Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1882-09-10

Daniel LamO uduuicu VIC S<>sA 1850 W."
universal confidence.
The wear the insurance company was
established was an important one In the
history of Wheeling. Col. Thos. Sweeney
had moved here from Pittsburgh and res
urected the sleeping machine shop, and had
induced monPyed man to come and build
an iron mill. In that year q small es.
Enlistment was erected upon the present
site of the great ''Top Mill" From
this small beginning. of 1880 has grown
the great and substantial industries
that have made Wheeling remarked the
country over IS about the only place IN the
land that withstood the panic Of 1878
without disastrous failures.
While Mr. Lamb wss growing into life
of usefulness in the Savings Bank and other
offices he held, he conceived taste for the
law. and began his studies with Morgan
Nelson, a distinguished attorney OF that
day. He was admitted to the bar in 1887,
and soon after quit the banking and lnsur-
vnce business and began the practice of the
law with Charles w. Russell, so we'll remem-
bered in Wheeling, who had been a hard
ware clerk, but had struggled for an educa.
ton, got it and became an attorney: l
imagine clients were not abundant and fees
large with the new firm OF Lamb
a Russell, for in 1S4S Mr.. Lamb left the
firm and his briefs to become the cashier
of the old Northwestern Bank
His old law preceptor had in the
meantime fallen in the estimation of the
people of this community. The North
western Bank had been robbed OF some
500 600 BY burglars who had come from the
East for the purpose. They were arrested,
but while they were incarcerated, and be-
fore their trial, there was cholera,
and they were released upon giving up
portion of their booty. Morgan Nelson
was the counsel for the defense, and was
charged with having received large .por-
ton OF the stolen money, which had been
seCreted in a stump at the old graveyard
along the pike. The bank recovered forty
or fifty thousand dollars, many OF
the bills stained by the wood were traced to
Mr.. Nelson's possession, and he lost his
high place as man and lawyer.
Col. Thomas Sweeney was President
of the Northwestern Bank in those days
whenMr. Lamb was made its Cashier,
and he related to me the following story OF
Mr.. Lambs transfer from his law once 10
that famous banking institution:
'The position Of Cashier became vacant,
said Col. Sweeney, while was absent and
the Board of Directors undertook 10 elect
successor, the contest being between Daniel
G, List the teller, and Hiram d. Brown, the
book. keeper of the institution. The Board
was equally divided between the two
When ! returned proposed to the boaT9
! that neither Mr.. List or Mr.. Brown coulo
we'll be spared from the positl3ns
| they then held, but that knew man VINO,
II he could be induced to take the place,
would fill it with great acceptability TO all
parties. .n.
Who is it? said several members OF the
Board in one breath.
Daniel Lamb replied.
| Some members OF the Board expressed
some doubts about Mr.. Lambs availability,
because said one OF them,
l hear he is fond of playing poker;
| There was then some surprise expressed
by other members that l, straight-laced
| Presbyterian, should recommend a man
who was fond of game at CARDS. L,u
II will be responsible for Mr.. Lamp 5
| habits" said /, and a vote was taken: voted
! for Mr.. Lamb, but the board still stood
| equally divided between Mr.. Brown ana
Mr.. List.
"Did Mr. Lamb play poker?" inquired
| "Yes, think Sc" replied Col. Sweeney,
almost every man who had any standing
| in the community did in those days. When
| time out of business hours hung heavily II
was about the only amusement the gentle
| men of the place had, and to be poker
| PLAYER was rather regarded as a necessary
| qualification for admission into good So
Ciety."
How was Mr.. Lamb finally elected =,
THE day after the first vote was taken,
continued Col. Sweeney, 81 called upon
| Mr.. Lamb at his office and said to him
Mr.. Lamb, / have proposed you to the
| directors OF the Northwestern Bank for the
| position of cashier" Mr.. Lamb replied
II cannot understand, Mr.. Sweeney,
why you should have thought OF me for
such place
Your careful, methodical business hab-
its induced me to propose you for the
place." II replied / believe you have ex-
actly the qualifications desired. Mr. Lamb
replied after some talk"
IF can be elected by the unanimous
| voice OF the Directors l will accept"
But that cannot be done, was my an
can expect. l then explained to Mr.. Liant
the situation and he finally consented TO
take the place if elected. AT the next meet
ing of the directors Mr.. Browns friends
voted for Mr.. Lamb, and so did | and it
| gave him five votes against four for Mr..
| List. and he was elected
1t was in 1913 that he left the law for the
bank, and he remained cashier of that
banking institution until 1863, when he re-
signed He had then been prominent
landmark in the financial history OF Wheel
ing for more than thirty years.