John Edward “Ed” Lamb
and
Noda Vesta (or Vester) Miller
John Edward Lamb aka Ed Lamb was born 5/22/1882 (or 5/29/1882) in Cedar Creek, Tennessee to Elbert Sevier Lamb and Nancy Margaret Malinda Ricker. I’m pretty sure Cedar Creek would be in Greene County, TN. In the 1900 Census Ed was 18 years old and living at Civil District 18, Greene County, Tennessee. He moved from Greene County, TN to Madison County, NC and McDowell County, NC throughout his life. He had very limited education. He was a farmer until they moved from the mountains to Marion in McDowell County, NC. They moved so he could get a job at the textile mill there called Clinchfield Mill. They had lived in Upper Shut In Creek, Madison County, NC before then.
This is a picture of me at Shut In Creek, Madison County, NC where the Miller Mill was..
This is the Clinchfield Mill in Marion, NC.
Ed married Noda Vesta Miller or Noda Vesters Miller on 10/9/1904. Noda was born 11/6/1887 to Anderson Miller, aka Ance Miller, and Cynthia Hickam.
As the story goes, Noda had met a travelling man and gotten pregnant with her daughter Pearl Juanita Lamb when she was only 15 years old. Pearl was born 8/12/1900. When Ed married Noda in 1904, he adopted Pearl and raised her as his own daughter.
When Ed and Noda lived on Upper Shut In Creek (Madison County, NC), a neighbor shot and killed Ed’s dog. Ed had a quick and violent temper so he grabbed his gun and was going to shoot his neighbor. Aunt Hester and his daughter, Fanny, were able to stop him. It seems his quick passions were a problem throughout his life.
Ed and Noda Lamb had a total of 6 daughters:
1) Pearl Juanita Lamb (DOB 8/12/1900 in Madison County, NC; DOD 2/15/1987 in Lincoln Park, Wayne County, Michigan) who married Dewey Roberts in May 1916. Dewey was born between 1896-1898 in Tennessee. He died on 9/2/1921 of Typhoid Fever in Laurens, Laurens County, SC. They had a daughter named Edna Roberts. Pearl married Floyd Alexander Shipley on 4/20/1922. Floyd was born on 2/14/1903 in Greene County, TN and he died 4/20/1944 in Asheville, Buncombe County, NC. They had six children: Herman William Shipley, Floyd Alexander Shipley Jr. but always called Thomas or Tom Shipley, James “Jim” Lewis Shipley, Mary Louise Shipley, Charles Eugene “Gene” Shipley, Claude Hugh Shipley.
2) Sueda Lamb (DOB 10/23/1906 in Madison County, NC; DOD 8/1918 in Madison County, NC). Sueda was only 11 years old when she died of the Spanish Flu during the Flu Epidemic. She is buried beside her mother at the Old Antioch Cemetery, Madison County, NC.
3) Artie Mae Lamb (DOB 4/3/1908 in Hot Springs, Madison County, NC; DOD 12/28/1999 in Walland, Blount County, TN) who married Clyde Bovy Johnson on 1/20/1923 in Johnson City, Unicoi County, TN. Clyde Johnson was born 1/13/1902 in Yancey County, NC and died 7/27/1982 in Marion, McDowell County, NC. They had six children: Pauline Ruth Johnson (aka Polly Johnson), Earl Finley Johnson, Sarah Margaret Johnson, William Gaston Johnson (aka Bill Johnson), Wilford Lee Johnson, Helen Mae Johnson.
4) Fannie Marie Lamb (DOB 2/2/1911 in Madison County, NC; DOD 12/29/1988 in Greenville, Greenville County, SC) who married Conrad Cutlass Copeland, aka Con Copeland, on 9/22/1927 in Marion, McDowell County, NC. Con Copeland was born 7/4/1902 in Pelham, Caswell County, NC and died 7/20/1967 in Greenville, Greenville County, SC. They had 4 children: Janice Kay Copeland, Mabel Elizabeth Copeland, Connie Earlene Copeland, Joanne Ruth Copeland.
