Lapeer County MI Archives Biographies.....Lamb, Jacob C. 1828 - 
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Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com February 20, 2007, 7:11 pm

Author: Chapman Bros. (1892)

HON. JACOB C. LAMB, who is a resident of Imlay City, was born in Burlington
County N. J., in New Hanover Township, April 10, 1828. He is a son of Jacob and
Ann (Merritt) Lamb, both natives of New Jersey. The father was a farmer by
occupation. They made their home in their native State and county throughout
life and there our subject's father died at the age of sixty-live years; his
wife's decease occurred at the age of fifty years. They were both of English
ancestry. Our subject's Grandfather Lamb was a large landowner and was born in
England.

  Jacob and Ann Lamb were the parents of ten children whose names are as
follows: John M., Joseph, Sarah, Mary and Elizabeth, twins, Henry and William,
twins, Beulah and Anna. Jacob, our subject, was the youngest of the family. He
was reared in his native place until the age of twenty-four years and was
engaged in the mercantile business in Juliustown, N. J. He was also in the
hardware business in Philadelphia, Pa., for one year and thence came to Michigan
in 1854, locating in Dryden Village, Lapeer County. The place was at that time
known as Lamb's Corners. He here engaged in business with his brother John,
opening a general store. They continued in partnership for about three years,
when our subject bought out his brother's interest and continued for six years
alone. He then entered into partnership with D. C. Bacon and his brother John
and this partnership continued for four years, when he sold his interest to
Eldredge, Emmon & Co., but still retained an interest in the business.

  In 1872 the name was changed to the firm title of Lamb & Co., and our subject
opened another store at Imlay City under the same name, there carrying a general
stock of goods. They continued in this business for four years and at the
present time the store is run under the firm name of Lamb & Messer. Aside from
his mercantile interests our subject erected a large elevator in Imlay in 1871
and the first two years he disbursed half a million dollars to the farmers of
this region in return for their wheat. In 1854 he bought all the wool in the
territory, amounting to eight thousand pounds, and in 1867 he bought from the
same territory two hundred and fifty thousand pounds and was one of the largest
buyers in this section. He still owns the elevator in Imlay City, which had the
distinction of being the largest between Port Huron and Chicago at the time he
built it. He built and owned the evaporator and mill at Dryden Village, having
launched into the first-named enterprise in connection with a Mr. Durwood, in
1876. He took samples of the fruit there prepared to Philadelphia in 1876 and
since that time they have acquired a wide-spread reputation.

  Our subject owns a farm of four hundred acres in the township of Dryden,
one-half mile distant from the village of Dryden. He has upon it a tenant who
works it upon shares. Mr. Lamb is also half owner of the Farmer's Bank at Dryden
and is President of the same. He has been one of the largest stock dealers in
the township of Dryden. Politically he is a Republican and in 1870 was elected
to the State Legislature, maintaining his position for four years. During that
time he was on the State Central Committee. Since 1880 he has taken no active
part in politics although he was nominated the third time by acclamation of his
party.

  Our subject was married the first time to Caroline Roberts, a daughter of John
Roberts, a native of New Jersey. By this union there were seven children, two
daughters and five sons, John R., Horace, George R., Edwin, Lilly M., William H.
and Anna. The mother of these children died in 1885 and is interred in the
cemetery at Dryden. Our subject later married Mary E. Sikes, a native of Romeo,
this State. The extent of Mr. Lamb's landed possessions may be inferred from the
fact that he owns seven farms in Lapeer County which aggregate eleven hundred
acres in all. These are all well improved and bear good houses. Socially Mr.
Lamb is a Mason and has attained to the Thirtieth degree. He belongs to Lodge
No. 150, at Dryden and is Commander of the lodge at Romeo, belonging to the
Chapter at Lapeer.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

Portrait and Biographical Record of Genesee, Lapeer and Tuscola Counties,
Michigan, Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative
Citizens, Together with Biographies of all the Governors of the State, and of
the Presidents of the United States

Chicago:
Chapman Bros.
1892


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