San Francisco County
Biographies
GEORGE E. LAWRENCE
GEORGE E. LAWRENCE,
a San Francisco lawyer, was born at Ann Arbor, Michigan, where his people had
settled in Territorial days; his grandfather removed from Massachusetts when a
young man. The first settlement of the Lawrences in this country was in New
England, in Puritan times.
The grandfather was an eminent lawyer, and on the bench of Supreme
Judges of that Territory. His father,
the late well-known E. A. Lawrence, was born at Monroe,
Michigan, and studied in the University of
that State, graduating in its first class.
Coming to California in
1855, he followed his profession here in San Francisco
to the time of his death, June 10,
1866. As a real-estate
lawyer he took eminent rank, probably because the drift of his practice was in
that direction. His wife was a member of
the Parmelee family of New York;
her father was a prominent merchant of New York city.
Mr. G. E. Lawrence
came to California in 1856, when
a child. In 1868-74 he completed his
education in Europe, attending the University
of Bonn, which was an average
attendance of some 1,500 students.
Philosophy, the classics, modern languages, etc., were included in the
curriculum. On his return to America
he remained in New York city
to study law at the Columbia Law
School, where he graduated in 1876,
and admitted to practice by the Supreme Court of New York. He remained there, in the practice of his
chosen calling, until January, 1883.
Part of this time he was counsel for the great grocery house of H. K.
and F. B. Thurber & Co. Coming then
to California he was associated
with his father in practice until the death of the latter.
In his practice
here he has had charge of many important cases, or been retained in them as
assistant counsel. He was appointed
administrator of the estate of Gabriel Vicente Castro, one of the heirs of the San
Pablo ranch. In
the recent case before the Supreme Court he is counsel for several of the
interested parties. He was of counsel in
the case of Tingley vs. Crocker, Frink vs. Roe, Hodgdon vs. Reis and other important cases, in the trial of which many of
the leading members of the bar were retained.
Mr. Lawrence’s home
is in Alameda county,
where he engages to some extent as an amateur farmer on a fair piece of
property which he owns. In politics he
is a Republican, but he has never sought office, preferring the activity of his
profession and its substantial rewards to the turmoil of politics. In his practice he is busily engaged, indeed,
frequently called to different parts of the State. He is a member of the Law Library
Association. His recreation is rather in
literature and kindred studies.
Transcribed
by Cathi Skyles.
Source: "The Bay of San Francisco," Vol. 2,
page 300-301, Lewis Publishing Co, 1892.
© 2005 Cathi Skyles.
California Biography Project
San Francisco County
California Statewide
Golden Nugget Library