Lawrence Archer
American politician, judge (1820–1910)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Lawrence Washington Archer (November 11, 1820 – February 13, 1910) was an American lawyer, judge, politician, and was an early settler in San Jose, California.[2] He served two terms as the Mayor of San Jose, California; and one term in the California State Assembly for District 7 in 1875.[3] Archer was a Democrat.
Lawrence Washington Archer | |
|---|---|
Archer, c. 1890 | |
| Mayor of San Jose, California | |
| In office April 16, 1856 – July 21, 1856[1] | |
| Preceded by | Sherman Otis Houghton |
| Succeeded by | John Marion Murphy Sr. |
| California State Assembly, District 7 | |
| In office 1875–1877 | |
| Mayor of San Jose, California | |
| In office 1878–1880 | |
| Preceded by | George B. McKee |
| Succeeded by | Bernard D. Murphy |
| Personal details | |
| Born | November 11, 1820 Anderson County, South Carolina, U.S. |
| Died | February 13, 1910 (aged 89) San Jose, California, U.S. |
| Resting place | Oak Hill Memorial Park |
| Party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Louise Martin (m. 1848–1869; her death) Alice Bethell (m. 1870–1910; his death) |
| Relations | Martin Flavin (grandson) |
| Children | 6 |
| Occupation | Lawyer, judge, politician |
Early life and education
Lawrence Washington Archer was born on November 11, 1820, in Anderson County, South Carolina.[4] His family was from the State of Virginia and of English heritage.[2] Archer's father John was a merchant, and his mother Ann (née Mosley) died when he was 15 years old.[2] He attended the University of Virginia for six months.[2][5] Followed by a study of law in Abbeville, South Carolina,[2] under Armisted Burt.[4]
Career
Archer passed the Mississippi bar exam in 1841, and practiced law in Yazoo County for two years.[2] In Yazoo County, Archer contracted malaria and moved to St. Joseph, Missouri in 1843 for his health. In St. Joseph, Missouri he was appointed by the governor as a district attorney.[2][6] In 1850, Archer shared a legal office with James Craig in St. Joseph.[7]
Archer arrived in California in 1852, first staying in San Francisco for two months, followed by a move to San Jose in January 1853.[2][4]
Archer served two terms as the Mayor of San Jose: first in 1856, followed by a second term in 1875.[3] In 1868, he was elected as a Santa Clara County Judge, a role he served until he resigned 1871.[2][8]
Archer was a member of the Regents of the University of California (formerly known as the Board of Regents) from 1868 until 1880.[3][9]
He ran on the Democratic ticket for the 1870 United States House of Representatives elections, and the 1871 United States House of Representatives elections in California, against Sherman Otis Houghton, and he lost both times.[2][10]
He served one term in the California State Assembly for District 7 in 1875.[3]
In 1884, Archer was a delegate from California to Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Illinois.[11]
Estate
In 1861, Archer purchased the Lone Oak estate and farm in San Jose, California with 160 acres (65 ha) of land, featuring cherry, prune and apricot fruit orchards.[2][12] The 4 acres (1.6 ha) planted with cherry trees yielded an average annual income of US$3,000 (equivalent to $110,000 in 2025).[4] The estate house he constructed was destroyed in a fire in May 1909, and a new estate house was completed on February 16, 1910, the day before Archer died.[13]
Personal life
Death and legacy
Archer died at age 89 of apoplexy (stroke) on February 13, 1910, at his home in San Jose, California.[14][6][15][16] He was buried at Oak Hill Memorial Park in San Jose.[17] His funeral was attended by many members of the Santa Clara County Society of California Pioneers.[17][18]
After Archer's death, his daughter Louise Ann Archer Kelley inherited the Lone Oak estate.[13] The house and 63 acres (25 ha) of land were sold to the City of San Jose in August 1951, to be used as a public park with the condition that Louise Kelley be allowed to live there for the rest of her life.[12][13] Archer's former estate was used to form Kelley Park in San Jose.[12]
He was the namesake of Archer Street (now known as Fountain Alley) in San Jose.