Frank Joseph LAWLER
Biography

(III) Frank Joseph Lawler, son of James and Margaret (Hafey) Lawler, was born at South Deerfield, July 31, 1863, and was educated in the public schools of his native town and Leicester, Massachusetts. At the age of thirteen he began to work in a shoe factory to
aid in the support of the family and to learn his trade, and in 1881 he removed to Greenfield, where, for the following twelve years, he was employed in a shoe factory. He was ambitious, however, and devoted his leisure hours to study. In 1888 he began to read law in
the office of Samuel O. Lamb, Esq., of Greenfield, continuing his work in the shoe factory at the same time. Later he entered the Boston University Law School, took the three years course in one year, was graduated in June, 1894, and was admitted to the bar the following month. He immediately began the practice of his profession, and in February, 1895, formed a partnership with his former preceptor, Samuel O. Lamb, under the firm name of Lamb & Lawler, which connection was continued until the death of Mr. Lamb, March
10, 1908. Mr. Lawler has won many important cases and has secured some decisions which when he took the case seemed impossible. Among these might be mentioned the case in which he served as counsel and secured acquittal, November, 1907, for Paul Sadowoki and Ignaz Kokoski, who for the slaying of Howard Jackson were indicted for murder in the second degree. His natural ability and careful training have given him a high standing in his profession, and he ranks among the leading attorneys of the section in
which he resides. He is also prominent in political circles. He was a candidate on the Democratic ticket for Representative of the district including Greenfield, which is strongly Republican, and he came within sixty-
nine votes of being elected, which is strong proof of his popularity ; in 1906 he was the candidate for Congress for the First Congressional District; was alternate at the National Convention at Denver, in 1908; acted as delegate for the Eleventh Congressional District for Massachusetts ; chairman of the Democratic Town Committee, and also of the Democratic County Committee. He is popular in Greenfield, and when that city voted to employ a counsel Mr. Lawler was chosen to fill the
newly created and important office. He is a member of the Father Mathew Total Abstinence Society, of the Knights of Columbus, and is one of the managers and treasurer of the Franklin County Public Hospital. He is a parishioner of the Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church of Greenfield.

Frank Joseph Lawler married, October 4, 1899, Annie C. Looney, of Greenfield, who was born November 1, 1868, daughter of James and Catherine (Flanagan) Looney. Children: 1. Margaret Frances, born March 31, 1901, a graduate of Smith College. 2. James Francis, born March 23, 1902, a student at Holy Cross College. 3. Katherine Mary, born May 31, 1903, a graduate of Simmons College. 4. Thomas Lawrence, born October 10, 1904, a student in Norwich University, at Northfield, Vermont. 5. Francis Joseph, born June 1, 1908, a student in Greenfield High School.

John H. (John Hoyt) Lockwood. Western Massachusetts; a history, 1636-1925 (Volume 3) online.

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