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James Orrin LAMB
(newly updated: Friday August 01, 2003)

Sailor, Whaler, Pioneer, Teamster, Farmer, Dairyman, Surveyor & Father


Photo taken 1898, at home, Fallbrook, California.

 

James O. Lamb was my GG-Grandfather.

He was born in Wethersfield, Genesee County, New York, 19 Aug 1825 the youngest son of James and Charlotte Ann (LEWIS) LAMB. His brother Osmer Lamb (written "Hosmer" in the family Bible) was born on January 10, 1828 and a sister Vernessa or Venessa was born September 24, 1824, Marinda Lamb was born November 17, 1825 and Desire Lamb was born December 19, 1830, all born at Wethersfield, NY.
This Bible is now in the possession of my cousin, Larry RANDALL of Michigan. It was passed down from his Great-Great-Grandfather, Andrew LAMB, who was a younger brother of James Lamb, SR. It is his belief, in examining the handwriting in the Bible and by the entries contained inside the cover, that this Bible had formerly belonged to James LAMB, Sr. No new entries were made into it after Andrew took possession of it. James Lamb is said to have been killed while working on the Erie Canal, sometime after June of 1836, dated from the last written letter signed by him & Andrew LAMB.

To read about Larry Randall's Lamb family in Calhoun County, Michigan & read the contents of the old Lamb Bible, go to:  http://www.rootsweb.com/~nywyomin/lamb.htm

A copy of marriages in the Old Lamb Family Bible lists "Hosmer Lamb born Feb 22, 1826" and James Lamb JR (no Orrin) born August (day unable to be read) 1828. Also lists Vernessa Lamb born Sept. 24, 1820; Marinda Lamb born November 17, 1825 and Desire Lamb born Dec. 19, 1830.

At the age of two and half years he lost his father and was bound out. Being cruelly treated he ran away to sea when fifteen and during twelve years of life on shipboard he visited every country on the globe. On his last voyage as first mate he was shipwrecked in sight of home and for hours clung to the frozen rigging of his ship. He with a few others were miraculously rescued. While in this situation he promised the Almighty that if permitted to set foot on land once more, he would never ship again -- a promise which he faithfully kept.

James O. Lamb married to Mary Jane Fillmore, 21 Feb 1854. Differing opinions as to where this wedding took place. One view has it that they were married in Wisconsin where her father & family resided. They were originally from New York, where Mary Jane was born on April 26, 1839, Rochester, Monroe County, New York. The other view has it that they were married in Rochester, Monroe County, NY, where many of the family lived in or around this area.

CLICK here to read more about the FILLMORE Family

CHILDREN OF James & Mary Jane LAMB:

Jerome Truman LAMB, b. 1854
Calista M. LAMB, b. 1857
Denver Orrin LAMB, b. 1959
Anna Charlotte LAMB, b. 1866
Daniel Murray LAMB, b. 1868
Nettie LAMB, b. 1870
George Lewis LAMB, b. 1873
Clarence Eugene LAMB, b. 1876
Ella LAMB, b. 1878

 

Mary Jane & James O. Lamb first made their home in Waukesha, Wisconsin where their first two children were born: Jerome & Calista. Afterward, they removed to Jackson, Minnesota, where my Great-grandfather, Denver O., was born. The story goes that James O. was at that time down in Kansas Territory (now Colorado) working as a surveyor on a road crew. Colorado was having a gold boom and towns were springing up everywhere. He had becomes friends with the Territorial governor, for whom the town of Denver was later named. When the news came of the birth of his son, he was given the name Denver, in honor of the governor. His mother added the middle name of Orrin, after his father. (some family records have it spelled Orren).

Around 1859, the families of James O. & Osmer Lamb (brothers) decided to go to Salt Lake City, Utah, where other family members had gone a few years earlier. (To be added: John Smith Company Wagon Train - Mormon Pioneer story). Mary Jane's family were Mormons. Her father was an elder & missionary in the LDS Church and her grandfather had been a bishop at Nauvoo, Illinois in the 1840s. The Lamb families joined up with a Mormon Wagon Train headed for Salt Lake City in 1860. It was commanded by Elder John Smith. Many of the Fillmore family were also among those in the wagon train company. They left out of Florence, Nebraska, taking the Mormon Trail.

Here is a list of my LAMB & FILLMORE relatives who were with that big Wagon Train. They are all brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, and cousins:

SOURCE: John Smith, Journal History after 31-Dec-1860;  [ p. 38-46 film 125746]

LAMB

Lamb, Andrew Jackson, 1860, age 7
Lamb, Calista, 1860,  age 3
Lamb, Charles, 1860, age 1  
Lamb, Clarence, 1860, age 6 
* Lamb, Denver, 1860, age 1    [Denver Orrin Lamb - my Great-Grampa Lamb]
Lamb, Eveline, 1860, age 4
* Lamb, James O., 1860, age 30  [my GG-Grampa Lamb]
Lamb, Jane, 1860, age 25 
Lamb, Jerome, 1860, age 5
Lamb, Luazanne, 1860, age 9 
* Lamb, Mary Jane, 1860, age 21  [ nee Mary Jane Fillmore - my GG-Gramma Lamb]
Lamb, Osmar (sic), 1860, age 32
Lamb, Osmar G., 1860, age 2