5) Geneva Margaret Lamb (DOB 2/14/1915 in Tennelina, Madison County, NC; DOD 7/23/1984 n Spartanburg, Spartanburg County, SC) Ginnie married Wilford William Reese on 12/30/1933 in Marion, McDowell County, NC. They were my Grandparents. Wilford Reese was born on 5/1/1911 in NC. We don’t know where he was actually born. W.W. Reese died on 5/25/1979 in Spartanburg, Spartanburg County, SC. They had 4 children: Eleanor Elaine Reese, Glenn Gilbert Reese Sr., Judith “Judy”Ann Reese, James Wilford Reese.
6) Noda Vesta Lamb (DOB 1/22/1919 in Madison County, NC; DOD 3/15/1919 in Madison County, NC) Little Noda was born and 4 days later her mother died of the Spanish Flu during the Flu Epidemic. Ed named the baby after his wife but little baby girl Noda died in less than 3 months.
Noda Miller Lamb was a great horsewoman and had her own saddlehorse. Mom knew of a story about when her daughter, Pearl, was newly married with a new baby and living in the bottom beside a river. It came up a storm and Noda rode her horse down the mountain to warn Aunt Pearl about flash floods. This may have been the flood of 1916. Sure enough, her house was swept away but she was saved. The only thing Pearl was able to save was a new Easter bonnet sitting on the kitchen table which she grabbed up as they ran out the door and climbed the hillside.
1910 Census of Hot Springs, Madison County, NC, Roll T624_1107, Pg 10A, ED #80, Image 266, Lines 46-50, “John E. Lamb“, Dwelling 198, Family 205
John E. Lamb, Head, M(ale), W(hite), 27 yrs old, Married 5 yrs, Born in NC, Father born in United States, Mother born in TN, Speaks English, Laborer in Saw mill for wages
Noda Lamb, Wife, F, W, 24 yrs old, Married 5 yrs, born in NC, Father born in NC, Mother born in NC, Can read & write
Artie M. (also indexed as Artee M.) Lamb, Daughter, F, W, 2 yrs old, Single, Born in NC, Father born in NC, Mother born in NC
Perlle (sic) Miller, Daughter, F, W, 6 yrs old, Single, Born in NC, Father born in NC, Mother born in NC
Cintha (sic) Miller, Mother-in-law, F,W, 70 yrs old, Widowed, Mother of 8 children with 6 still living, Born in NC, Father born in NC, Mother born in NC
My Mom thinks Noda was a “mountain aristocrat”. Nothing to do with money but how you were raised. She supposedly was very clean and was a beautiful woman. Mother said she was like Fairlight Spencer in Christy, a book by Catherine Marshall. Noda could read and write according to Geneva‘s birth certificate. I believe she was the youngest of the large family of Anderson “Ance” Miller.
1910 U.S. Census of Hot Springs, Madison County, NC, Roll T624)1107, ED 80, Image 266, All these neighbors are related so I’ve included them all together:
Pg 9B, Lines 76-82, Dwelling 181, Family 191, “Freshour, Sarn” (sic, should be Sam), Head, M(ale), W(hite), 53 yrs old, First marriage, Married 26 yrs, Born in NC, Father born in NC, Mother born in NC, Speaks English, Farmer of general farm, Owns farm free of mortgage,
Freshour, Altha, Wife, F, W, 44 yrs old, First Marriage, Married 26 yrs, Born in NC, Father born in NC, Mother born in NC, Laundress at home, Can read & write
Freshour, Mary, Daughter, F, W, 20 yrs old, Single, Born in NC, Father born in NC, Mother born in NC
Freshour, Annie, Daughter, F, W, 15 yrs old, Born in NC, Father born in NC, Mother born in NC
Freshour, Carter, Son, M, W, 13 yrs old, Born in NC, Father born in NC, Mother born in NC
Freshour, Floyd, Son, M, W, 12 yrs old, Born in NC, Father born in NC, Mother born in NC
Freshour, Lenie, Daughter, F, W, 11 yrs old, Born in NC, Father born in NC, Mother born in NC
Pg 10A, Lines 13-17, Dwelling 187, Family 197, “Harkleroad, Riley” (sic), Head, M(ale), W(hite), 38 or 28 yrs old, First marriage, Married 5 yrs (about 1905), Born in NC, Father born in VA, Mother born in NC, Speaks English, Laborer at saw mill for wages, Can read or write, Rents home
