Lawrence Archer

Lawrence Washington Archer was born on November 11, 1820, in Anderson County, South Carolina. His family was from the State of Virginia and of English heritage. Followed by a study of law in Abbeville, South Carolina, under Armisted Burt. == Career ==

Archer passed the Mississippi bar exam in 1841, and practiced law in Yazoo County for two years. Archer arrived in California in 1852, first staying in San Francisco for two months, followed by a move to San Jose in January 1853. Archer was a member of the Regents of the University of California (formerly known as the Board of Regents) from 1868 until 1880. 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. He served one term in the California State Assembly for District 7 in 1875. == Estate ==

In 1861, Archer purchased the Lone Oak estate and farm in San Jose, California with of land, featuring cherry, prune and apricot fruit orchards. The planted with cherry trees yielded an average annual income of . == Personal life ==

His first marriage was in 1848 to Louise Martin from St. Joseph, Missouri, together they had three children. His first wife Louise died in 1869. His second married was in 1870 to Alice Bethell from Indiana, with whom he had three more children. A few his children died in childhood. == Death and legacy ==

Archer died at age 89 of apoplexy (stroke) on February 13, 1910, at his home in San Jose, California. He was buried at Oak Hill Memorial Park in San Jose. His funeral was attended by many members of the Santa Clara County Society of California Pioneers. After Archer's death, his daughter Louise Ann Archer Kelley inherited the Lone Oak estate. The house and 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. Archer's former estate was used to form Kelley Park in San Jose. He was the namesake of Archer Street (now known as Fountain Alley) in San Jose. == References ==