Lambert, Col. Elliott E.

LAMBERT, BENJAMIN, BESSER, BOYDSTON

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 9/14/2009 at 13:40:28

Lambert, Col. Elliott E.

The office of biography is not to give voice to a man's modest estimate of himself and his accomplishments, but rather to leave upon the record the verdict establishing his character by the consensus of opinion on the part of his neighbors and fellow citizens. The life of Col. Elliott E. Lambert, a leading business man of Newton, Jasper County, has been such as to elicit just a praise from those who know him best, owing to the fact that he has always been loyal to the trusts reposed upon him and has been upright in his dealings with his fellow men, at the same time lending his support to the advancement of any cause looking to the welfare of the community at large.

Colonel Lambert was born in Licking County, Ohio, January 8, 1863, and he is the son of R. K. and Cynthia (Benjamin) Lambert, both natives of Ohio. The father, who devoted his early life to farming, came to Iowa in 1868 and settled in Newton, soon buying one hundred and sixty acres of land, which he farmed until 1876, in which year he came to Newton and established the famous Lambert Hotel, which he and his wife conducted successfully for a period of twenty-eight years, the same being popular with the traveling public and known throughout this part of the country. Mr. Lambert is now living retired in Newton. He is one of the interesting pioneers and has had a varied and interesting history, a representative of that sterling type of men who constitute the bone and sinew of any country. His grandfather, Francis Lambert, was a soldier in the War of 1812. The subject's father was a soldier in the Civil War, a faithful and efficient follower of the Stars and Stripes in many a trying campaign and hard-fought battle. He is known as a worker, a to man who does things. Although now advanced in years, having been born in 1839, he is today strong and vigorous. His wife is a woman of the fine old school who has given the world so much sweetness and refinement, hospitable and affable. Ever loyal to all that was best and truest, during all her life she has brought to her home and friends a benign and uplifting influence. She is a faithful church worker and her life has been filled with many charitable deeds. The three children in this family are all living, namely: William R. lives in Newton, Iowa; his son, Everett W., now deceased, had a national reputation as an all-around athlete; Elliott E., of this review; Belle is now the wife of Doctor Besser, of Newton.

It was in 1886 that Colonel Lambert, of this review, began business for himself, by taking up the general freighting and transfer business in Newton, which he followed for a period of seventeen years, when he sold out and engaged in the implement business there, the style of the firm being W. C. Bergman & Company, which business he conducted with his usual success for two years, after which he engaged in the general fire and life insurance business, which he has continued to the present time, his offices now being in the Scharf Building, north of the court house square. He has met with a large measure of success from the first in this line of endeavor and is one of the best-known insurance men in central Iowa.

On January 6, 1886, Colonel Lambert was united in marriage with Lizzie M. Boydston, daughter of James and Mary Boydston, the father dying soon after his daughter and the Colonel were married, and the mother died in Newton on April 10, 1910.

Four children have been born to the Colonel and wife, all of whom are all living, namely: Earl B., born October 7, 1886, is at home and employed by the American Construction Company; Harold R., born June 1, 1891, is attending the State University at Ames; Robert E., born August 27, 1893, is employed as stenographer for the Bergman Manufacturing Company; Marjory B., born September 5, 1896, is at home, and, possessing a voice of exquisite melody and sweetness, which has been carefully educated, she is well-known in musical circles.

Colonel Lambert's military record is one of which, his relatives and friends should be justly proud. On July 15, 1888, he enlisted at Newton in Company B, Third Iowa Volunteer Infantry, National Guard. On March 9, 1889, he was elected captain of his company, in which capacity he served until April 30, 1892, when he was transferred to the Second Regiment and elected major with the rank from that date. Later he was promoted to lieutenant-colonel, January 11, 1897, being mustered out May 18, 1898, and on that date he was mustered into the volunteer service with the rank of lieutenant-colonel of the Fiftieth Iowa Regiment, and for meritorious service he was promoted to colonel on August 29, 1898, being mustered out as colonel on November 30th following, at Des Moines. On February 5, 1900, he enlisted as a private in Company L, Fiftieth Regiment, Iowa National Guard, of which he was elected major on July 16, 1900. He was advanced to the rank of lieutenant colonel of the Fifty-fourth (same as the Fiftieth) Regiment,

May 2, 1904. He was appointed quartermaster on the staff of Brig-Gen. J. Rush Lincoln, commander of the First Brigade, Iowa National Guard, July 20, 1909, which position he still holds. During the Spanish-American war he was quartered at Jacksonville, Florida, having been assigned to duty with the Second' Division of the Seventh Army Corps, under command of Gen. Fitzhugh Lee. As a soldier he has acquitted himself most gallantly, and has won the admiration of his men and the praise of his superior officers.

Colonel Lambert is a member of Newton Lodge No. 59, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons; Gabal Chapter No. 12, Royal Arch Masons; Oriental Commandery No. 22, Knights Templar, and the Za-Ga-Zig Temple, Mystic Shrine, at Des Moines. He is past eminent in the Commandery, and has passed all the chairs in the same. He is also a member of Central Lodge No.73, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Newton Encampment No. 16, and Canton Chevalier Bayard No. 31. At the present writing he is department commander of Patriarchs Militant of Iowa, with rank of major general. He is also grand senior warden in the grand encampment of the Independent Odd Fellows of Iowa.

Colonel Lambert has also been a member of Newton's volunteer fire department for twenty-seven years, being foreman of the company and chief of the department a part of the time. At present he is vice-president of the Iowa State Firemen's Association and chairman of the pension committee of that association. He is also a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, White Pine Camp No. 22, of Newton, of which he was clerk for ten years. For some time he served as a member of the city council of Newton, being a member and chairman of the committee on streets and alleys. He has also been a member of the Newton Business Men's Association ever since its organization, and is its present secretary.

Mrs. Lambert is well known in church and social circles; she is a member of Newton Chapter No. 100, Order of the Eastern Star, of which the Colonel is past worthy patron. She is a member of Margaret Rebekah Lodge No. 237, of Newton. She was formerly president of the Twentieth Century Club of Newton. She is a steward in the Methodist Church, of which all the family are members. Past and Present of Jasper County Iowa B. F. Bowden & Company, Indianapolis, IN, 1912 Page 438