Harkleroad, Bessie, Wife, F, W, 25 yrs old, First marriage, Married 5 yrs, 3 children with 3 still living, Born in NC, Father born in TN, Mother born in NC, Speaks English, Can read & write
Harkleroad, Herman, Son, M, W, 4 yrs old, Born in NC, Father born in NC, Mother born in NC
Harkleroad, Ernest, Son, M, W, 2 yrs old, Born in NC, Father born in NC, Mother born in NC
Harkleroad, Infant, Daughter, F, W, 2/12 mos old, Born in NC, Father born in NC, Mother born in NC
Lines 18-20, Dwelling 188, Family 198, “Freshour, James“, Head, M, W, 23 yrs old, First marriage, Married 1/12 yrs, Born in NC, Father born in NC, Mother born in NC, Speaks English, Laborer as saw mill hand for wages, Cannot read or write
Freshour, Jala (sic, should be Ida or Ada, but Ancestry.com indexed it as Jala), Wife, F, W, 24 yrs old, First marriage, Married 1/12 mos, Born in NC, Father born in NC, Mother born in NC
Freshour, Alver (sic, Ancestry.com has him indexed as Alver but may be Alven, Alvar), M,, W, 1 5/12 mos old (must be a son from former marriage or born out of wedlock?), Born in NC, Father born in NC, Mother born in NC
Lines 21-26, Dwelling 189, Family 199, “Harkleroad, James” (sic), Head, M, W, 68 yrs old, First marriage, Married 36 yrs, Born in VA, Father born in VA, Mother born in VA, Speaks English, Farmer of general farm, Cannot read or write, Rents farm
Harkleroad, Ema, Wife, F, W, 55 yrs old, First marriage, Married 36 yrs, 9 children with 8 still living, Born in NC, Father born in NC, Mother born in NC, Can read & write
Harkleroad, Bettie, Daughter, F, W, 25 yrs old, Single, Born in NC, Father born in VA, Mother born in NC, Speaks English, Laundress at home, Can read & write
Harkleroad, Harry, Son, M, W, 19 yrs old, Single, Born in NC, Father born in VA, Mother born in NC
Harkleroad, Ben, Son, M, W, 17 yrs old, Single, Born in NC, Father born in VA, Mother born in NC
Harkleroad, Laura, Daughter, F, W, 15 yrs old, Single, Born in NC, Father born in VA, Mother born in NC
Lines 40-42, Dwelling 193, Family 203, “Harkleroad, Emet” (sic), Head, M, W, 29 yrs old, First marriage, Married 2 yrs, Born in NC, Father born in NC, Mother born in NC, Speaks English, Farmer of general farm, Owns farm free of mortgage
Harkleroad, Mera (sic, looks to me like Nora but Ancestry.com has her indexed as Mera), Wife, F, W, 24 yrs old, First marriage, Married 2 yrs, 1 child with 1 still living, Born in NC, Father born in NC, Mother born in NC
Harkleroad, Allene, Daughter, F, W, 3 yrs old, Born in NC, Father born in NC, Mother born in NC
Lines 46-50, “Lamb, John E.”, Head, M, W, 27 yrs old, First marriage, Married 5 yrs, Born in NC, Father born in USA, Mother born in TN, Speaks English, Laborer for saw mill, Can read & write
Lamb, Noda, Wife, F, W, 24 yrs old, First marriage, Married 5 yrs, Born in NC, Father born in NC, Mother born in NC
Lamb, Artee M., (sic, should be Lamb, Artie M.), Daughter, F, W, 2 yrs old, Single, Born in NC, Father born in NC, Mother born in NC
Miller, Perlle (sic, should be Miller, Pearl), Daughter (this is Noda‘s daughter but not Ed‘s, but Ed raised her as his own), 6 yrs old, Born in NC, Father born in NC, Mother born in NC
Miller, Cintha, Mother-in-law, F, W, 70 yrs old, Widowed, 8 children with 6 still living, Born in NC, Father born in NC, Mother born in NC
Pg 10B, Lines53-54, Dwelling 197, Family 207, “Freshour, John T.“, Head, M, W, 69 yrs old, First Marriage, Married 40 yrs, Born in NC, Father born in NC, Mother born in TN, Speaks English, Laborer as wood chopper for wages, Can read & write
Freshour, Margaret, Wife, F, W, 72 yrs old, First marriage, Married 40 yrs, Born in TB, Father born in TN, Mother born in TN, Can read & write
