Ward Nichols Boylston Lamson

• Reference: http://www.anusha.com/pafg25.htm
• Reference: https://archive.org/details/historyjefferso01fultgoog/mode/2up "History of Jefferson County Iowa". By Charles J. Fulton, 1914.
• : Full text https://archive.org/details/descendantsofwil00lams/page/237 "Descendants of William Lamson of ReferenceIpswich, Mass 1634-1917 Part-I" By Dr. William Judson Lamson, M.D. 1644 pp 237-239

+761 Ward Nichols /7, b. Boston, Sept. 7 ,1820; d. April 7, 1904; m. (1) Elizabeth Dills, 1844; m. (2) Elizabeth Smith, 1847; m. (3) Sarah Potter, 1851 ; m. (4) Maria Danielson. 1853

Ward Nichols Boylston /7 Lamson (Silas /6, Nathaniel /5, Thomas /4, Thomas /3, John /2, William/1, was born at Sterling, Mass., Sept. 7, 1820, and died at Fairfield, la., April7,1904. He married (1) Elizabeth Dills, 1844, at Burlington, la. ; he married (2) Elizabeth Smith Carter, Feb. 2, 1847, at Fairfield, la. ; she was born Aug. 4, 1814, and died at Burlington, July 7, 1849; he married (3) Sarah A. Potter, Sept. 25, 1851 ; she died Sept. 11, 1852; he married (4) Maria Albertine Danielson, Dec. 28, 1853; she was born at Kisa, Sweden, Jan. 10, 1832.

Ward Nichols Boylston Lamson went to Burlington, la., in Dec. 1837, and to Fairfield, la., about 1848, where he settled permanently. He was the founder of the Jefferson County Library, now known as the Fairfield Free Public Library. He is said to have been the first man to interest Mr. Andrew Carnegie in making gifts to libraries. He and his wife celebrated their golden wedding in 1903, at Fairfield, la.

Child of Ward N. B. /7 and Elizabeth (Smith Carter) Lamson:

1243 Cora Leroy /8, b. at Burlington, la., Oct. 23, 1847; d. at Fairfield, la.. May 3, 1877; m. S. R. Huyett, 1867; he was from St. Joseph, Mo. Their children were: (1) Stella Cloggett /9, b. July 31, 1868; m. Louis Orvill Gaines, Sept. 11, 1890. (2) Milton M. Cloggett /9, b. May 24, 1871. (3) Guy Lamson /9, b. May 9, 1873; m. Elizabeth Ferris, Nov. 23, 1897.

Child of Ward N. B. /7 and Sarah (Potter) Lamson:

1244 Thomas /8,* b. Aug. 30, 1852; d. Sept. 12, 1852, at Burlington, la.

Children of Ward N. B. /7 and Maria A. (Danielsson) Lamson, all b. Fairfield, la.:

1245 Elizabeth Maria /8, b. Nov. 29, 1854; m. Edmund Hunt, March 19, 1878; he was b. in Ireland, May 2, 1849. Their children all b. at Fairfield. la., were: (1) Fred Lamson /9, b. Feb. 20, 1879. (2) Ralph Day /9, b. July 10, 1880. (3) John Gifford /9, b. June 18, 1882. (4) Abigail Dunlag /9, b. Oct. 2, 1884. (5) Walter Danielson /9, b. April 23, 1890. (6) Edmund Victor /9, b. Nov. 5, 1894.

1246 Victor Alonzo /8, b. Oct. 29, 1856; m. Anna Roth, March 5, 1878. Resides at Fairfield, la.

+1247 Ralph Waldo /8, b. Aug. 11, 1858; m. Mary Bowman, Oct. 14, 1885.

1248 Mary /8, b. Oct. 19, i860; m. Elmer Addison Howard, April 26, 1883 ; he was b. at Fairfield, la., July 18, 1853. Their children were: (1) Nathaniel Lamson /9, b. Fairfield, la., March 9, 1884. (2) Hubert Elmer /9, b. June 19, 1889. (3) Eugene Addison /9, b. March 23, 1891. Residence Fairfield, la.

1249 Ella /8, b. Aug. 26, 1862; m. Charles Clapp Clark, Sept. 3, 1885; he was b. at Huntsbey, O., July 10, 1859. She is a proficient pianist and teacher of music. Their children were: (1) Margaret Melinda /9, b. Oct. 7, 1887. (2) Warren Pomeroy /9, b. Oct. I, 1899. Residence Burlington, la.

