Biographies
EDWARD M. LYNCH
A record of high efficiency is the reward justly due Edward M. Lynch department of the State Treasury at Sacramento; and he is equally well known for his patriotic endeavors in preserving the historical landmarks of the state, particularly in the restoration of Sutter’s Fort, at Sacramento. Mr. Lynch was born in San Francisco, November 3, 1872, the son of Timothy Lynch, a native of Cork, Ireland, who was closely identified with the early history of the state, being employed as a searcher of records for the Central Pacific Railroad at the time of its construction and associated in his duties with Collis P. Huntington, Leland Stanford and others of the great railroad builders of that period.
Running away from home when eleven years old Edward M. Lynch was placed in a home for boys, where he was cared for, and at the early age of twelve he was sent to a ranch in the Laguna Mountains near San Diego. His salary of fifteen dollar a month was usually paid him in the form of live stock, very often a young heifer, and in this way he was able to make some progress financially through trading his stock and wisely accumulating his hard-earned dollars through thrift and frugality. In January, 1894, he came to Sacramento and entered the Atkinson Business College; and by his close application to his studies he was able to complete the twelve month’ course in just half that time. As soon as he had finished this course he took a position as bookkeeper and stenographer for the Studebaker Company, handling farm implements and wagons, but due to the depressed business conditions in 1894-1895 he was compelled to seek employment elsewhere, and went to Alpine, San Diego County, where for three years he was employed as bookkeeper and clerk. Coming back to Sacramento in 1898, he was for a year employed as bookkeeper in the Shasta County camps of the Terry Lumber Company, and the next ten years was spent in the maintenance of ways and transportation department of the Southern Pacific Railroad at Sacramento.
It was during Senator Hiram Johnson’s first term as governor of California that Mr. Lynch became identified with his present post as clerk of the bond department of the State Treasury at Sacramento. At the time he entered upon his duties the amount of state bonds was limited by law, there being at that time only $4,000,000, while at the present time the issue amounts to $78,000,000, and it is noteworthy that notwithstanding this large increase Mr. Lynch has continued to handle this large volume unaided, his watchword being efficiency.
Mr. Lynch’s marriage, which occurred in Sacramento, in 1901, united him with Miss Mae Gooby, born in San Francisco, the daughter of John and Mary (Cronin) Gooby, the former a native of Cambridgeshire, England and the latter of Ireland. John Gooby, who was a forty-niner, is indelibly associated with Alameda County as a prime factor in the building of the Central Pacific Railroad, being the personal representative of A. A. Cohen of San Francisco. Mrs. Gooby, who came West in 1852, served as a nurse during the smallpox epidemic at San Francisco in 1860-1861, doing heroic and almost superhuman work for many days. She passed away at Oakland on February 25, 1921, and Mr. Gooby reached the venerable age of ninety-three, his death occurring on May 28, 1912. Of their six children three daughters survive; Mrs. Lynch, Mrs. H. L. Boyle of Oakland, and Mrs. Barney Oldfield, the wife of America’s race king. Prior to her marriage Mrs. Lynch held a responsible position as department head with Weinstock, Lubin & Company at Sacramento. She is a past president of the Y.L.I. of Sacramento and is still prominent in that order. In 1911, when the movement for the restoration of Sutter’s Fort was inaugurated, Mr. Lynch, as secretary of the committee in charge, for nine years worked indefatigably in bring this worthy project to a successful conclusion. He has served as president of Sacramento Parlor, No. 3, N. S. G. W., and is also prominent in the Elks. In 1918 Mr. and Mrs. Lynch took up their residence at Olivecrest, their country estate at Carmichael, eleven miles northeast of the Capitol. Situated on the high bands of the American River, overlooking the San Juan meadow with the snow-capped Sierras in the background, the view from their home is one of indescribable beauty, and they are enjoying to the full the development of their tract of six and a fourth acres into a beautiful orchard home. They are active in the programs of the Community Club of Carmichael and leaders in every progressive movement.
Transcribed
by Patricia Seabolt.
Source: Reed, G.
Walter, History of Sacramento County,
California With Biographical Sketches, Page 423. Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, CA.
1923.
© 2007 Patricia Seabolt.