Lines 55-61, Dwelling 198, Family 208, “Lamb, John R.“, Head, M, W, 48 yrs old, First marriage, Married 28 yrs, Born in TN, Father born in TN, Mother born in TN, Speaks English, Farmer of general farm, Can read & write, Rents farm
Lamb, Sarah J., Wife, F, W, 48 yrs old, First marriage, Married 28 yrs, 6 children with 5 still living, Born in TN, Father born in TN, Mother born in TN, Can read & write
Lamb, Maggie, Daughter, F, W, 25 yrs old, Single, Born in NC, Father born in TN, Mother born in TN, Can read & write
Lamb, Margie, Son (?), M, W, 22 yrs old, Single, Born in NC, Father born in TN, Mother born in TN, Laborer, wood chopper for wages, Can read & write
Lamb, Mannie M. (sic), Daughter, F, W, 20 yrs old, Single, Born in NC, Father born in TN, Mother born in TN, Can read & write
Lamb, Jessie, Son, M, W, 16 yrs old, Born in NC, Father born in TN, Mother born in TN, Farm Laborer on home farm
Lamb, Dortha (sic), Daughter, F, W, 12 yrs old, Born in NC, Father born in TN, Mother born in TN
Almany, Walter, Boarding, M, W, 22 yrs old, Single, Born in NC, Father born in NC, Mother born in TN, Speaks English, Farm laborer on home farm
Lines 76-77, Dwelling 201, Family 211, “Lamb, John A“, Head, M, W, 49 yrs old, Second Marriage, Married 2 yrs, Born in NC, Father born in NC, Mother born in NC, Speaks English, Farmer of general farm, Owns farm free of mortgage, Cannot read or write
Lamb, Ema (sic), Wife, F, W, 50 yrs old, First marriage, Married 2 yrs, 0 children, Born in NC, Father born in NC, Mother born in NC
Their first biological daughter was Sueda and she died of the Spanish Flu during the Flu Epidemic of 1918-1919. She was only 11 yrs old. Noda was pregnant when Sueda died. She had her baby girl on 1/22/1919 but Noda did not survive the Flu and childbirth. Noda died on 1/26/1919 in Madison County, NC. Three months later, the new baby (named after her mother), died too.
Noda has 2 death certificates. The only difference between the two are her middle name being “Vesta” on one and “Vester” on the other. Neither of her death certificates stated a cause of death. Her death date on the death certificate was 5 months later than what is on her tombstone. I don’t know how that happened. She is buried at the Old Antioch Cemetery in Madison County, NC. Was the tombstone added much later? Who did that, her parents or her re-married husband? Or was there simply a mistake from the tombstone maker? Maybe he was making so many tombstones (due to the Flu Epidemic) and simply made a mistake. Or maybe the doctor actually made a mistake on BOTH death certificates. I’m sure with the Flu Epidemic the doctors got behind on paperwork. So I don’t know if the death certificates are correct or the tombstone. The first time I visited Noda and Sueda‘s graves the tombstones were readable but the last time I went they were unreadable and need to be replaced. Mother said the baby was buried in her Noda‘s arms but that would have meant exhuming Noda‘s grave. Maybe little Noda was just buried beside her mother and older sister and her infant grave is not marked. ?
This is a photograph of one of the times we visited Noda‘s grave. From Left to Right: Lee, Luke with Elaine, Melinda, Mom with Jenny in front of her, Me.
Ed and the surviving girls had a terrible time. According to the family, Ed Lamb was overcome with grief after the death of Sueda, Noda and the baby. He took his family to Laurens, SC where he found a job at the textile mill there called Watts Mill. In the 1920 U.S. Census he is in Laurens with Artie, Fanny, Geneva, Pearl and her first husband (Dewey Roberts) and their little girl, Edna. He also had Cynthia Hickam Miller (his mother in law) living with them.
