Name/Title
AU Lambert, William Otterbein - 1954-01-18 letter 'Dear Ones of the D. W. Lambert Clan'Entry/Object ID
1990.1.494Context
Westerville, O. Jan. 18th 1954
Dear Ones of the D. W. Lambert Clan: Since I have gone backward in the Lambert family tree to John Lambert general under Cromwell and one of the regicides, I feel it best to go on to the living Lamberts and try to make a connecting line with the past. I am the only one left in the D. W. Lambert family who seems able to pick up all the links and piece them together. When I am gone some one else should take it up. Since Carolyn is quite ill in Grant Hospital and Bertha is not so disposed, I have appointed myself to do the job.
Rev. D. W. Lambert was born in Jan. 1837 and mother (Deborah Vernon Embree) was born in Dec. 1840. From these we all sprang. On the other side I have produced what I know of this line. You the children of his children must finish it and make corrections where I have made mistakes. I am sending this to each of father's and mother's grand children and they must finish it if is done. There are 26 stops before I can see this letter again. I hope you will all write a message and speed it on its way with as little delay as possible.
Please list all your children, grand children and great grand children's (if any) ages, birth dates and marriages. When mailing the letter be sure to put your own name and address so it will less likely to be lost. Tell us of all your family. What they have done or are doing. What they have written etc. (mine are all in manuscript form, none published). You see I am just an ordinary member of this family. Most of us are. I am asking Emma Lay Harris (Arthur's widow) to write for his family. Let's follow mother's advice and say all the good we can of each other and forget the bad (if any). If any one does not wish the letter a second time, request that we omit your name. I have been personally in all your homes except three. Perhaps I can remedy that before I die. In the Lambert Clan 20 have degrees from Otterbein College, 10 others have attended, 7 in-laws degrees, 6 others attended. 40 in all.
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2nd Sheets (3)
Since writing page (2) I find I am mistaken in the number attending Otterbein. Actually there were 13 Grand C and 10 in-laws have degrees and 7 in-laws have attended or 51 in all. 33 other members of the Lambert family have degrees from other colleges. I want all of this information from each one. Will each one on receiving this letter please send me a letter with genealogical data [omit?] at least. This will also enable me to trace the letter if it is lost, strayed, or delayed too long.
Now the route of this letter is No. 1. W. O. Lambert, 164 N. State, Westerville, O. No. 2 Daniel Ira Mayne, Fairport, N.Y. 930 Rev. James L. Harris, 154 Lincoln Park, Syracuse, N.Y. (4) Mrs. R. M. Warfel, 1949 Forest Av., Norton, P.A.
(5) Paul Selby, 315 Bowen Bldg., Washington 5, D.C. (Res) 19 Le Ville Dr., Chevy Chase 15, Md.
(6) Rev. John C. Mayne, 105 N. Brookside, Arlington, Va.
(7) G. E. Lambert, 2001 Alabama Av. Fort Wayne, Ind.
8. Frank Lambert, 9. Ralph Lambert, 10 Marie Lambert, Glenn will you see that each one of these has the letter and then send it on to
11 Clair Lambert at Wessington Springs South Dakota
12 Mrs. James Arthur Harris, 1415 Chelmsford St., St. Paul, Minnesota
13 Mrs. Nellie Harris Rau, 549 East Argonne Dr., Kirkwood, Mo.
14 Mrs. L. M. Smith, Ozark, Ill. (Grace be sure to names of all children and grand children and -
15 Dwight Mayne, Fairborn, O.
16 Philipp L. Charles, 6209 Joyce Lane, Cincinnati 37, Ohio
17 C. O. Lambert, Batavia (R.F.D.) Ohio
18 Natalie ?___
19 George Selby, Haverhill, Ohio
20 Mrs. Bertha Waggoner (Rollin Waggoner) Athens (R.F.D.) Ohio
18 Charles will you please get the letter to Natalie
21 Mrs. L. B. Webner, 317 Washington Blvd., Orrville, Ohio
22 Mrs. Ruth Dickerson, 346 Spring St., Wooster, Ohio
23 Prof. Dan Harris, 276 Forest St., Oberlin, O.
24 Paul Harris, 217 Phillips Place, Royal Oak, Mich.
25 Richard Harris, Grove City, Ohio
26 Horace Mayne, 336 W. 1st Ave, Columbus, Ohio
27 to W. O. Lambert, Westerville, Ohio
Dan Harris will see that it is read to Bertha and when it gets back to Westerville I will read it to Carrie. Perhaps both can write then. If any one discovers errors in addresses please make corrections. It would make it surer if each one would register the letter to the next stop.
over
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Change the route as follows: 2. Danny Mayne 3. Rev. James Harris 4. Mrs. R. M. Warfel. 5 Paul Selby 6 John Mayne (7) Mrs. L. B. Webner 8. Ruth Dickerson 9 Dan Harris 10 Paul Harris 11 Glenn Lambert 12 Frank Lambert 13. Ralph Lambert 14 Marie Lambert 15 Clair Lambert 16 Mrs. J. A. Harris 17 Mrs. Nellie Harris Rau 18 Mrs. Grace Selby Smith 19 Dwight Mayne 20 Philipp Charles 21 Charles Lambert 22 Natalie Lambert ? 23 George Selby 24 Bertha Waggoner 25 Richard Harris, 26 Horace Mayne 27 to W. O. Lambert. This seems to shorten the route.
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Now my own letter. I would love to see each one in your own home but that is not practical now. I am living quietly and happily in Westerville. Doing lots of reading, some writing, still bowling and playing golf. Will try to make a date with Glenn L. for September. We may have to use wheel chairs.
I hope to get out to St. Paul late this summer. I have a brother-in-law there in MacAlester College. Will go by way of Detroit to Mackinac where another brother-in-law lives and back by way of Fort Wayne. If I don't garden too much I may just start out and see all of you. Last summer I had three gardens and kept quite busy. I sell plants in May and June and so keep myself occupied. My wife, Henrietta Dupre, whom most of you remember is teaching [Hurdi carring] [tion] work for Citizenship in Columbus. Her work is very interesting. Many of her students were in concentration camps. They are from England, Germany, Holland, Japan, Greece, Lebanon, etc. She teaches Tues and Thu. I drive in after her at 10 P.M.
I keep active with retired teachers organization, church, and lodge. I don't think I will get too stale. Of course you who are still active in the pursuits of must be keen and active. I envy you. Retirement isn't all it is cracked up to be. I am proud of every one of you. None are very rich but this one has never had to accept charity from church or state and that is a real achievement. Most were A and B students and only 6 are deceased out of 31. You are doing the most important work of our country and doing a fine job of it. I am most anxious to hear from every one! Don't hesitate to write about your work and your children's work and school.
Fraternally yours
{Wm Otterbein Lambert}
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[This page contains a general structure of D. W. Lambert's descendants, but does not need transcription]
