Berkeley County, West Virginia Biography of Walter J. LAMBERT ************************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: Material may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material, AND permission is obtained from the contributor of the file. These pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for non-commercial purposes, MUST obtain the written consent of the contributor. Submitted by Valerie Crook, , April 1999 ************************************************************************** The History of West Virginia, Old and New Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, Volume III, pg. 112-113 WALTER J. LAMBERT, first vice president of the Citizens Bank of Martinsburg, Berkeley County, was born at Fred- erick City, Maryland, on the 15th of July, 1850. He is a son of Frederick Lambert, presumably a native of Vir- ginia. The original American progenitors came from Eng- land in an early day and settled in the historic Old Dominion State. Frederick Lambert became a representa- tive merchant at Frederick City, Maryland, his store and residence having been at the west end of Patrick Street. The maiden name of his wife was Catherine Lambright, she having been born and reared in Frederick City, where she and her husband continued to reside until their deaths. They became the parents of the following sons and daugh- ters: David, Michael, William H., Charles O. (served three terms as mayor of Martinsburg, West Virginia), John C., Harriet A., George Dallas (served as a member of the city council at Martinsburg, West Virginia, and was a soldier in the Civil war three years), Thomas F., Lewis E., Walter J., Franklin P. (died at the age of four years), and Emma J. The daughter Harriet became the wife of Walter H. Keedy, who served as a soldier of the Union in the Civil war. Mr. and Mrs. Keedy became the parents of six chil- dren, namely: Eugene, Mary, Laura, Naomi, Mabel and Emma, the latter of whom died in infancy. Emma J. Lambert became the wife of Charles E. Zieler, now deceased, and she now presides over the domestic economies and social regime of the home of her brother, Walter J., subject of this review. In his youth Walter J. Lambert attended the excellent schools conducted by Professor James English at Frederick City, Maryland, and he early manifested distinct native talent as a trader, he having been a lad of twelve years old when he entered the employ of Augustus Fraley, a dealer in horses and other live stock, for whom he bought and sold with remarkable judgment for a youth of that immature age. Mr. Lambert was fourteen years old when he came to Martinsburg, West Virginia, to enter the employ of his brothers, George D. and Charles O., who had here established themselves in the provision business. He con- tinued to be thus associated with his brothers until they dissolved their partnership. Thereafter he was for three years in the employ of his brother George D., who then consolidated his business with that of his father-in-law, Andrew Grazier. After remaining for a time with this new firm Walter J. Lambert engaged in the provision business in an independent way. Three years later he turned his atten- tion to the restaurant business, with which he continued to be successfully identified a few years, in the meanwhile having been successful also as a local buyer and shipper of live stock. Mr. Lambert was one of the organizers of the Citizens Bank of Martinsburg, and has been a member of its directorate from the time of its incorporation, besides which he has given effective executive service as its first vice president, an office of which he is the incumbent at the present time, his mature business judgment and effective counsel having been a potent influence in connection with the development of this substantial financial institution. Mr. Lambert has made judicious investments in Martins- burg real estate, and was the owner of the local operahouse, which was destroyed by fire in 1920. He is a member of Robert White Lodge No. 67, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, Martinsburg Lodge No. 778, Benevolent and Pro- tective Order of Elks, and of Washington Lodge No. 1, Knights of Pythias. Mr. Lambert has taken deep and helpful interest in the welfare of the fine little city that has long represented his home, and while he has had no desire for public office he has been at all times a liberal and progressive citizen—one who has inviolable place in the esteem and good will of the community. Mr. Lambert is a bachelor.