Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-11-02
0ryllls Dewey lambard.

The chief justice Of the Unitej
States. in his memorable grafton a!
the Centennial anniversary of Augusta
delivered in this city last June, feel
ingly said, Who can forget Allen
Lambard and his children, and Thomas
his brother? What recollections of st,
Marks church. and Bishop Armitage
are indissolubly linked with their
names, and how well they represent
the sturdy virtues Of. the men of 1877
(being sons Of one of them)!"
For more than hundred years the
Lambards have been a part Of Au-
gusta. Descendants are living in other
states, but no one having their blood
lives in our midst. Their race here is
at an end.
Barnabas Lambard, the grandfather
of the subject Of this notice. came from
Roxbury, Mass, to- Augusta in 1894,
previous to the division of the town
of Hallowell, and was chosen one of the
first town officers of Augusta. He
married Dorothy Ballard, daughter of
an early settler of Augusta and re-
sided in this city until his death in
October, 1860. His oldest son, Allen,
was born in this town, July %, 1896,
and spent most of his life here until
his death in 1871 He was conspicuous
as promoter Of public works, namely
the dam, the factory and the Ken
nebec & Portland Railroad, of which he
was at one time president. He estab-
lished in this city large foundry bust
ness, which he prosecuted until 1851,
when he went to California. Two
years previous gold had been dis
covered in that far off territory, and
people were flocking to it from every
section of the country. Allen Lam
bard, with his shrewd, keen business
insight, his correct business principles,
predicted the future of that section of
the country and determined to trans
fer his business there, believing that
he could carve out for himself and his
descendants fortune. Studying care
fully the conditions of the territory and
the wants of its people he decided upon
the establishment of a great foundry
and machine mandatory. He had
erected here the buildings which he be-
lieved he would need, and together
with their appliances and machinery
shipped them to San Francisco In
1851 he sailed for California via the
Isthmus. DR.. Henry Nichols, his
nephew, Mr., Goss. and other skilled
nlachinists and workmen, making up
his party. After carefully surveying
the situation both at San Francisco
and Sacramento. he selected the site
for his works at Sacramento, one which
he belisMeds would be safskfrom the
floods of that river
He established his plant and actively
entered into business. His success was
He was aided in this
great shtsabrise by his sdh. Charles
Allen, VINO from Boston, New York,
and Philadelphia, shipped 10 him his
orders, getting freight, when possible.
on the AL Clipper ships of the line of
Glidden & Williams of Boston. Mr..
Lambards business venture immedi-
ately under the touch of his genius be-
came success, and in 1855 he had
established it upon so firm basis that
he decided to return, impelled by his
love of home and family. He returned
to California with his son, Orville
Dewey, in 1859, and placed him in the
sole management of his large and ex-
tensive business.
Oryille was born January %. 1880, and
in 1S49, when 10 years of age, went to
Bath, and with his brother, Charles,
bought the Bath foundry, which was a
well established mandatory, and sue
cessfully carried on the business of
snip snttlnSS LOT ten years, oil expert
ence which trained him for the larger
enterprise in which his father estab-
lished him in 1852 His fathers judg-
ment was justified in placing him at
the head of his business which was
then one of the most extensive on the
Pacific coast. Orville conducted it
with remarkable fidelity to his fathers
wishes and Instructions, until the en-
tire business was sold to the Central
Pacific Railway. leaving Allen Lam
bard the possessor of large fortune.
Orville continued to regard California
as his residence until 1879, engaging in
mining enterprises after the close Of
his fathers business in which he had a
share. He frequently returned to Au-
gusta, and was at home at the time Of
his fathers death.
Allen Lambard was man of un-
firing energy, strict probity, upright
dealing, strong prejudices, but gen.
ercsity that knew no limits.