This heavy real estate holder and prominent man of Nez Perces County lives twenty miles southeast from Lewiston upon his fine estate of seventeen hundred acres of land. This is laid under tribute to produce annually excellent crops of barley and wheat and Mr. Lambert also gives attention to handling stock, although at the present time he has sold main of his herds. He has just now finished a beautiful residence of nine moms, with all modern improvements and of tasty architectural design. He has al! the improvements, as barns, out buildings, corrals, fences, machinery and equipment needed on his large domain and Mr. Lambert is considered one of the most substantial men of the County.
James Lambert was born in Washington County, New York, on April 5, 1848 being the son of Peter Lambert, who was born of Scotch Irish ancestors, in Ireland, in 1832 and died in 1894. Mr. Lambert lost his mother by death when young, and has but little remembrance of her.
He was educated in the common schools and when seventeen stepped forth to encounter the battles of life alone. He went to Chatauqua County, in his state, and worked on a dairy farm until 1878. Then he sold out and came to San Francisco. Thence he went to Oregon, later to Walla Walla and finally came to Lewiston. He purchased a portion of his present estate from the owner and took some from the government. He at once commenced stock raising, handling cattle principally, and to this he devoted such skillful effort that he won the finest success.
On March 29, 1872, Mr. Lambert married Miss Elizabeth, daughter of David Ranch, in Chautauqua County. New York, and to them one son, John J. Lambert, was born. Mrs. Lambert died in 1890.
In 1894, Mr. Lambert married Mary, daughter of Andrew and Esther (Marshall) Sherburn. The father was born in Portland, Maine, in 1830, and the mother was born in Perry County, Indiana, in 1843. Mrs. Lambert was born in Wisconsin, in 1871. Mr. Lambert has one brother, John, who lives in Fredonia, New York, and is judge of the supreme court of that state.
Mr. Lambert is an advocate of good schools and has done much for the advancement of the cause of education in this County. He is a Democrat, but is not bound by party lines to bias his judgment in voting for the men whom he believes to be the best and for those principles that are salutary. Mr. Lambert is a man of excellent standing, has gained a success that demonstrates bis ability better than words can do, has ever maintained a high sense of his stewardship and is today one of tile prominent men of his county.
Back to: Nez Perce Biographies
Source: An Illustrated History of Northern Idaho, Embracing Nez Perce, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone Counties, Western Historical Publishing Company, 1903