacramento County, and finds an appeal in its historic past and its promising future. Mr. Gafney belongs to the Foresters of America and Lodge No. 6 of the Elks of Sacramento, and when time permits, he seeks other fraternal cheer in a good game of baseball or in hunting.

Transcribed by Barbara Gaffney.

Source: Reed, G. Walter, History of Sacramento County, California With Biographical Sketches, Page 552. Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, CA. 1923.