LAMSON, Ralph Waldo 1858 - 1938

LAMSON, SPRATT, JOHNSON, HOLDEN, BOWMAN, GARST, RUSSELL, CLARK, SLAGLE

Posted By: Richard K Thompson (email)
Date: 10/6/2010 at 17:03:32

Fairfield Ia. Daily Ledger
Tuesday Nov. 22, 1938

R.W. LAMSON PASSES AWAY EARLY TODAY

Prominent citizen was lifelong resident of Fairfield

Ralph W. LAMSON, son of the late Ward LAMSON, a Fairfield pioneer, died at 9:25 a.m. today at his home, 501 South Main street. Death came to him in his sleep, a peaceful translation which he had often spoken of as ideal.

Funeral arrangements have not been made pending word from relatives at distant points.

Although past 80 years of age, Mr. LAMSON has been quite active in various activities among them the securing of an adequate display of pioneer relics at the State Fair of Iowa. To this effort he gave a great deal of time and was able to materially improve the character of the State Fair exhibit. Since that time he had not been feeling as well as usual. However, after some weeks in bed, he has recently been able to be up and around. Last Sunday he took a long automobile ride and has been able to get about considerably. His passing, therefore, came as a shock to the family.

Mr. LAMSON was born in the LAMSON homestead on August 11, 1858, and has lived there his entire 80 years. His father had extensive real estate and business interest with which Ralph was connected. The LAMSON implement store was handled by the brothers Ralph and Vicor until it was sold to SPRATT & JOHNSON. About the same time Mr. LAMSON was employed by the Burlington railroad in purchasing right-of-way when the main line was straightened about forty years ago. He was also engaged in the same character of work for the Northwestern railroad on the Pacific coast.

The activity of which Mr. LAMSON most often spoke was his association with Prof. P.G. HOLDEN once of Ames, in making farmers acquainted with the value of alfalfa. Under auspices of the International Harvester Company, Mr. LAMSON, Prof. HOLDEN and others traveled all over the west and southwest lecturing and demonstrating the value of this crop, which was then little known.

Mr. LAMSON was married to Miss Mary BOWMAN, of a well known family at Four Corners, about 53 years ago. Their golden wedding was fittingly observed, with many friends and relatives present. To this union were born eleven children, one son Paul died a number of years ago. The surviving children are:

Ruth, residing in New York City; John in Hinsdale, Ill.; Mrs. Til JOHNSON (sic. Esther D. LAMSON TILL), Fairfield; Flora of San Franscico, Calif.; Charles, in Denver, Colo. (sic. Charles Silas LAMSON was his full given name); Bertha, Mrs. Morrison GARST of Los Angeles; Louise, in East Orange, N.J. (sic. Clara Louise LAMSON); James of Riverside, Ill.; Robert of Webster City and Kathryn (sic. a/k/a Katherine), Mrs. Bruce RUSSELL of Council Bluffs.

Only two of his nine brothers and sisters survive. They are Ella, Mrs. C.C. Clark of Burlington (sic. Charles Clapp CLARK) and Mrs. Florence SLAGLE of Alton, Iowa.

*Transcribed for genealogy purposes. I am not related to the person(s) mentioned.

Note: Buried at Evergreen Cemetery, Fairfield, Iowa. Old.P.038