Lawler, Frank A., 1848-1940

LAWLER, NICHOLS, MULLIGAN

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 4/9/2022 at 21:50:37

From the Rock Valley Bee, December 20, 1940:

OLD PIONEER PASSES AWAY

Frank Lawler, pioneer of Larchwood, died last week at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Clem Allen, who resides about eleven miles north of Rock Valley. Burial was at the Larchwood cemetery. Mr. Lawler was 92 years and 6 months of age at the time of his passing. Two sons—Joe of Sioux Falls and Jim of Chicago, survive, as well as the daughter, Mrs. Allen, and a step-daughter.

Rev. Father Cook, aged Sheldon priest, preached the sermon at the funeral services held Saturday morning at the Sacred Heart Catholic church at Alvord. Rev. Buckholz officiated at the requiem mass. Father Cook, a pioneer priest in this territory, stayed with the Lawler family in the early days at the time he was organizing the Larchwood parish. The funeral, which was conducted by the Vander Ploeg Funeral Service of Rock Valley, was the fifth one in three weeks in which Mr. Vander Ploeg has been called to assist.

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From the Sioux Falls, S.D. Argus-Leader. December 13, 1940:

Frank Lawler, 92, Dies at Alvord, Ia.
Father of Local Man Succumbs at Home of Daughter After Brief Illness

Frank Lawler, father of Joe F. Lawler, 124 North Spring ave., died Wednesday at the home of his daughter, Mrs. C. J. Allen, Alvord, Ia., according to word received here today. He had been ill one week.

The elder Mr. Lawler was 92 years old. He lived in Sioux Falls from 1916 to 1926. He was a carpenter by trade and did work on the Columbus college buildings and the International Harvester company building here.

He was born June 15, 1848, at Janesville, Wis. At one time he operated a hotel in Larchwood, Ia. Previous to that he was postmaster there for two presidential terms, serving one term under President Grover Cleveland. He was married in 1888. While in Sioux Falls, Mr. and Mrs. Lawler lived at 1022 North Minnesota ave. Mrs. Lawler died here in 1922.

Services for Mr. Lawler will be held at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at the Catholic church at Alvord. Interment will be in the family lot in the Catholic cemetery at Larchwood.

Surviving are three sons, John H., Milwaukee, Wis.; James A., Chicago, and Joe F., Sioux Falls; three daughters, Mrs. Fay Eldridge, Ft. Pierre; Mrs. Roy Malloy, Compton, Calif., and Mrs. Allen.

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RESEARCH NOTES

His death certificate (informant J. F. Lawler) has Frank Andrew Lawler, resident of rural Lyon County 2 miles south and ¼ mile east of Alvord, where he had lived 13 years; widower of Catherine Nichols; born June 15, 1848 in Janesville, Wisconsin; father Patrick Lawler, born in Ireland, mother’s name not known; a retired carpenter and undertaker died at 6 p.m. December 11, 1940; cause, senility & terminal pneumonia; buried in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Larchwood.

His FindaGrave.com page adds his parents, Patrick Lawler (1798-1875) and Margaret Lawler (1809-1881). One sibling listed, John Lawler (1829-1907). Spouses Theresa Mulligan Lawler (1852-1884, married 1876) and Catherine Theresa Nichols Lawler (1861-1921). Five children listed: Margaret T. Lawler Eldridge (1876-1961), Elizabeth Magdalene Lawler Malloy (1889-1981), Joseph Francis Lawler (1893-1950), John H. Lawler (1894-1941), Veronica Catherine Lawler Allen (1896-1984). There is a photo of him, and of the joint headstone of him and Catherine.

A Wisconsin marriage records index on Ancestry.com has an entry for Frank Lawler and Catherine Nichols, married in Rock County, Wis., 18 April 1888.