BENJAMIN B. LAMKIN, 1871-??

LAMKIN, COLVIN, ROUND, CHAFFEE, HOLMES

Posted By: Bahnson
Date: 4/24/2002 at 18:35:14

BENJAMIN B. LAMKIN.
Benjamin B. Lamkin, who owns a fine farm consisting of one hundred and sixty acres in section 36, Lyon township, on which he located in 1899, thought he came to the county in 1892, was born in Genesee county, New York, February 19, 1871, a son of Benjamin B. and Polly A. (Chaffee) Lamkin, natives of New York and Vermont. The father was always a farmer, and served during the Civil war in the Eighth New York Heavy Artillery, under command of Colonel Porter. He was detailed to the Ordnance Department, and had charge of a magazine. He was with the regiment on Maryland Heights for twenty-one days and during three days of that time had nothing to eat. The regiment went into the battle of Cold Harbor, fifteen hundred strong, but came out with only six hundred. He died January 5, 1872, at the age of forty-seven years; his wife, who died November 15, 1872, was forty-five years old. They had a family of seven children: Herman R., a farmer in Lyon township; John, a farmer in New York; Charles B., now in the grain business in Inwood, Iowa; Mary L., wife of William Holmes, a farmer in Wyoming county, New York; Benjamin B., and two children who died in infancy.
Mr. Lamkin secured his education in the public schools, finishing with a high school course in Michigan, after which he found employment for a time at farm work. After the death of his father, he went with an uncle to Michigan, where he was engaged in farming for some four years, and then for two and a half years was engaged in the services of the Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad. In 1892, as already noted, he came to Lyon county, Iowa, and rented a farm, seven years later buying his present place, which he has already greatly improved.
Mr. Lamkin was married in 1893 to Miss Lottie C. Round, a resident of Michigan, and a daughter of Henry and Calista (Colvin) Round, both of whom were born and reared in Vermont. The father was a stone mason in early life, but later became a farmer. When he died in 1897, he had reached the age of fifty-nine years; his wife living to be forty-three. They had a family of ten children, eight of whom are now living, Mrs. Lamkin being next to the youngest in order of birth. Mr. and Mrs. Lamkin are the parents of the following children: Lottie B., Rollins B., Mary A., Oldin H., and Jennie S., all of whom are living, and at home.
Mr. Lamkin is a man of considerable importance in the community where he is living, and has been trustee of the town for two years. He is a member of the Inwood camp of the Modern Woodmen of America. His family history is very interesting, running back as it does on both sides to Revolutionary veterans, his mother being also a direct descendant of that John Olden, who came over in the “Mayflower.”
In 1904 our subject rented his farm and now lives in Inwood where he is engaged in the grain business with his brother, C. B. Lamkin.

PG. 513, "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.