WWI Draft Registration Card, Roll 1765688, board 0, Serial #1370, Order #116, John Edward Lamb, DOB 5/29/1882
John Edward Lamb
Tennelina, Mad(ison County), NC
36 yrs old, May 29, 1882
1st box checked
1st box checked
Farming, Self in Tennelina, Mad., NC
Nearest Relative is (Wife) Noda Lamb in Tennelina, NC
Back of card:
32_1_31_C
Height Short
Build Slight
Color of eyes: Gray
Color of hair: Light
Signed by John Edward Lamb and J.E. Lance on 9/10/1918
1920 Census of Davis St, Laurens, Laurens County, SC, Roll T625-1700, Image 191, ED 63, Sheet 14A, Taken 1/12/1920, Lines 23-30, Number of Farm 514, Number of Dwelling 246, Number of Family 252, “Lamb, Ed.”, Ancestry.com also has him indexed as “Lamp, Ed” (This is probably Watts Mill.)
Ed Lamb, Head, Rent, M(ale), W(hite), 38 yrs old (DOB would have been 1882), Widower, Can read and write, Born in NC, Father born in NC, Mother born in NC, Can speak English, Carpenter, House, wages
Artie Lamb, Daughter, F, W, 11 yrs old, Single, In School, Can read and write, Born in NC, Father born in NC, Mother born in NC, No occupation
Fannie Lamb (Ancestry.com has her indexed as Lannie Lamb), F, W, 8 yrs old, Single, In school, Can read and write, Born in NC, Father born in NC, Mother born in NC, No occupation
Geneva Lamb (Ancestry.com has her indexed as Genevia Lamb), F, W, 4 10/12 yrs old, Single, Born in NC, Father born in NC, Mother born in NC
Dewey Roberts, Son-in-law, M, W, 22 yrs old, Married, Can read and write, Born in NC, Father born in NC, Mother born in NC, Can speak English, Run frames in cotton mill for wages
Pearl Roberts, Daughter, F, W, 19 yrs old, Married, Can read and write, Born in NC, Father born in NC, Mother born in NC, Can speak English, Spools in cotton mill for wages
Edna Roberts, Granddaughter, F, W, 2 2/12 yrs old, Single, Born in NC, Father born in NC, Mother born in NC
Syntha (sic) Miller, Mother, F, W, 54 yrs old (?), Widowed, Born in NC, Father born in NC, Mother born in NC
The oldest girl, Pearl, who was married to Dewey Roberts, lost her husband on 9/2/1921 in Laurens, SC. She was left with her daughter, Edna, to support. Fortunately she met and married Floyd Alexander Shipley on 4/20/1922 in Cocke County, TN.
1930 Census of Marion, McDowell County, NC, Roll 1704, Pg 13B, ED #9, Image 112.0, Ancestry.com, Lines 73-82, Dwelling 214, Family 218, “Lamb, John E.”
