Early life

Chancy Lamb was born in Ticonderoga, New York

Ticonderoga, New York

Ticonderoga is a town in Essex County, New York, USA. The population was 5,167 at the 2000 census. The name comes from the Mohawk tekontaró:ken, meaning "it is at the junction of two waterways"....

, January 4, 1816. He was the son of Alpheus and Mrs. Sophia (Bailey – Wilkerson) Lamb. His father was a descendent of Thomas Lamb, who came from England with Governor Winthrop’s fleet in 1630, and settled at Roxbury, Massachusetts. Chancy Lamb spent his early life on a farm, enjoying an occasional winter of schooling in the common schools of the neighborhood. In 1836 he went to Benton, New York

Benton, New York

Benton is a town in Yates County, New York, United States. The population was 2,640 at the 2000 census. The town is named after an early resident.The Town of Benton is located in the northeast part of the county...

, where he engaged in the manufacture of wagons, and, as well, learned the trade of millwright. Two years later, in 1838, he moved to Bradford, New York

Bradford, New York

Bradford is a town in Steuben County, New York, United States. The population was 763 at the 2000 census. The town is named after Major Robert Bradford.The Town of Bradford is in the northeast part of the county, north of Corning, New York....

, where he went to work in a saw mill, and for the next three years was thus engaged, the larger portion of the time sawing by the thousand. In the summer of 1841 he commenced the construction of a saw mill on the outlet of Lake Keuka, near Penn Yan, New York

Penn Yan, New York

Penn Yan is a village in Yates County, New York, USA. The population was 5,219 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Yates County and lies at the north end of the east branch of Keuka Lake, one of the Finger Lakes....

 for R.L. Chapman of Steuben County, New York

Steuben County, New York

Steuben County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 98,990. Its name is in honor of Baron von Steuben, a German general who fought on the American side in the American Revolutionary War, though it is not pronounced the same...

 completing it in the spring of 1842, during which season he operated the mill under contract with the owner. In November of that year he returned with his family to Bradford, where he took a contract to run the saw mill of Cameron, Thurman & Co., and continued in the capacity of superintendent with this firm until the summer of 1844, when he moved with his family to Carroll county, Illinois, where he spent several years in farming.

In 1851 he moved to Williamsport, Pennsylvania

Williamsport, Pennsylvania

Williamsport is a city in and the county seat of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania in the United States. In 2009, the population was estimated at 29,304...

, and accepted the position of superintendent in the mill operations of his former employer, J.C. Cameron & Co., and in the following year operated the mills of this company in Chemung County, New York

Chemung County, New York

Chemung County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. It is part of the 'Elmira, New York Metropolitan Statistical Area' which encompasses all of Chemung County. As of the 2010 census, the population was 88,830. Its name is derived from the name of a Delaware Indian village . Its...

, sawing by the thousand and continuing in this business for the next five years.

Move to Clinton, Iowa

Clinton, Iowa

Clinton is a city in and the county seat of Clinton County, Iowa, United States. The population was 26231as of 2010. Clinton, along with DeWitt, Iowa , was named in honor of the seventh governor of New York, DeWitt Clinton. Clinton is the principal city of the Clinton Micropolitan Statistical...

In November, 1856, Mr. Lamb again moved west, and for a few months was a resident of Fulton, Illinois

Fulton, Illinois

Fulton is a city in Whiteside County, Illinois, United States. The population was 3,481 at the 2010 census, down from 3,881 at the 2000 census. Fulton is located across the Mississippi River from Clinton, Iowa.-Geography:...

, but in 1857 he took possession of the saw mill at Clinton, which he purchased from Gray & Lunt, and which he had helped to build. This mill burned October 6, 1857, and Mr. Lamb at once erected a much better mill, which he operated until November 14, 1876, when it, too, was destroyed by fire. In March, 1868, he laid the foundations of a stone structure saw mill, which went into commission in September of the same year, which, with the rebuilt mill which replaced the one which was burned, and the subsequent acquisition of the Cobb mill and Wheeler & Warner mill, produced about 100000000 board feet (235,973.7 m³) of lumber and 50,000,000 shingles a year.

Innovation

Mr. Lamb was one of the most progressive men in the trade, and it is claimed that he was the first man to use the band saw in the manufacture of white pine lumber, his practical experience readily discerning the value of so economical a device, which, in its experimental stages, others were hesitant about testing. He was also among the first to employ steam-boats in the towing of log rafts upon the Mississippi for the more expeditious, as well as more economical method over the prevailing custom of floating with the current. He from time to time built what may be termed a full fleet of steam-boats expressly for the towing business.

Sons in the business

In 1864 his son, Artemus Lamb, and in 1873 another son, Lafayette Lamb, were taken into partnership with their father, and in January, 1878, articles of incorporation were taken out under the name of C. Lamb & Sons.

Other business interests

Mr. Lamb was from the first, president of C. Lamb & Sons, incorporated; was also president of the Clinton Savings Bank, and a director in various companies, including the Mississippi River Logging Company; the Mississippi River Lumber Company; the Shell Lake Lumber Company; the People’s Trust & Savings Bank of Clinton; the Clinton National Bank (http://www.clintonnational.com/), and of the Clinton Gas Light & Coke Co. and Clinton Water Works Co.

Non business interests

He was an ardent Republican in politics, but never sought nor held office, never seeking to unduly influence the opinions of his employees upon political matters recognizing the duty of all men to exercise an intelligent and unbiased franchise according to individual and conscientious judgement. While never a member of any religious body, his life was moulded upon the highest plane and with decided opinions upon religious subjects, he was a liberal giver to all worthy church and other work calculated to raise the standard of morality, and ameliorate the condition of his fellow men.

Family life

Mr. Lamb was married November 16, 1839, to Miss Jane Bevier of Bradford, New York

Bradford, New York

Bradford is a town in Steuben County, New York, United States. The population was 763 at the 2000 census. The town is named after Major Robert Bradford.The Town of Bradford is in the northeast part of the county, north of Corning, New York....

, whose father David Bevier served as adjutant of the Third Ulster County, New York

Ulster County, New York

Ulster County is a county located in the state of New York, USA. It sits in the state's Mid-Hudson Region of the Hudson Valley. As of the 2010 census, the population was 182,493. Recent population estimates completed by the United States Census Bureau for the 12-month period ending July 1 are at...

, regiment in the revolutionary war. Mrs. Lamb was married to Mr. Lamb for fifty-eight years, during which time two sons, Artemus and Lafayette, and four daughters, Augusta Celesta, Merrette and Emma E., were born to them. Celesta and Merrette died as children. Mrs. Lamb died on March 5, 1897. Mr. Lamb died four months later, on July 12, 1897.