Frank Lamb was born in Loundes County Georgia on May 3, 1864, to parents Abram and Rhoda Sims Lamb who were 38 and 18 years of age, respectively. Frank's siblings were Lucy (b. 1859), Abram Jr (b. 1870), James (b. 1872), Joseph (b. 1874), Mollie (b.1876 in Florida), and Shelly (b. August 1879). Also noted as living with the family, on the 1880 Census, was Simon Perry (b. 1867) listed as "Servant".

On October 31, 1874, Frank's father Abram bought 80 acres of homestead land in Madison, Florida from Maggie G. and Barton P. Mc Leary, for $280. A record of this purchase is filed in the County of Madison, in the State of Florida.

Abram farmed and cured tobacco as well as cotton on his land until his death, sometime before the 1885 Census which showed Rhoda Lamb remarried to Amor Hart. Abram died intestate but the land remained in the care of Rhoda Lamb and Amor Hart until Frank took over and continued paying the taxes on the land. The 1885 Census indicated that Frank could read and write.

In 1889, Frank married his wife Elizabeth (Lizzie) Hall Lamb (1865-1943) on June 25, 1889 in Madison, Florida. The 1900 Census showed that Frank and Elizabeth could read and write, and that they owned their farm "free of mortgage". The 1920 Census classified Frank as "Black" and Lizzie and their children Nellie and Emma as "Mulatto," with Lizzie's father having been born in Georgia, and her mother in Florida.

Frank and Lizzie raised seven children on their farm: Leroy Augustus (1890-1945), Samuel (~1898- ), James Bell (1899-1958), Nellie (1900-1924), Emma (1905-2007), Henry B.(~1906 - ), and Powell R. (~1910 - ). Frank and Lizzie also raised grandson Frank Jr. b. 1923, after Nellie his mother's death, in 1924. Frank Jr. who was working as a farmer, and Inez Fisher of Madison Fl, b. 1924, who was working as a cook, received a Marriage License on 8/22/42.

After Frank's death in 1962, his daughter Emma took charge of the farm. On February 4, 1993, the Circuit Court for Madison County Florida, passed official ownership of Abram Lamb's land (40 acres at that time) to Abram's great-granddaughter Emma Lamb McCall, daughter of Frank Lamb. No information is currently known regarding what happened to Abram's other 40 acres.

Emma maintained ownership of the 40 acres until her death in 2007. At that time, 4 acres were distributed in her will to each of the ten children she and her husband Willie McCall had: James, Jesse, Johnny, Jimmy Bell, Willie, Henry, Emma Luo, Eloise, Mazie, and Nellie.

The 1900 Census shows three of Frank's brothers Abram b. 1869 in Georgia, James b. 1872 in Georgia, Joseph.b. 1874 in Georgia, along with his mother Rhoda and stepfather Amor Hart b. 1835 in Georgia, living near Lake City town, Columbia County Florida.

Abram, a day laborer, was living with Arthula, his wife of ten years, who was born in Florida in 1874. Living with them were their four children, Willie b. 1891, Teddie b. 1892, Fred b. 1896, and Oceola b. 1899. The 1900 Census indicated that Abram and Arthua could read and write, but did not indicate that their children had attended school. The family was living with his father and mother-in law, Henry and Patience Williams b. 1831 and 1838, he in Georgia, she in North Carolina. Also living in the household was Patience's mother Rhoda Jones, aged 101, b. 1799 in North Carolina. Rhoda's father was born in Africa.

James R., a farmer, was living with his wife Corine b. 1873, and his son James b. 1898, on the farm they owned in the Shalmaneser Precinct 5 of Columbia County, near Lake City town. James was born in Georgia, Corine in Florida. On the 1910 Census, James and Corine were shown to have four children, James C b.1899, Ivory B. b.1901, Otis W. b.1904, Blanche R. b. 1906, Walter F. b.1907, and Ruth b. 1908. James R. and Corine and their oldest two children could read and write English. The oldest two children attended school, and James C. was shown to work as a laborer on the farm at the time of the Census which may have been during summer. The 1920 Census showed three additional children, Irene b. 1912, and twins Ernest and Earl b. 1914.

Joseph (Frank's brother) and Joseph's son Schelly Lamb b. 1896, were living with Amor Hart and Rhoda in Columbia County Florida in 1900 on a farm that Amor and Rhoda were renting. The location was listed on the 1900 Census as Columbus County, Precinct 5, Shalmanezer which seems to be close to or in the area known as Lake City town where Joseph's brothers Abram and James were living with their families, separately. Why they left Madison, to live in this area is not known as yet. Joseph registered for the Draft on September 12, 1918. He was 44 years old and listed as "tall" and of medium build. His occupation was Lumber Inspector in Flagler Florida. His brother James was listed as his next of kin. World War I ended on November 11, 1918, so it's probable that Joseph saw no action.

Shellie B. Lamb b. 1900 in Lake City, Florida, son of Joseph Lamb, who was Frank's brother, was found on the 1940 Census with his wife Charlotte b. 1902, living in Tampa Florida at 604 1/2 Scott Street in a home they were renting. The Census showed that twelve lodgers, most couples, were living with them. There were no children listed. Shellie's occupation was cigar maker in a tobacco factory where he earned $10. per week. Charlotte was a cook in a private home, earning $10. per week. On August 11, 1942, Shellie died. Charlotte's request for a Military Headstone showed that Pvt. Shellie B., Lamb, Service No. 4186350, served in the Florida 151st. Depot Brigade, and would be buried at Memorial Park Cemetery, Tampa, FL. He enlisted 8/3/18 and was Honorably Discharged 1/5/19. Shellie married Charlotte Montz in Tampa in 1939. He had a prior marriage in 1933 to Verna Moore in Tampa.

The 1900 Census lists Amor Hart as Amos Hot, likely an error by the Census taker, possibly because of the way the name was pronounced to the Census taker. Amor could not read or write, but Rhoda could. Joseph was listed as a Railroad Tie Cutter, meaning that he was involved in constructing and repairing railroad tracks.

Additional Information about Frank and his family may be found at the following links:

Family History p. 2: https://www.communitycuration.org/home/storyDetail?id=5eceb3c4586eae0036f72b76

Frank's Tobacco Curing Shed: https://www.communitycuration.org/home/storyDetail?id=5eceb53c586eae0036f72b7b

The House That Frank William Lamb Built: https://www.communitycuration.org/home/storyDetail?id=5ed67c22586eae0036f72cd2

Frank Lamb's father, Abram Lamb (1826 - ~ 1885) Purchased 80 Acres In Madison County, Florida in 1874. The Deed Agreement: https://www.communitycuration.org/home/storyDetail?id=5ed18060586eae0036f72ba0

Community Curation

Burtt Brown