H. R. LAMKIN, 1852-??

BIDLOCK, LAMKIN, ALDEN, CHAFFEE, PORTER

Posted By: Bahnson
Date: 4/24/2002 at 18:21:48

H. R. LAMKIN.
H. R. Lamkin, a prominent and wealthy citizen of Inwood, Lyon county, was born in Geneseo, New York, June 21, 1852, where he was reared and educated. When he had reached the age of twenty years, he left his childhood’s home, and coming into Iowa rented a farm which he cultivated for two years. After this he went on to his own land, and brought into cultivation a fine farm, which became so valuable that when he had secured a clear title, he was able to sell it at a figure that gave him a very handsome competency. As he has never married, he is now making his home at the hotel, where he enjoys the fruit of his close attention to business. There is a well spent life behind him, and today h is a consistent member of the Presbyterian church of Inwood, and one of its most active workers as well. Enough of the seamy side of life has been seen by him to teach him charity and patience.
On the charter of Lodge, No. 521, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, appears his name, and here he is also known as a faithful and reliable member, living up to the best spirit of the order. Politically, he is a Republican.
Benjamin Lamkin, his father, was born in Livingston county, New York, and was a member of the Eighth New York Heavy Artillery during the Civil war. This regiment was under the command of Col. C. A. Porter, and Mr. Lamkin was on detail duty during the most of his term of service as acting sergeant, in the ordnance department, mostly in Baltimore. His father, Isaac Lamkin, was a carpenter and joiner, and lived to be over ninety-nine years old. The first of the Lamkin family in this country came from England long before the Revolution. For several generations there were noted Indian fighters in the family, and the father of Isaac Lamkin was a minister who took part in the Revolution and was captured and imprisoned. He had the gift of song, and so won the confidence of the guard that he was able to break jail one cold winter night, going out into the depth of winter with nothing but his stockings on his feet. He escaped, but his feet were frightfully frozen.
Jonathan and Polly Chaffee, grandparents of H. R. Lamkin, were noted pioneers of their day, and it is said that on more than one occasion, the wife moulded the bullets while the husband fought the Indians away. Many and interesting are the stories that were told of this dauntless pioneer and gallant Indian fighter.
Lydia Bidlock married Isaac Lamkin. Her father came over in the Mayflower, with another member of the family, Benjamin Alden, whose name is known to fame.

PG 476, "COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY REMINISCENCE AND BIOGRAPHY OF LYON COUNTY, IOWA", PUBLISHED UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE PIONEER ASSOCIATION OF LYON COUNTY. GEO. MONLUN, PRES.; HON. E. C. ROACH, SEC’Y; AND COL. F. M. THOMPSON, HISTORIAN. GEO. A. OGLE & CO., Published, Engravers and Book Manufacturers. CHICAGO, 1904-1905