FILLMORE

Fillmore, Alma, 1860, age 1
  Fillmore, Antha, 1860, age 2
 * Fillmore, Daniel, 1860, age 41  [Mary Jane's "Pa"]
  Fillmore, Edgar, 1860, age 14
  Fillmore, Elizabeth, 1860, age 23
  Fillmore, James, 1860, age 8  
  Fillmore, Julie, 1860, age 4
  Fillmore, Marantha, 1860, age 12 
  Fillmore, Martha, 1860, age 18
  Fillmore, Milan, 1860, age 42  [Milan Lucian - Mary Jane's Uncle]
  Fillmore, Norman, 1860, age 12
  Fillmore, Oscar, 1860, age 6
  Fillmore, Ransom, 1860, age 14 
  Fillmore, Rosillie, 1860, age 10  [Aunt Dillie - aka  "Mrs. Rosilla Johnson"]
* Fillmore, Thankful, 1860, age 45  [ nee Thankful Ann Grant - Mary Jane's "Ma"]

They settled on the outskirts of town in Payson, Utah where James engaged in hauling freight by wagons over the mountains with his brother Osmer. While the Family lived in Utah, Osmer Lamb & James Lamb were by occupation in their younger years, Teamsters. Osmer was also a U. S. Mail Carrier, and a Pony Express Rider.

Mary Jane's family, the FILLMORES, lived in and around the area where they settled, and the children grew up with their Mormon cousins & many other relatives. Mary's parents, Daniel Babcock & Thankful Ann (GRANT) FILLMORE also lived in Payson, Utah, where they and many others of the Fillmore family had been sent to settle by Brigham Young years earlier. Daniel's brother, Milan Lucian and his family also lived in Payson. Their mother, Mary Jane's grandmother, Martha Minerva (CALKINS) Fillmore who had been living in Wisconsin all those years later came to live there. James & Mary Lamb were blessed with another child in 1866, while still living in Payson, Utah - Annie Charlotte Lamb.

Despite his earlier experiences & claim of belief in God, James later claimed to be a life-long "Materialist" - the opinion that NOTHING exists except matter - nothing Spiritual in other words. Being unable to affiliate with the Mormons, who are of the opinion that EVERYTHING is Spiritual, James started with his wife and three children for California in late 1866 or early 1867. They took the Southern route and after great hardships and danger of Indians they arrived in San Bernardino almost destitute. But being blessed with good health he went to work and soon had a comfortable home.

In San Bernardino, James worked as the overseer of a dairy farm for a number of years. Another child was born to James & Mary, whom they named after the son of a good friend, Captain John Day. They named him Daniel Murray LAMB. He was born on April 9, 1868. Four more children were later born to James & Mary Lamb.

CHILDREN of James O. Lamb & Mary Jane Fillmore were:


He moved to Los Angeles in 1871 Or 1878 and rented a small ranch in the La Brea area which he operated successfully. It was at this time that they became acquainted with the family of Henry Harrison Gird.

In 1898 he removed to Fallbrook, California in Northern San Diego County, where some of his children lived. James and Mary Jane at first lived in town, staying at the Naples Hotel, but when James became ill, his son Denver O. Lamb, who owned a Ranch outside of Fallbrook, built them a little home on his property where they resided until the time of his death.  The following year he received the news of his mother's death at the age of 98 years.
James was the father of ten children, 3 girls and 7 boys.

James was a self-professed "Materialist" and lived and died consistent with that belief.

He died on June 17, 1905 age 79 years, 9 months, and 29 days and was buried in
Fallbrook, Calif. Odd Fellows Cemetery.

*****************************************************************************

This card of Thanks was placed in the Fallbrook newspaper at the time of James O's death:

******************************************************************************

Card of thanks:

Not being able to meet and thank individually the many friends and neighbors for their sympathy and kindness extended to us in our hour of bereavement and loss of father and husband we take this means of thanking them, our prayer is that the infinite may bless them for their kindness and that the angels guide them in paths of right and happiness.
Signed:
Mrs. Mary J. Lamb, Anna (Lamb) Cripe, Daniel Lamb, C. E. Lamb, Lewis Lamb, Jerome T., Calista, and Ella.

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Apparently, my GG-Grandmother, Mary Jane (FILLMORE) LAMB did not share in her husband's beliefs of Materialism, as she does here express her faith in "the Infinite", in the "paths of righteousness"  and all things "Spiritual", including angels.

What faith she must have had all those years!

Mary Jane (FILLMORE) LAMB

Photo taken about 1898, Fallbrook, California

In 1909 Mary Jane moved from Fallbrook, Ca. to "The Palms" near Los Angeles to live with her son Lewis Lamb, where she lived until her death in 1910. She was buried next to her husband in the I.O.O.F. Cemetery, Fallbrook, San Diego county, California.

 

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