Individual 282: Lawyer, Lewis Olson

Individual Record 282

Name} Lawyer, Lewis Olson

Family History} Olson

Title}

Race} White

Sex} Male

Birth: Date} Exa 17 May 1907

Place} Alhambra, Los Angeles, California

Marr.: Date} Exa 13 Aug 1937

Place} Yuba City, Sutter, California (Link)

Death: Date} Exa 18 Apr 2001

Place} Oakland, Alameda, California

Burial: Date} Aft 18 Apr 2001

Place}

Grave Marker}

Source 1}	73 = Interview
Source 2}	181 = Interview
Source 3}	40 = 1910 USA cen
Source 4}	2184=Newspaper
Source 5}	213 = Photograph
Source 6}	758 = 1920 USA cen
Source 7}	2185=Newspaper
Source 8}	209 = School recd
Source 9}	324 = Phone book
Source 10}	751 = 1930 USA cen
Source 11}	1142=School recd

Parents: } Arthur A. Lawyer & Ida E. Olson
Relationship No.} 118

1st Household No.} 261 = Alhambra, Los Angeles, California

Occupation 1} Artist
Occupation 2} Bontanist/plant pathologist
Occupation 2} Writer

Religion/Church}

Spouses: Prime} Schwartz, Adele Ruth
Total Number of} 1

Source 12} 872 = Voter record
Source 13} 2186=Newspaper
Source 14} 2029=Marriage rec
Source 15} 2182=1940 USA cen
Source 16} 1972=Military rec

Source 17} 2183=1950 USA cen
Source 18} 671 = Photograph
Source 19} 859 = Journal artl
Source 20} 861 = Bibliography
Source 21} 162 = Letter

Source 22} 475 = Letter
Source 23} 858 = Letter
Source 24} 862 = Photograph
Source 25} 680 = S.S. Record
Source 26} 1252=Funeral rec

Notes: Lewis Olson Lawyer was born 17 May 1907 in Alhambra, California. His given name is the given name of his paternal grandfather, Lewis M. Lawyer, and his middle name is the surname of his maternal grandfather, Hans Olson. Lewis was the oldest of three children of Arthur A. Lawyer and Ida E. Olson.

In the 1910 U.S. census, Lewis O. Lawyer, 2, was living with his parents, Arthur A., 38, and Ida E., 32, at 30 North Third Street, Los Angeles, California. His father was a realtor, working on his own account. Their home was owned with a mortgage. Lewis was closest friends with his cousin Donald K. Olson. They are seen at the left with their grandfather Hans Olson.

In the 1920 U.S. census, Lewis O. Lawyer, 12, was attending school, and living in the Third Street home with his parents, Arthur A., 47, and Ida E., 42. His younger siblings were Mary Elizabeth, 7, and Richard E., 4. His father was a bookkeeper for a lumber company, presumbably the Olson Lumber Company, owned by his brother-in-law, Frank Olson.

Lewis attended Alhambra City High School, graduating 30 Jan 1926. He was in the same class as Donald Olson, and they both participated in the senior stage program as part of the colonial dames and minstrels. After graduaating, he attended Otis Art Institute in Los Angeles and worked as a commercial artist for several years.

In the 1930 U.S. census, Lewis O. Lawyer, 22, was living with his parents, Arthur A., 58, and Ida E., 52, in the Third Street home. Lewis was attending school and was a truck driver for the Olson Lumber Company owned by his uncle. His father was a lumberman for the lumber yard. Their home was valued at $8,000. and they had a radio set.

Lewis attended Chaffee Junior College, Ontario, San Bernardino County, graduating in 1934 with a major in Science. While at Chaffee, he lived at the family's Mt. Baldy cabin. He received his B.S. in Plant Pathology from UC Berkeley in 1936, and was a member of Alpha Zeta, the agriculture honor society. His minor was Genetics. He continued as a graduate student, receiving a grant from the California Packing Corporation, now the Del Monte Corporation. Adele Schwartz, an 18-year-old Education major was assigned to his as an assistant.

Lewis Olson Lawyer and Adele Schwartz were married 13 Aug 1937 in Yuba City, Sutter, California. Lewis and Adele went to work at Del Monte, where Lewis became Assistant Director of Agricultural Research in the field of genetic botany until retirement.

In the 1940 U.S. census, Lewis O. Lawyer, 32, and his wife Adele Lawyer, 21, were living at 1645 Portland, Berkeley, Alameda, California with their daughter, Lorretta, 1. They were renting their home for $45. Lewis was a research planner with an income of $1,900.

In the 1950 U.S. census, Lewis O. Lawyer, 41, andhis wife Adele S., 30, were living at 4123 Oak Hill Rd, Oakland, Alameda, California. Both were working as agricultural researchers in a packing corporation. Their daughter Loretta was 11 years. Also in the household was Adele's mother, Nedye E. Schwartz, 60.

Their Oakland home saw the addition of two more children — Melanie Ann and Arthur Lewis (Artie). His 1997 Christmas letter tells us about his children, grandchildren and great-grandchild.

After retiring from the Del Monte Corporation, Lewis and his wife became involved with the breeding of Iris varieties. They both were active members of various Iris societies, including the Society for Pacific Coast Native Iris. He and Adele wrote extensively for the Society's newsletter. From 1973 until his death, Lewis published over 63 articles, and with Adele published over 7 articles.

Lewis Lawyer (2nd from the left) is seen with his cousins at the celebration of Donald Olson's (far right) 50th Wedding Anniversary Celebration on 1 Oct 1994.

Lewis died 18 Apr 2001 in Oakland, shortly before his 94th birthday. His wife Adele wrote a beautiful memorial tribute that shared is life, and their life together.