MICHAEL LYNCH
HORTICULTURIST
Bio-Pen Pictures
SURNAMES: PAYTON
MICHAEL LYNCH, Superintendent of the grounds and greenhouses at the
Timothy Hopkins place, is a citizen of Santa Clara County, residing
near the line of San Mateo. He was born in County Meath, Ireland, and
at the age of sixteen years he began to acquire a practical knowledge
of floral gardening. When eighteen he went to England, and for five
years was employed in his profession at the Bancroft, Beachley, and
Ollerton places, at Liverpool. In 1868 he came to America, and was
located at New York until 1871, when he came to California via Panama,
arriving at San Francisco February 22, 1871. Two years later he came to
Menlo Park, to take charge of the grounds of Major Rathbone, Consul at
Paris. After five years there he accepted a similar position with L. L.
Robinson, at Antioch. He was there two years and seven months, and was
then employed by J. C. Flood to take charge of the laying out and
ornamentation of the grounds of his Menlo Park place. These beautiful
grounds, which outshine any on the Pacific Coast, and are not surpassed
in beauty in the country, are the results of the taste of Mr. Lynch,
who had carte blanche whild there engaged, and the place is a monument
to his ability in his profession. In September, 1886, his services were
obtained by Mr. Hopkins, and he now has charge of the Menlo Park and
California Street (San Francisco) places. Mr. Lynch was married in New
Jersey on the day he started for the Pacific Coast, to Miss Mary
Payton. They have eight children, namely: James, Mary, Joseph, Michael,
Jennie, Edward, John, and Rose.
SOURCE: Pen Pictures From The Garden of the World or Santa Clara County, California, Illustrated. - Edited by H.S.
Foote.- Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1888.- Page 259 transcribed by Carol Lackey
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