LAMB, CHANCY 1816 -1897

LAMB, POOL, YOUNG, WARE

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 6/16/2011 at 10:49:17

Clinton Daily Herald, Monday Evening, July 12, 1897, P.4
Chancy Lamb Passes Away In Early Morning.
DEATH OF A PIONEER LUMBERMAN.
Head of the Well-Known Family and Founder of Great Manufacturing Interests is no More – Joins the Wife Who Had Preceded Him Four Months – A Man of Large Heart and Keen Business Judgment.
Chancy Lamb, whose name is widely known, not only in Clinton but all through the middle west and the northwest, died at his residence in Clinton this morning at five minutes before two.
With the passing of Mr. Lamb, Clinton loses a man who for 40 years had been closely connected with the city’s interests. In philanthropic, business and social lines, his name had always been a power in the community. His influence spread far outside the limits of the State, so that his death is sincerely mourned over a vast extent of territory.
Mr. Lamb had been ill for many weeks. Indeed, his spirits never recovered from the shock received by the taking away of his wife March 5. He mourned for her, the sharer of his joys and sorrows for over 50 years, and to whom, he often said, he owed his prosperity. The tender ministrations of loving relatives and solicitous friends, the highest skill of physicians, could not overcome his grief or dispel the loneliness he felt. Nevertheless, for a time he rallied. But the end came early this morning. Sunday he recognized his great grand-child, little Dorothy Pool, and smiled at her. Then glimmerings consciousness faded, until life’s sun quietly, peacefully sank below the horizon, to rise on fairer and immortal scenes.
“Uncle” Chancy’s familiar figure will be seen no more on the streets of the city for which he did so much. The sight of the gentle old man, driving his white horse, can be but a pleasant memory. His kindly words, his bountiful deeds, the impetus he had given to Clinton’s industries, will live forever.
Chancy Lamb was born in Ticonderoga, Essex county, New York, January 4, 1816. His parents were Alpheus and Maria Lamb. In 1813 the family moved to York, Carroll county, Illinois. When 14 years of age young Chancy began to actively assist his father in farm duties, and continued until he reached his majority. With 25 cents in his pocket, on his arrival in Illinois he pre-empted land, rented more, and raised grain. In three years, however, he returned to New York, where on a salary he managed a lumber business.
He still retained his land in the West, and attracted by the growth of the new country, he again sought it, settling in Clinton in 1857. He had $3,000 and purchased the old mill of Gray & Lunt, just below where the railroad bridge now crosses the river. At the outset, in 1850, fire destroyed the plant. Mr. Lamb rebuilt, and in 1876 the mill a second time was burned, but rose again. Mill “A,” the first stone sawmill in Clinton county, and mill “D,” in Chancy, were added to the system. In 1877 the Chancy building went up in smoke. It was rebuilt, and mill “C” also appeared. Again in 1879, flames attacked the fine offices of the company, and consumed them, much lumber, and many dwelling houses.
The contest waged with indomitable energy by Mr. Lamb against the disaster that tried to conquer him but serves to demonstrate the tremendous will and courage of the man. No wonder fortune favored him in the end, and he amassed wealth as the result of his ceaseless endeavors. As a shrewd business man, honest and upright, he sets an example to younger generations.
Aside from his milling interests, he had been connected with many other enterprises in this and outside fields.
He was director in several leading corporations here, and fathered many an incipient undertaking.
During the war he liberally assisted the Union cause, aiding sick and wounded, and exerting his power and influence in various channels.
He lived to see the name C. Lamb & Sons well known in the financial world. His first mill grew until the great lumber plant was a prominent factor in commercial transactions. He impressed upon his sons the significance of his own course in business, and even after he gave into their hands the details of the daily routine, he was ever ready with wise counsels and far-seeing plans.
The surviving children are Mrs. W. E. Young, Mrs. Augusta Ware, Mr. Lafayette Lamb, and Mr. Artemus Lamb, all in this city. The fourth generation also has come into being.
The funeral services will be held at the late residence, Seventh avenue and Third street, Wednesday afternoon at two. Friends are requested not to send flowers.

Clinton Daily Herald, Wednesday Evening, July 14, 1897, P.4
CHANCY LAMB SLEEPS
Funeral Services Over the Remains of the Departed Citizen
The funeral services of Chancy Lamb were held this afternoon at two at the late residence. Rev. Carson of Clinton, and Rev. Cowden of Polo, Ill., officiated. The pallbearers were the foremen in the different departments of the mill of which the deceased was so long the head. H. P. Potter, William Zingg, Noah Boone, C. D. Norman, Charles Dege, F. Mattison, Milt Jackson, Jim Quinn.
From nine to 12:30 in the morning the casket was open, and hundreds of persons paid their last respects to the remains of the gentle old man. Many, very many of those who went through the hall came away weeping. The mill employs filed past the casket in a long line.
A profusion of lovely lilies, with some roses, surrounded the casket and enveloped the form of the departed one.
A number of residents of other cities, principally lumbermen, attended the funeral.