Lamb, Captain Caleb 1822-1897

LAMB, KENNEDY, WINN

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 5/4/2005 at 15:39:15

The Newton (IA) Record Friday, October 1, 1897
Lamb, Captain Caleb

When the RECORD went to press last Friday afternoon, Captain Lamb was lying at death’s door, as a result of injuries received on Wednesday afternoon by falling from the roof of this residence. Kind friends administered to every want, and did all that could be done to relieve and lighten his suffering during his last moments. Saturday morning at 6:30 o’clock he sank to sleep, his suffering over to awake at the dawn of the resurrection morn.

Few men were better known in this community than Caleb Lamb and none could be more greatly missed. His death under such peculiarly distressing circumstances comes as a personal sorrow to many hearts ­ more especially to those of our older citizens who shared with him the struggles in the early history of our city and county. The writer, then a mere lad of then years, well remembers when his parents long since passed away arrived in Newton in the summer of ’54, strangers in a strange land, the town then but a mere frontier hamlet, how Mr. Lamb and his good wife were among the first to come to their home and by cheery words drove away home sickness and established a mutual friendship that time has only strengthened. Those who have known him longest best appreciated the true nobleness of his character.

Caleb Lamb was born in Randolph County, N.C., May 6, 1822, and in 1829, came with his parents to Washington County, Ind., near the present town of Salem; thence moved in 1831 to his grandfather’s in Highland County, Ohio. Soon after this, his father died leaving a widow with limited means and four children, Caleb being the second; in 1833, his mother returned to Indiana, and located on a farm in Hendrick’s County. On the second day of June 1842, Mr. Lamb was married to Miss Olive Jane Kennedy, and for ensuing eight years lived in Indiana, teaching school in winter and working at the trade of a carpenter. In October 1850, he moved to Newton, Jasper County, where he has since resided, and has led an active, energetic life; part of the time farming, and for four years kept hotel; he and the late William Rodgers built the Phelps House in 1856, where the W. V. Skiff block now stands, which in that day was one of the largest hotels between Iowa City and Council Bluffs. He was appointed postmaster by President Lincoln in 1861, and in 1862, went to the war as Captain of Co. 1, of the 37th I. V. I., known as the Grey Beard Regiment, which position he held till the close of the war. On his return home, was again commissioned postmaster, and held the office until 1869, after which he was agent for U. S. Express Co., at Newton for sixteen years.

His service in the army entailed on him disease, which followed him through all his after life, and no doubt was the primary cause of the accident, which led to his death. He had long been subject to spells of dizziness, from which he would fall and at times become unconscious; and it was no doubt one of these spells, which caused him to lose his balance and fall from the roof of his home.

Capt. Lamb has been a member of the Baptist Church almost from his youth, and he and his wife assisted in the organization of the church in this city. As a Mason he was well known all over the state. Was a member of Newton Lodge No. 59, Gabel Chapel, Oriental Commandery and Newton Chapter O. E. S. ­ always faithful in attendance and true to their teaching.

Capt. and Mrs. Lamb had been married over fifty-five years, and were the parents of three sons ­ John A., Jesse R. K., and Henry T., of whom Jesse is the only one living. Their daughter-in-law, Mrs. Sarah Lamb Winn, has been as a daughter to them, returning in the fullest measure the affection, which they always lavished upon her. Mr. Lamb also leaves two brothers, John R. and Richard Lamb, both of this city. The friends, and especially the widow, have the sympathy of the entire community in the great sorrow, which came so unexpectedly to them.

Funeral services were held under the beautiful shade trees on the lawn of the Lamb home, Monday afternoon, and seldom has there been so large an attendance on a similar occasion. Oriental Commandery, Newton Lodge A.F. & A. M., Garrett Post and W.R.C., were each present in a body, augmented by member of the lodge and Commandery of Colfax, Monroe, Prairie City, Kellogg, Mitchellville, and other points ­ led by the K. T. band of this city. The sermon was by Rev. Frank Frush, pastor of the Baptist Church at Knoxville, a most eloquent and beautiful discourse. The various pastors of the city also took part in the service. The choir was composed of Mr. and Mrs. H. M. Vaughan, Mrs. T. M. Rodgers and Mr. Fred Meredith, with Miss Anna Treman at the piano. The floral tributes were of rare beauty, contributed by the various organizations ­ and spoke louder than words of the high esteem in which he was held by his friends.

The services and the cemetery were conducted by the Masonic fraternity according to their solemn and beautiful ritual, with O. N. Wagley as Worshipful Master.

Originally submitted on Mon Aug 26 16:35:27 2002