Who are these people??

This is a photo of Hiram and Sarah Lamb and, I assume, relatives and/or offspring. I am speculating that this photo was either taken in 1900 when relatives came to help Hiram celebrate his 70th birthday or in 1908 when there was a reunion of the Lamb and Emery families . If you know who any of these people are, please, add a comment with the number and name. Your help is appreciated!!

8. Hiram Lamb

10. Sarah Lamb

Hiram Lamb (1831 - 1914)

Hiram  “Hi” Lamb was born in Floyd County, Indiana on October 28, 1831, a son of Benjamin and Charlotte “Lottie” (Atkins) Lamb. (1) Lottie passed away in either 1843 or 1844 when Hiram was 12-13 years old. Benjamin then married Olive West in August 1844. In 1850, Benjamin and Olive, their family of 11 children and three nephews (2) hitched up their team and trekked to the State of Iowa, which was founded in December 1846.  The family first claimed land in Decatur County, Iowa before permanently settling in Pleasant Township in Union County, Iowa. In 1851, the family founded the town of Hopewell, about 3 miles from the current day Hopeville. The closest neighbors were at Mount Pisgah, a Mormon settlement 12 miles away.

Living in a time and place where the closest general store was in Saint Joseph, Missouri, the family subsisted mainly on hominy and venison and wild honey during the summer of 1851. (3) Hiram was said to have killed many deer in 1851 and 1852. (4) 

He also developed carpentry skills, working as a cooper (6) (barrel maker) and constructing buildings.  Hiram set about building a house in Hopeville. The house was made of logs that Hiram hewn and it had a shingle roof.  Folks thought he was “putting on airs” with such a fancy house! Hiram hung the door by July 4, 1853 and “had the building completed all ready for occupation before his marriage” to Sarah Jane Emery, daughter of Dr. Jesse and Margaret (Pounds) Emery, in June 1854. (4,5)  

The couple made a home for themselves, adding 4 children to the family (Margaret, Happa, Clarence, and Dora) while living in Hopeville. (7)  Then “in 1868 the railroad was extended across the prairie west of Osceola and a town plat was laid out for Murray.  Mr. Lamb went there and built the first residence of the town for himself.” (4)  Two more children were born after the move to Murray (Iva and Lew). (8) 

Hiram was highly respected citizen of Murray.  He and J. F. Wick are credited with transplanting sapling trees from the banks of the Grand River and planting them in Murray. (9) In 1875, Hiram and Jim Emery built a two-room school. (10) He served as the Assessor for the town and served as a grand juror in Des Moines.  Hiram was also confirmed by the Senate as postmaster for Murray on January 14, 1903 (11) and served until June 13, 1914 (12) when he resigned due to failing health. His appointment as postmaster was signed by Theodore Roosevelt and George B. Cortel.  Hiram noted that “Teddy writes the plainest and best hand.” (13)

Hiram lived out his life in Murray, Clarke County, Iowa watching the once unsettled country become populated and developed. Experiencing ill health in the latter half of 1914, he passed away on December 18, 1914 from arteriosclerosis. (1)  He was buried in the Murray Cemetery.

 For more information on Hiram please go to: https://www.lambeivinsancestry.com/hiram-sarah-lamb

 Citations:

1. Death Certificate for Hiram Lamb

2. Illustrated Centennial Sketches, Map and Directory of Union County, Iowa  by Colby, C. J., 1876, Page 13

3. Illustrated Centennial Sketches, Map and Directory of Union County, Iowa  by Colby, C. J., 1876, Page 14

4. Osceola Sentinel, published in Osceola, Iowa, Volume XL, No. Thursday, August 17th, 1899, Page 12

5. Biographical and Historical Record of Clarke County, Iowa by Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago (Ill.), 1886, Page 511

6. Population schedules of the seventh census of the United States, 1850, Iowa [microform]; by United States. Bureau of the Census; United States. National Archives and Records Service; Reel 0183 - 1850 Iowa Federal Population Census Schedules - Decatur, Delaware, Des Moines, and Dubuque Counties

7. Population schedules of the ninth census of the United States, 1870, Iowa [microform]; Washington : National Archives and Records Service, General Services Administration; Reel 0382 - 1870 Iowa Federal Population Census Schedules - Clarke and Clay Counties

8. 1880 Federal Census [microfilm]; National Archives and Records Service, General Services Administration; Reel 0332 - 1880 Iowa Federal Population Census Schedules - Cerro Gordo (cont'd: ED 44, sheet 51-end), Chickasaw, Cherokee, and Clark (part: EDs 1-43, sheet 21) Counties

9. The Murray Journal, published in Murray, Iowa on Thursday, August 13th, 1936, Volume 3, Number 37, page 1

10. Osceola Sentinel Progress Report, published in Osceola, Iowa on Thursday, December 10th, 1970 , Page 11

11. Congressional Record December 1, 1902 - January 22, 1903: Vol 36

12. Congressional Record June 13, 1914-June 30, 1914: Vol 51

13. The Osceola Democrat, published in Osceola, Iowa, Volume XXXIV, No. 4, Thursday, January 24th, 1907, Page  8