California Freemason: You have a unique connection to California Masonic history. Your great-great-grandfather was Jasper O’Farrell—one of the first surveyors for the city of San Francisco, and the man whom O’Farrell Street is named for.
K.C. Farrell: That’s right. Growing up, I’d always heard of Jasper O’Farrell—one of my cousins did a deep dive on him—and recently I drove up the coast with my wife to visit his gravesite. I knew he was a senator and had some ties to Sonoma, but it wasn’t until I saw an article in California Freemason (“The Masonic Streets of San Francisco,” Fall 2025) that I heard he was a Mason. Even more earth-shattering was that it said he belonged to Temple № 14—like, Hey, that’s my lodge! What a crazy history. The first thing I did was text Sol Guzman and Most Worshipful Jeff Wilkins, who’s helping me with my proficiency. I just had to tell them, Check this out, it’s my family!
CFM: So you didn’t follow in his footsteps intentionally then?
KCF: No, my wife and I just moved to Sonoma during the pandemic. We had no connection to it before that. And just as part of trying to fit in here, I started looking into the Masonic lodge.
CFM: What was it about the lodge that you were interested in?
KCF: My dad was a Mason and he always wore his ring. I remember he asked me once if I’d thought about becoming a Mason, but he said he couldn’t tell me about it; I had to ask. Years later, after he’d passed, I became a little more interested in knowing what he’d been a part of. Then, when I moved to Sonoma, I kept walking by the lodge. One day I finally called, and Sol asked me to come to one of their dinners.
CFM: What has your experience been like so far?
KCF: At first it’s a little intimidating—like you’re walking into somebody else’s party. But the brothers were really kind and took an interest by asking what drew me in. I really like the camaraderie and fraternity. Our lodge has a very familial atmosphere—we have wives and kids who show up for the dinners. Most Worshipful Wilkins has had people over to his home for barbecues and a Christmas party. But what really drew me in—and I’m still learning here—is something else. I never really had a specific religion growing up, but I’ve tried to have a moral compass. So as I’m studying for my proficiency, I’m learning about keeping yourself in line with your beliefs, and that really speaks to me. I feel like that’s something I can grasp.
Photography by:
Peter Prato