John E. Lamb, Head, Rents home (2), M(ale), W(hite), 50 yrs old, Married, 25 yrs old when married, Can read and write, Born in NC, Father born in NC, Mother born in TN, Carpenter at cotton mill
Bessie B. Lamb, Wife, F, W, 46 yrs old, Married, 20 yrs old when married, Can read and write, Born in NC, Father born in NC, Mother born in NC, Prop (Proprietor?) of Boarding House
Geneva Lamb, Daughter, F, W, 15 yrs old, Single, At school, Can read and write, , Born in NC, Father born in NC, Mother born in NC,
Earnest Harkelroad, St-Son, M, W, 21 yrs old, Single, Can read and write, , Born in NC, Father born in NC, Mother born in NC, Truckdriver, private
Myrtle Harkelroad, St-Daughter, F, W, 20 yrs old, Single, Can read and write , Born in NC, Father born in NC, Mother born in NC, Spinner at Cotton Mill
Harry Harkelroad, St-Son, M, W, 14 yrs old, Single, Attends school, Can read and write, Born in NC, Father born in NC, Mother born in NC
Daniel A. Lamb, Son, M, W, 8 yrs old, Single, Attends school, , Born in NC, Father born in NC, Mother born in NC,
Jay D. Tucker, Boarder, M, W, 22 yrs old, Married, 20 yrs old when married, Can read and write, Born in SC, Father born in SC, Mother born in SC, Carder in cotton mill
Colene Tucker, Boarder, F, W, 21 yrs old, Married, 19 yrs old when married, Can read and write, Born in SC, Father born in SC, Mother born in SC, Spinner in cotton mill
Ezell McSwain, Boarder, M, W, 19 yrs old, Widowed, 18 yrs old when married, Can read and write, Born in SC, Father born in SC, Mother born in SC, Doffer in cotton mill
But they must have come back home because he left his three little girls at the Dora Lynn School and went back to Laurens. Ginnie was only 4 years old. Aunt Artie was 11-12 and Aunt Fannie was 9-10 years old. Aunt Fannie and Aunt Artie thought it was an orphanage and were sure someone would want to adopt little Ginnie because she was so pretty. Every time they heard a car coming to the school, they would run with Ginnie and hide in the fields so no one would separate them. This made a big impression on their young lives. Eventually a neighbor widow woman named Bess Freshour Harkelroad, went to Ed Lamb. She and her family were already in Laurens, SC and lived nearby to Ed Lamb. The Freshours and Harkelroads had been their neighbors for many years in Madison County, NC. So they knew each other pretty far back. She had lost her husband and had small children and needed a husband. She told him the girls would be sent to an orphanage if he didn’t provide a family and home for them. She evidently made a bargain with him. If he would marry her and provide for her and her children, she would be a mother to his girls. They came back to the mountains married. They were married in 1921 in Laurens, SC. It turned out to be a bad arrangement. Bess was a terrible stepmother and Ed was harsh, with a violent temper. Bess took advantage of his temper and instigated trouble between Ed and the girls. It sounds like he may have suffered a deep depression after all the deaths and it may have left him bitter, angry. A bad second marriage didn’t help. But he had always had a quick temper. So I can’t say. I do know it made life at home miserable for the girls. Aunt Fannie and Aunt Artie married young to get away from a bad home life. They soon took little Ginnie with them. Despite marrying so young, all the girls had wonderful marriages.
Ed and his new wife, Bess Fresham Harkelroad (Dob: 5/22/1884 in Hot Springs, Madison County, NC; Dod: 7/31/1958 in Marion, McDowell County, NC) had a son of their own. He was Ed‘s only boy.
1) Daniel Atkins Lamb (aka Dan Lamb) (Dob: 1/31/1922; Dod: 12/28/1998 in Greer, Greenville County, SC) who married Eula Virginia Finley on 7/20/1940 in Gaffney, Cherokee County, SC. Eula Einley was born 7/28/1924 in Marion, McDowell County, NC. They had 3 children: Wanda Marie Lamb, Linda Doris Lamb, James Edward Lamb (aka Eddie Lamb).
Ed died 2/27/1937 of cerebral hemorrhage due to Hypertension and nephritis. My Mom thinks she remembers that he was up on their roof working when he died while on the roof. He is buried beside Bess at Oakwood Cemetery in Marion, McDowell County, NC. He was only 56 years old.
NC Death Certificates 1909-1975, Ancestry.com, Death Certificate #140, John E. Lamb, DOD 2/27/1937 in Marion McDowell County, NC
John E. Lamb of Clinchfield Station, Marion, McDowell County, NC
Male, White, Married to Bessie Freshour (looks like Frushour or Frishour so may be indexed that way)
DOB 5/29/1883, 55 yrs old, 8 mos, 28 days, born in Madison County, NC
Occupation: Textile
Father: Elb Lamb (Looks like Edd or Ebb Lamb) born in TN
Mother: Nancy M. Ricker (Looks like Kicher or Richer) born in Green County, TN
Informant: Marion Gen Hospital, Marion, NC
Burial: Oak Grove on 2/29/1939
Undertaker: M. Ca_is Funeral Home, Marion, NC
DOD: 2/27/1939. Dr attended deceased from 1/10/1939 to 2/27/1939. Last saw him alive on 2/27/1939. Death occurred at 12:45pm
Cause of death was cerebral hemorrhage (date of onset 2/22/1939)
Contributory causes was Hypertension- nephritic
No autopsy
Dr. L. Wm Hagna of Marion,
NC Death Collection, 1908-2004, Ancestry.com
John E. Lamb
White
55 yrs old
DOB 1884
DOD 2/27/1939 in McDowell County, NC
Source Vendor: NC State Archives, NC Deaths 1908-1967
This is a picture of me at Shut In Creek, Madison County, NC where the Miller Mill was..
