Subject to the law of nature, and fully prepared for the final summons, the spirit of John T. Lamb took its flight to its heavenly home at 2:10 o'clock last Friday afternoon. The deceased had been a sufferer for nearly two years, and his condition grew more serious as the days of the last twelve months passed. His was a life of affliction, but no one ever made a more determined fight for happiness and well doing. At six years of age, he was stricken with spotted fever, which settled in his hips and left him a cripple, thus handicapping him from following many of the pursuits of life. Educational work appealed to him strongly in his extreme youthful days, and although the meager school advantages of sixty years ago would have been sufficient bar to keep him from following that profession, his exceptionally strong mind caused him to enter upon the duties of a school teacher at the age of sixteen years. In the summer he followed, as well as possible, agricultural work and in the winter season, until 1868, he taught school; after which he engaged in the general mercantile business for four years at Hobbieville. In 1872, when his brother-in-law, Francis M. Dugger, at that time also a resident of Hobbieville, was elected sheriff, Mr. Lamb accepted the position of deputy sheriff and changed his residence to Bloomfield, where he has ever since resided. In 1876 he concluded his work as deputy sheriff and resumed teaching, which he followed until 1886, when he again quit, to accept the position of county superintendent of schools, to fill out the unexpired term of Shannon Ogg, deceased. One year later he was reelected superintendent of schools and served in all three and one-half years. These were the most enjoyable years of his life, and he was happy every moment he was in the company of the teachers and pupils in the public schools. The schools advanced materially under his guidance, and now he is regarded as one of the progressive superintendents who did much to put the schools on a modern basis. He advanced the idea that there should be a closer relationship between the teacher and pupil, and that the pupil was in the school for the good of his future, and that the teacher was there as his friend and instructor, and not his enemy and oppressor as has been the feeling in some localities, which resulted greatly in retarding the good work intended to be done by the public schools. Mr. Lamb was well known for his love of music and his natural ability as a vocalist. He was an efficient instructor and organized a number of glee clubs and taught vocal music in almost every locality in the county. In 1876 he was quite popular a glee club leader and his band of singers were in great demand. On several occasions his glee club in that campaign was drawn in a large wagon by forty-eight elegantly caparisoned horses, and was the chief object of interest to the people in attendance at the rallies. After the close of the campaign in 1890 in which Mr. Lamb had been an unsuccessful candidate for the county treasurership, he formed a partnership with Will B. Maddock and purchased the Bloomfield News of J. H. Seneff, in which capacity he labored for nine years in an honest endeavor to help build up the Republican party and strengthen the moral welfare of Greene county. He was sincere in all his undertakings, but always stood for the good and the best in manhood. He was never found upon the wavering, immoral side of any issue and his influence was always for good, and he was so pronounced in his views that no one had to speculate upon what his attitude upon any question would be. And the county today would be better if more men were as positive and outspoken as this man whom we loved for his pronounced views and opinions. In the campaign of 1896, Mr. Lamb served his party as district chairman, which made him a member of the Republican State Central Committee from the Second congressional district. He made many and lasting friendships among men throughout Indiana in that campaign in which the late martyred president, Wm. McKinley, was elected. After severing his connection with the News in 1900, the deceased followed farming on a tract of land south of Bloomfield, and in his efforts to help promote and upbuild his hometown he laid out Lamb's addition, which is built up with many comfortable homes. On January 5, 1865, Mr. Lamb and Miss Nancy E. Dugger, a member of one of the pioneer families of Jackson township, were united in marriage. To this union six children were born, two sons and four daughters. The sons, Marion D. and Daney, both died many years ago, and it was the father's fondest wish that he could meet them in the great beyond. In 1874, the present congregation of the Christian church was organized from a handful of loyal followers of that faith, and Mr. Lamb and his wife were among the original number. They have always been faithful in the religious duties, and the deceased was consistent, studious and attentive to his church obligations and his faith were unfaltering. He was prepared and ready to go and meet his loved ones and his Savior. Besides the wife and mother, there are left to mourn his death, the four daughters, Mrs. Litta L. ADAMS, Mrs. Nora A. MADDOCK, Mrs. Charity BROWN and Miss Mary S. LAMB, two grandsons, one granddaughter, two brothers, Calvin and Hiram LAMB, of Jackson township, two sisters, Mrs. Rachel GILLILAND and Mrs. Jeremiah HATFIELD, of this place, and a host of relatives and friends. The parents of the deceased were John W. and Patsey LAMB, who emigrated from North Carolina, in 1833, and settled east of Owensburg where the built their home in the dense forest and in true pioneer fashion helped develop the country which today abounds with homes and good people. The subject of this sketch, John T. LAMB was born in Jackson township, June 10, 1844 and was therefore aged sixty-seven years, two months and eight days. The funeral services were held at the family residence in Bloomfield last Sunday forenoon at 10 o'clock, conducted by Elder Thomas A. COX a devout minister of the Christian church, who was the pastor here several years ago, but who is at present engaged in evangelist county work. The interment was in the family lot in Grand View Cemetery.