1250 Carrie Albertina /8, b. Oct. 2, 1864; m. William G. Ross, May 17, 1893, at Fairfield, la. ; he was b. at Masontown, Pa., Feb. 19, 1859.

1251 Florence Eva /8, b. Nov. 23, 1866; m. Walter S. Slagle, 1891 ; he was b. at Fairfield, Feb. 13, 1865. Their child was: (1) Nancy Maria, b. June 29, 1905. They reside at Alton, la.

1252 Sara Emily /8, b. Nov. 10, 1868; d. April 15, 1870.

1253 Arthur Ward /8, b. March 20, 1871 ; lives at Mesa, Ariz.

Ward Nichols Boylston LAMSON [Parents] 1, 2, 3 was born on 7 Sep 1820 in Sterling, Worcester, Massachusetts. He died on 7 Apr 1904 in Of, Fairfield, Jefferson, Iowa. He married Maria Albertine DANIELSON on 28 Dec 1853 in Of, Fairfield, Jefferson, Iowa.

Other marriages:

DILLS, Elizabeth S.

CARTER, Elizabeth Smith

POTTER, Sarah A.

Maria Albertine DANIELSON [Parents] 1, 2 was born on 10 Jan 1832 in Kisa, Ostergotland, Sweden. She married Ward Nichols Boylston LAMSON on 28 Dec 1853 in Of, Fairfield, Jefferson, Iowa.

The funeral will be held Friday afternoon at 3 o'clock from the old homestead at the corner of Madison and Main streets.

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LAMSON, Ward Nicholas Boylston - 1890 Bio (1820-1904)

LAMSON

Posted By: Joey Stark Date: 8/13/2007 at 20:12:28

Portrait and Biographical Album of Jefferson and Van Buren Counties, Iowa, Printed 1890 by Lake City Publishing Co., Chicago Pages 655-657

Ward LAMSON.

Having subscribed for the Jefferson County 'Album' and being called upon for a sketch of my life, let me state that I was born September 7, 1820, in the Log School District, in the town of Sterling, ten miles north of Worcester, Worcester County, Mass. I lived there in my parents' home upon their small farm until I was twelve, working some on the farm and in my father's scythe sneath shop, where he invented and perfected the crooked scythe sneath. I was "licked" because I played too much and worked too little. I went to the district school some and again was whipped because I did not study more. I went to the Baptist Church and was scared enough to make a sage, if fright would make a dunce wise. I was also taught to fear God there in order to make me love him, but the more they licked and scared, the less I loved and knew, and if my father had not made fun of their scare stories, I think they would have licked and scared what little sense and might I had out of me to make a good boy. At twelve, my father took me to Carnington, Hampshire County, Mass., to work in his scythe sneath shop. There too I went to school some until seventeen, and went to church and Sunday-school to be trained in the fear of God to make me love him, but there too my father's confiding trust in God's loving purpose to reform, not to confirm erring children in wrong, finally helped me to love and reform some. I wanted an education to become a preacher, but father thought I was too proud, ambitious and lazy to make a useful minister, so at seventeen, he gave me $100 to come to Burlington, the capital of Wisconsin Territory at that time, now Burlington, Iowa. I arrived December 6, 1837, but did not obtain work at government land surveying as I hoped, but found work, first as a porter and then as a clerk, with better wages than I expected. I gave up my land surveying enterprise and continued clerking about nine years until my health failed. I thought then that I was broke, but I found that I could think and that I knew enough of business to conduct exchanges of products profitably between the upper and lower Mississippi River, and that I had credit enough with my old employers to aid me in effecting exchanges upon a moderate scale until near the close of the Mexican War, in 1848.

In New Orleans, in the spring of that year I made some investments in land warrants and in the summer opened an office in St. Louis for the prosecution of the land warrant business. After that I opened offices in Burlington and Fairfield, for conducting the sale and loan of land warrants. As for the manner in which I had conducted my business, it has always depended upon the mood I was in, whether I was more or less greedy. When I charged the current high rates I felt like a hog, and I guess that many who paid them thought I was one. When I charged one half or one fourth the current rate and reduced my own expenses to correspond with my income, folks said I was a crank or crazy, but I was not so crazy as to run heels over head in debt to make money to splurge, or to court or incur bankruptcy.

