Lamb, Caleb

LAMB, KENNEDY

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 1/21/2009 at 13:07:40

LAMB, Caleb
Born in Randolph Co., NC 6 May 1822, and in 1829 went with his father to Washington Co. IN near the present town of Slem. He then removed in 1831 to his grandfather's in Highland Co. OH. Soon after this his father died leaving a widow with limited means and and four children, Caleb being the second. In 1833 his mother returned to IN and located on a farm in Hendricks Co. The two older boys worked the farm but attended school during the three winter months whenever opportunity afforded. On the 2nd day of June 1842, Mr. Lamb was married to Miss Olive Jane KENNEDY and for eight years lived in Indiana teaching school in Winter and working at the trade of a carpenter. In October 1850 he came to Newton, Jasper Co., where has since resided. For four years he kept an hotel. He was appointed Postmaster by President Lincoln in 1861, and in 1862 went to war as Chaplain of the 37th I.V.I., which position he held until the end of the war. On his return home, was again commissioned Postmaster and held the office until 1869 when he was agent for U.S. Express Co, at Newton. He was initiated into Masonry in Newton Lodge, U.D., afterward No. 59 He held many offices after that. He is a Baptist and in 1854, with his wife, he helped organize the church in Newton., Captain Lamb has been the father of three sons, two of whom are living. The eldest resides in Chicago, and the second with the father. The third and youngest, died in Newton on 25 May 1872, aged 22 years. ~ "Newton Township Biographies," The History of Jasper County, Iowa, (Chicago: Western Historical Company, 1878)
================================================
LAMB, Caleb
born in Randolph Co., N. C., May 6, 1822; in 1829, with his father, Albert LAMB, removed to Washington Co., Ind., near what is now the town of Salem; thence, in 1831, to his grandfather's in Highland Co., Ohio, soon after which his father was taken sick and died, leaving a widow with small means and four children, of whom Caleb was the second, there being one boy three years older than himself. In 1833, his mother, Mrs. LAMB, returned to Henderson Co., opened a farm, her two older boys working in the heavy timber nine months of the year, and going to school in the Winter whenever school was to be found near enough; and young LAMB being unable to pay the limited amount required for tuition, would balance the account by working it out on his teacher's farm in the Spring (some farmer keeping rather than teaching the school). Thus he spent his early years until 1842, when, at the ripe age of 20, he (probably not for the first time) fell in love, and on the 2d day of June of that year married Miss Olive Jane KENNEDY and set up housekeeping for himself. The following eight years he lived in Indiana, teaching school in the Winter and the remainder of the year working as carpenter, until Oct. 1850, when he removed to Jasper Co., where he has since resided. He settled in Newton, and in the twenty-eight years he has lived there, he has lived an active, energetic life, part of the time carrying on the trade of carpenter, also most of the time farming, and for four years kept hotel. In 1861, was appointed Postmaster by President LINCOLN. August 1862, volunteered and helped to raise Co. I of 37th (Gray Beard) Regiment of Iowa Volunteers, as Captain of which he was mustered into service, a position he held until the close of the war, having been mustered out in May, 1865. On his return home, he was again commissioned Postmaster, and held the office until the inauguration of President GRANT (1869), after which time he filled the position of agent for the U. S. Express Co. for this town.

Mr. LAMB was initiated into Masonry, Newton Lodge, U. D., afterward No. 59, May 5, 1855, the Lodge having been organized April 21, 1855. He was passed to the degree of Fellow Craft Aug. 11, and became Master Mason Sept. 15 following, his passing and raising being the first work done by the new Lodge; June, 1856, exalted to the degree of Royal Arch Mason; in 1857, served his Lodge as Treasurer; in 1859, as Senior Warden, and since his return from the army has been re-elected to the latter position two or three terms. March 6,1856, Gebel Chapter, No. 12, was organized at Newton, and Mr. LAMB was chosen Scribe of the new Chapter, appointed Grand Master of the First Veil and High Priest, and from that time to this, except while absent from home in the military service, has been an active worker in the Chapter, and much of the time in office. In the Grand Chapter, in 1857, he was appointed Grand Royal Arch Captain; in 1858, he was promoted to the position of Grand Captain of the Host; in 1859, he served as deputy of that most excellent companion Grand High Priest Geo. W. TEAS, who years since carried his work to the Upper Lodge, where it was tried by the unerring square, and we may hope received the divine approval. In 1860, he was elected Grand Scribe; in 1861, Grand King, and in June, 1862, Grand High Priest.

In religion, Mr. LAMB is of Baptist persuasion, having joined that church in Indiana in 1850; on his removal to Iowa, he was dismissed by letter, and in 1854, with his wife, helped to organize the Baptist Church at Newton, in which he has retained a membership ever since. In person, Capt. LAMB is erect, of commanding presence, above the medium height, with dark complexion, eyes and hair, and though now nearly 60 years of age, enjoys vigorous health and bids fair for many years of useful life. Has been the father of three boys, two of whom still live, having both attained to man's estate, and both member of the same Lodge and Chapter as himself. Of these tow sons, the oldest now lives in Chicago; the second is at home with his parents; the third and youngest died in Newton, May 25, 1872, aged 22 years, a young man of more than ordinary promise. Capt. LAMB began as a poor boy, has worthily and well filled every station of life, and now stands forth to encourage the youth of our country by showing how by steady perseverance I doing earnestly the duty that lies nearest, and seeing to it that no labor is spared to finish with zeal and thoroughness whatever is begun. ~ "Lynn Grove Township Biographies," The History of Jasper County, Iowa, (Chicago: Western Historical Company, 1878)