LAMB, ANSON -- The history of the Lamb family in America dates back to the early colonial days. The founder of the family in this country was Terry Lamb, who came from Ireland in the early days of New England and fought in the War of the Revolution under George Washington. During the period of his service he was captured by a band of Oneida Indians, but later a force of cavalry came to his rescue and saved his life. After the Revolutionary War was over the Government took upon itself the task of educating the Indians in the constructive arts of peace, and Mr. lamb was appointed a teacher to instruct the Oneida tribe and in the
Mr. and Mrs. John Lamb were the parents of eight daughters and three sons, and one of the latter was Anson Lamb, the subject of this review. At the time of his birth, August 25, 1818, his parents were still living in New York, and his early years were spent on the old homestead there. He began farming when but a youth, having been brought up to a knowledge of agricultural pursuits, but later he became second mate on a boat plying on the Ohio River. During the Civil War he was in the Government service and after the close of hostilities he located at Nevada, Iowa, where he worked at blacksmithing and also operated a threshing machine. During his residence here, his wife, Caroline (Bartholomew) Lamb, whom he had married in New York, passed away in Dubuque, when their son, William D. Lamb, Orange County's well-known pioneer citizen, was only four years old. Ten years later father and son started across the plains in a Mormon freight train, locating at Salt lake City. There they embarked in the lumber and sawmill business in Mill Creek Canyon, about nineteen miles from Salt Lake City. Here they developed a remarkably successful business, which they continued in for several years. In the meantime, William D. Lamb had been married to Miss Elizabeth Holt, and shortly after that, about the year 1869, he came to California, settling in what is now Orange County, and becoming one of its best-known settlers and a large ranch owner. Anson Lamb was associated with his son in many of his extensive undertakings and he became the owner of 800 acres of land, 149 acres belonging to the Stearns Rancho, of which William D. Lamb was for many years manager. The remainder of the acreage was formerly a part of the Laguna Rancho. He did much pioneer work in the development of this region and contributed valuably to its agricultural upbuilding. This property descended to the grandchildren. His death occurred at the ranch in August, 1906, at the age of eighty-eight years.
course of his work he taught them the trades of blacksmithing and carpentering, as well as the science of farming. Afterwards he settled in Onondaga County, New York, where he established the family home, and here he lived, an honored and respected citizen, until his death in 1824. He and his wife, who was a native of New England, were the parents of five children: Terry, Timothy, William, John and Nancy. Of these children, John became one of the pioneers of Grand Rapids, Mich., and here he lived to the ripe old age of eighty-four years, prominent in the political affairs of his locality and a staunch adherent of the old school of democracy. During his early manhood he had farmed in New York state, and while there married Mary Chase, a native of that state, who passed away at their Michigan home at the age of ninety-six.