With the humble, industrial and economical help of my present wife, we have raised a large family of boys and girls who are mostly married and trying, so far as I know, with the help of God, to lead useful lives. Of my three deceased wives, suffice it to say, they were good enough for me, and I liked all well enough to seek another, although I thought each time that I could never find another to replace my loss. I have not joined any church because I have not found one which gives me that freedom of search and individual action which I crave and need for mental growth; and because I don't want to spend or be spent in substituting Christianity with mere churchanity, as I understand both; and because I believe that speech prayer to God as practiced by the churches, as if God does not know or is faithless to do what is best for his children without speech prayer, is neither wise nor reverent toward God; and because growing charity among intelligent sectarians is making them less sectarian, so that I enjoy sincere converse in the spirit of truth with them for mutual improvement, without much hinderance from dogmatic, sectarian faith, though I am not a church member. As a rule, I have been treated as well by others through life as I have treated them, so that I can't complain of others without making complaint against myself. As this would not be "taffylogical" in a biographical album, I will make no complaint at having no offices of honor or profit pressed upon me against my will. But I have accepted some such offices as road supervisor and the like when no others would serve. When jogged by a good faithful Christian minister to diffuse useful knowledge by means of books for general use, I worked hard to start the Jefferson County Library in Fairfield in 1853, and I went to Boston, by request of the Library Association, to buy the first installment of books, having first provided that I should secure wiser minds than mine, there, to make up the list; and to their wise selection and to Jefferson County's people's appreciation of the books, subsequently came that warm support by the appreciators, to which Fairfield now owes the existence of the largest, best and most widely read public library in any town of its size in Iowa if not in the United States, so say better judges than I. But among the most difficult official duties which I have elected myself to perform out of office is that of railway regulation, so as to tax corporations the same as private property and suppress railway rate discrimination and extortion. Though reason, justice and the public welfare require the adoption of these measures; and although they are easy to understand and apply and are fair toward all, yet free passes and other special transportation privileges to influence influential citizens, still defeat the return of our most intelligent and faithful public servants to office, who like our late Gov. Larrabee, mean practical reform. But I still hope that our influential men will see and correct their mistake before it is too late. I would present you a photograph of my phiz, if it was as good looking as my wife's and she would consent to the presentation of hers.

In 1899 the Jefferson County Library Association deeded its property to the city of Fairfield and the institution became in name and fact a free public library devoted to public use and supported by a public revenue. It was eminently fitting that Ward Lamson's name was first on the list of trustees and that on the organization of the board he was chosen president. When the change from private to municipal control was advocated he seriously doubted its advisability. It was easily in his power to defeat the proposition. That he did not exercise the power is to the honor of his mental and moral attitude. He asked only that the institution be guarded against being made a medium for partisan or sectarian purposes and then he gave in as loyal an adherence to the new plan as he had before given to the old. An in his last illness, when consciousness was growing dim from the near approach of death, he was still solicitous for the welfare of the library which had claimed so much of his attention in the days of his youth and strength.

Of studious habit, of wide knowledge, of cool judgment, of positive convictions, Ward Lamson was, in a word, a forceful man. His insight into men and affairs was deep and true. He sought for truth and what he believed to be right he dared always to defend. Himself tolerant to a degree, he desired most of all tolerance in others. He was charitable without ostentation and liberal to any cause he deemed worthy. The dominant note in his character was serenity and into every relation of life he bore a tranquil mind. In loving memory of the man and his work this entry is made in the records of the board.* Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Sep 5 2020, 19:17:26 UTC

• Reference: MyHeritage Family Trees - SmartCopy: Sep 5 2020, 20:53:13 UTC
• Reference: Ancestry Genealogy - SmartCopy: Sep 6 2020, 11:25:20 UTC
• Reference: http://iagenweb.org/jefferson/index.htm Iowa Genealogical Web Homepage: Jefferson County
• Reference: http://iagenweb.org/jefferson/Family_lines/Group_Sheets/Pages/Lamso... Jefferson County, IA Family Group Sheets pp 132-132a

From contributor Richard K Thompson: The Fairfield Ledger Wednesday, April 6, 1904 Fairfield, Jefferson County, Iowa Ward Lamson A Pioneer Fairfield Business Man Who Died Here this Morning. Ward Lamson, a resident of Fairfield for almost half a century and one of her best and best known business men, died this morning at 6 o'clock. He was stricken with paralysis early in December and never rallied. Mr. Lamson's age was eighty-three years, seven months.

The funeral will be held Friday afternoon at 3 o'clock from the old homestead at the corner of Madison and Main streets.