This is the Clinchfield Mill in Marion, NC.
Ed married Noda Vesta Miller or Noda Vesters Miller on 10/9/1904. Noda was born 11/6/1887 to Anderson Miller, aka Ance Miller, and Cynthia Hickam.
As the story goes, Noda had met a travelling man and gotten pregnant with her daughter Pearl Juanita Lamb when she was only 15 years old. Pearl was born 8/12/1900. When Ed married Noda in 1904, he adopted Pearl and raised her as his own daughter.
When Ed and Noda lived on Upper Shut In Creek (Madison County, NC), a neighbor shot and killed Ed’s dog. Ed had a quick and violent temper so he grabbed his gun and was going to shoot his neighbor. Aunt Hester and his daughter, Fanny, were able to stop him. It seems his quick passions were a problem throughout his life.
Ed and Noda Lamb had a total of 6 daughters:
1) Pearl Juanita Lamb (DOB 8/12/1900 in Madison County, NC; DOD 2/15/1987 in Lincoln Park, Wayne County, Michigan) who married Dewey Roberts in May 1916. Dewey was born between 1896-1898 in Tennessee. He died on 9/2/1921 of Typhoid Fever in Laurens, Laurens County, SC. They had a daughter named Edna Roberts. Pearl married Floyd Alexander Shipley on 4/20/1922. Floyd was born on 2/14/1903 in Greene County, TN and he died 4/20/1944 in Asheville, Buncombe County, NC. They had six children: Herman William Shipley, Floyd Alexander Shipley Jr. but always called Thomas or Tom Shipley, James “Jim” Lewis Shipley, Mary Louise Shipley, Charles Eugene “Gene” Shipley, Claude Hugh Shipley.
2) Sueda Lamb (DOB 10/23/1906 in Madison County, NC; DOD 8/1918 in Madison County, NC). Sueda was only 11 years old when she died of the Spanish Flu during the Flu Epidemic. She is buried beside her mother at the Old Antioch Cemetery, Madison County, NC.
3) Artie Mae Lamb (DOB 4/3/1908 in Hot Springs, Madison County, NC; DOD 12/28/1999 in Walland, Blount County, TN) who married Clyde Bovy Johnson on 1/20/1923 in Johnson City, Unicoi County, TN. Clyde Johnson was born 1/13/1902 in Yancey County, NC and died 7/27/1982 in Marion, McDowell County, NC. They had six children: Pauline Ruth Johnson (aka Polly Johnson), Earl Finley Johnson, Sarah Margaret Johnson, William Gaston Johnson (aka Bill Johnson), Wilford Lee Johnson, Helen Mae Johnson.
4) Fannie Marie Lamb (DOB 2/2/1911 in Madison County, NC; DOD 12/29/1988 in Greenville, Greenville County, SC) who married Conrad Cutlass Copeland, aka Con Copeland, on 9/22/1927 in Marion, McDowell County, NC. Con Copeland was born 7/4/1902 in Pelham, Caswell County, NC and died 7/20/1967 in Greenville, Greenville County, SC. They had 4 children: Janice Kay Copeland, Mabel Elizabeth Copeland, Connie Earlene Copeland, Joanne Ruth Copeland.
