calm they finally landed at Castle Garden, New York, coming across on the old condemned sailer "Antarctic" which was sunk on the return voyage. Their destination was Utah, and they made their way across the country as far as Omaha by train, thence to Salt Lake City by ox team, arriving there six months after their departure from Liverpool. Here they located, and later Elizabeth made the acquaintance of William D. Lamb, to whom she was married on October 12, 1868. Mr. Lamb was then only nineteen years of age, but his life had been filled with arduous experience, even at that time. Born in Onondaga County, N.Y., he was left motherless at the age of four, and lived for a time with an uncle near Grand Rapids, Mich. When he was eleven years old he set out to make his way alone, working his way through to Omaha on railroad grading work. When he was about fourteen years old his father came up from the South and the two crossed the plains in a Mormon freight train. At that time he had not even learned to read, for his life had been so full of toil that there had been no time for schooling, but after reaching Salt Lake City he managed, even in the midst of many duties, to learn the alphabet and acquire the rudiments of an education.
After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Lamb remained in Salt lake City for a time, and there their eldest daughter, Mary, now Mrs. E. J. Levengood, wad born. Then they decided to locate in California, and when they arrived here Mr. Lamb earned a living by chopping and hauling wood on what was later the Lucky Baldwin ranch, Mrs. Lamb and her little one making their home in their covered wagon. They then moved on to El Monte and tried farming there, but there was a long season of drought and all their corn and other produce was dried up. Their next move was to Azusa, where they lived in the canyon, afterwards named Lamb's Canyon for Mr. Lamb. Here two of their children were born, but they lost both of them and they were buried there. Mr. Lamb next bought a squatter's claim of 160 acres four miles from Huntington Beach, but in 1879, after they had lived there four years, litigation arose and he and other claimants to adjoining tracts were dispossessed, the Los Bolsas Company winning the suit. His next purchase was forty acres of the Stearns ranch at Newhope; here they settled, made many improvements and prospered. They subsequently added to their acreage, and Mrs. Lamb still owns the old home of 120 acres there. The next purchase was 220 acres at Garden Grove and, in 1892, he closed the deal for 720 acres of the Los Bolsas ranch at a very reasonable price, and here Mrs. Lamb now makes her home. At first they only ran cattle on these lands, but they have now been brought up to a high state of cultivation. They were always among the most progressive farmers of the community, and their place was always equipped with the latest inventions in farm machinery that could be obtained, and the example of their enterprise meant much for the progress and welfare of their neighborhood.
For several years Mr. Lamb was the resident manager of the Los Bolsas Land Company and other large ranches, and through his work much improvement was made on the tracts under his charge. He early saw the necessity for drainage and irrigation, and with several associates purchased a dredger, the first of its kind in this territory, and thus completely revolutionized the early methods of carrying on this work. In no instance, perhaps, is his perseverance and progressive spirit more plainly shown than in the fact that after he had embarked in business for himself he employed a man to keep his books, and paid him an extra salary for his personal instruction in reading, arithmetic and the general principles of business, this arrangement continuing for three years; after that he was able to superintend every detail of his extensive business interests for himself and with marked success. Mr. Lamb passed away in March, 1911, and is buried at Santa Ana. Like her husband, Mrs. Lamb had only the most limited opportunities to secure an education, but this was fully made up through the practical business experience and "hard knocks" of pioneer days. She has always been a woman of great business and executive ability, and ever shared with her husband the burdens and responsibilities of their great undertakings, and much of his success was due to her splendid judgment and management.
Mr. and Mrs. Lamb were the parents of nine children, five of whom are living: Mary, now Mrs. Edward J. Levengood of Pomona, was first married to William Hamner, by whom she had two children, Jessie M. and Anson; Wm. Anson and Vina died in childhood; Arthur, now deceased, married Mary Stephens and had one son, Leo Ford Lamb, who resides in Los Angeles; Walter D., a rancher near Santa Ana, married Gertrude DuBois, a daughter of Valentine DuBois of Santa Ana, and they have two children, Mrs. Velda May Squires and Kenneth; Laura is the wife of Gregory Harper, and they have two children, Ivan H. and Harold L.; Hugo J., a rancher near Huntington Beach, married Effie Stockton, and two children have been born to them, Lois and Alice; Earl A. is also engaged in ranching near Huntington Beach; he married Etta Bradley, and they are the parents of three children, Rachel E., Wm. G. and Alvan; Robert died at the age of four months.
Mrs. Lamb makes her home on her 720-acre ranch southeast of Huntington Beach, her son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Gregory Harper, living with her, and she is active and interested in the management of her properties and extensive business interests. A woman of great force of character, withal kindly and considerate, she is greatly beloved by her family and a large circle of friends. A true type of the pioneer woman, her life is a record of accomplishment and good deeds that will leave their beneficent influence on the generations to come.