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The Fairfield Ledger Wednesday, April 13, 1904 Lived A Useful Life Ward Lamson, who died in this city the 6th instant, had more than fifty years' unbroken connection with the business life and the practical affairs of Fairfield and Jefferson County. He came here in early manhood, founded a home, reared a most creditable family, established business connections which yielded a rich fruitage, attained a ripe old age and was honored and respected by everyone who understood the man. He had positive convictions and the courage to express them. He was absolutely independent in the positions he assumed and ever ready to defend them. He had his own views of right living and right doing and he adhered to them under all circumstances. He was liberal, broad minded, considerate. He was kindly in his manner, generous in his dealings with others. He was not only philanthropic, but he was charitable. His public benefactions were only a small part of his contributions to the public welfare. His was a useful life-to himself, his family, the community in which he lived, to society. His death will be genuinely regretted in this community, of which he had been an important part for so long a time.

Mr. Lamson was born in Worcester County, Massachusetts, September 7th, 1821. At the age of seventeen he came to Burlington, then in Wisconsin territory and with that self reliance which stood him in such good play all the remainder of his years, entered upon an active business life. He came to Fairfield in 1843 and had resided here continuously since that time. He was engaged in various business enterprises during these years and was singularly successful. He had great faith in Iowa and her possibilities, made large investments in lands and was at one time perhaps the largest landholder in Jefferson county. Mr. Lamson was prominent in almost every movement which had for its purpose the upbuilding or the welfare of the city or county. He was the actual founder of the Jefferson County Library Association, now the Fairfield Free Public library and his connection with that institution is best told in a statement of the library board made herewith.

Mr. Lamson was married to Maria Albertine Danielson, who survives him, December 28th, 1853, their golden wedding anniversary coming during his last illness. Mrs. Lamson was a member of the first party of Swedish people who found a home west of the Allegheny mountains and is now one of its few surivors. They reared a family of eight children. Victor A., Ralph W., Mrs. Edmund Hunt, Mrs. E.A. Howard and Mrs. W.G. Ross reside in this city; Mrs. C.C. Clark makes her home in Burlington; Mrs. W.S. Slagle at Alton; and A. Ward at Mesa, Arizona.

Funeral services were held at the old Lamson homestead on South Main street Friday afternoon. They were conducted by Rev. William Salter of Burlington, whose acquaintance and friendship with Mr. Lamson dated back to their lives as young men in Burlington. Rev. H.O. Spelman had charge of the services at the grave. The body was borne to the grave by members of the family.

Fifty-two years ago he and other young men in Fairfield, seeking a common benefit, determined to establish a public library. The intellectual hunger of the community was great, the individual ability to satisfy it was slight. With hearts prophetic of the future they watched over and nourished the little institution. Today is stands strong and vigorous, the evidence of their wise forethought and patient effort. In this group Ward Lamson was a choice and select spirit. When sufficient money was secured, to him, without restriction, he accorded the high privilege of making the first purchase of books. In this important matter, questioning his own knowledge, he called to his aid his friends Hildrith the historian and Whipple the essayist and by them the selection was made. With those books the Jefferson County Library Association entered upon its career of usefulness. The upbuilding of this institution, depending for its existence on personal interest and free-will offerings, was severe labor. There were times when interest slackened, times when the business world was depressed, and at such times there were complaints and criticisms and dearth of friends. Through these periods the zeal of Ward Lamson never languished.

The sun set, but set not his hope-- Stars rose; his faith was earlier up.

And his act followed close upon his faith. He gave freely of his means without exacting homage to the giver. It is also pleasant to recall that the major part of the book endowment fund came from his generous hand.

In 1899 the Jefferson County Library Association deeded its property to the city of Fairfield and the institution became in name and fact a free public library devoted to public use and supported by a public revenue. It was eminently fitting that Ward Lamson's name was first on the list of trustees and that on the organization of the board he was chosen president. When the change from private to municipal control was advocated he seriously doubted its advisability. It was easily in his power to defeat the proposition. That he did not exercise the power is to the honor of his mental and moral attitude. He asked only that the institution be guarded against being made a medium for partisan or sectarian purposes and then he gave in as loyal an adherence to the new plan as he had before given to the old. An in his last illness, when consciousness was growing dim from the near approach of death, he was still solicitous for the welfare of the library which had claimed so much of his attention in the days of his youth and strength.

Of studious habit, of wide knowledge, of cool judgment, of positive convictions, Ward Lamson was, in a word, a forceful man. His insight into men and affairs was deep and true. He sought for truth and what he believed to be right he dared always to defend. Himself tolerant to a degree, he desired most of all tolerance in others. He was charitable without ostentation and liberal to any cause he deemed worthy. The dominant note in his character was serenity and into every relation of life he bore a tranquil mind. In loving memory of the man and his work this entry is made in the records of the board.

• Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Oct 12 2020, 16:21:41 UTC