Yolo County
Biographies
ROBERT
G. LAWSON
Robert G. Lawson, who for many years has been engaged in
the real estate and insurance business, is one of Woodland’s most highly
esteemed citizens and a representative of one of Yolo county’s old and
respected pioneer families. He was born
in Yolo county, on the 13th of September,
1864, and is a son of John D. and Jane (Browning) Lawson, the former born in
Tennessee and the latter in Kentucky.
The father crossed the plains in 1852 and first located in Hangtown (now
Placerville), California, where he engaged in mining. Subsequently he went to Sacramento and
pitched his tent on K Street, on the present site of the Catholic Cathedral. From there he rode horseback to Yolo county, and later was followed by the other members of the
family. They settled on one hundred and
sixty acres of government land which Mr. Lawson had purchased, four miles
southwest of Woodland, and for which he had paid one dollar and a quarter for
an acre. Later he moved to Woodland and
bought twelve acres of land, which is now within the city limits. In 1872 he was elected county recorder of
Yolo county and afterward served for many years as
deputy sheriff. He had the first livery
stable in Woodland, was the first city marshal and was the first chief of the
volunteer fire department. His death
occurred in 1915.
Robert G. Lawson attended public schools and the grammar
school of Hesperian College. Later he
became identified with the grocery business and for one year was employed in
the San Francisco mint. Governor James
Budd appointed him commissioner of public works, and in 1901 he engaged in the
real estate and insurance business, which he has carried on to the present
time. For fourteen years he also served
as public administrator, retiring from that position January 1, 1931, with a
splendid record of able and honorable service.
Mr. Lawson was united in marriage to Miss Fannie Abele,
who was born and reared in Yolo county, and they have two sons, Dr. John D.,
who is manager of the Woodland Clinic Hospital; and Robert A., who is
associated with his father in business.
Mr. Lawson is a member of Woodland Lodge, No. 1299, B. P. O. E., of
which he was the first exalted ruler; the Native Sons of the Golden West, which
he joined in 1884; the Woodland Lions Club, the Yolo Fliers Club and various
civic organizations. He is also greatly
interested in the Boy Scouts. He is a
Democrat in his political views and has been a consistent supporter of those
things which concern the progress and welfare of his community, being numbered
among Woodland’s capable and dependable citizens.
Transcribed by
Gerald Iaquinta.
Source:
Wooldridge, J.W.Major History of Sacramento Valley
California, Vol. 2 Pages 377-378. Pioneer Historical
Publishing Co. Chicago 1931.
© 2010 Gerald Iaquinta.
Golden Nugget Library's Yolo County Biographies