5) Geneva Margaret Lamb (DOB 2/14/1915 in Tennelina, Madison County, NC; DOD 7/23/1984 n Spartanburg, Spartanburg County, SC) Ginnie married Wilford William Reese on 12/30/1933 in Marion, McDowell County, NC. They were my Grandparents. Wilford Reese was born on 5/1/1911 in NC. We don’t know where he was actually born. W.W. Reese died on 5/25/1979 in Spartanburg, Spartanburg County, SC. They had 4 children: Eleanor Elaine Reese, Glenn Gilbert Reese Sr., Judith “Judy”Ann Reese, James Wilford Reese.
6) Noda Vesta Lamb (DOB 1/22/1919 in Madison County, NC; DOD 3/15/1919 in Madison County, NC) Little Noda was born and 4 days later her mother died of the Spanish Flu during the Flu Epidemic. Ed named the baby after his wife but little baby girl Noda died in less than 3 months.
Noda Miller Lamb was a great horsewoman and had her own saddlehorse. Mom knew of a story about when her daughter, Pearl, was newly married with a new baby and living in the bottom beside a river. It came up a storm and Noda rode her horse down the mountain to warn Aunt Pearl about flash floods. This may have been the flood of 1916. Sure enough, her house was swept away but she was saved. The only thing Pearl was able to save was a new Easter bonnet sitting on the kitchen table which she grabbed up as they ran out the door and climbed the hillside.
1910 Census of Hot Springs, Madison County, NC, Roll T624_1107, Pg 10A, ED #80, Image 266, Lines 46-50, “John E. Lamb“, Dwelling 198, Family 205
John E. Lamb, Head, M(ale), W(hite), 27 yrs old, Married 5 yrs, Born in NC, Father born in United States, Mother born in TN, Speaks English, Laborer in Saw mill for wages
Noda Lamb, Wife, F, W, 24 yrs old, Married 5 yrs, born in NC, Father born in NC, Mother born in NC, Can read & write
Artie M. (also indexed as Artee M.) Lamb, Daughter, F, W, 2 yrs old, Single, Born in NC, Father born in NC, Mother born in NC
Perlle (sic) Miller, Daughter, F, W, 6 yrs old, Single, Born in NC, Father born in NC, Mother born in NC
Cintha (sic) Miller, Mother-in-law, F,W, 70 yrs old, Widowed, Mother of 8 children with 6 still living, Born in NC, Father born in NC, Mother born in NC
My Mom thinks Noda was a “mountain aristocrat”. Nothing to do with money but how you were raised. She supposedly was very clean and was a beautiful woman. Mother said she was like Fairlight Spencer in Christy, a book by Catherine Marshall. Noda could read and write according to Geneva‘s birth certificate. I believe she was the youngest of the large family of Anderson “Ance” Miller.
1910 U.S. Census of Hot Springs, Madison County, NC, Roll T624)1107, ED 80, Image 266, All these neighbors are related so I’ve included them all together:
Pg 9B, Lines 76-82, Dwelling 181, Family 191, “Freshour, Sarn” (sic, should be Sam), Head, M(ale), W(hite), 53 yrs old, First marriage, Married 26 yrs, Born in NC, Father born in NC, Mother born in NC, Speaks English, Farmer of general farm, Owns farm free of mortgage,
Freshour, Altha, Wife, F, W, 44 yrs old, First Marriage, Married 26 yrs, Born in NC, Father born in NC, Mother born in NC, Laundress at home, Can read & write
Freshour, Mary, Daughter, F, W, 20 yrs old, Single, Born in NC, Father born in NC, Mother born in NC
Freshour, Annie, Daughter, F, W, 15 yrs old, Born in NC, Father born in NC, Mother born in NC
Freshour, Carter, Son, M, W, 13 yrs old, Born in NC, Father born in NC, Mother born in NC
Freshour, Floyd, Son, M, W, 12 yrs old, Born in NC, Father born in NC, Mother born in NC
Freshour, Lenie, Daughter, F, W, 11 yrs old, Born in NC, Father born in NC, Mother born in NC
Pg 10A, Lines 13-17, Dwelling 187, Family 197, “Harkleroad, Riley” (sic), Head, M(ale), W(hite), 38 or 28 yrs old, First marriage, Married 5 yrs (about 1905), Born in NC, Father born in VA, Mother born in NC, Speaks English, Laborer at saw mill for wages, Can read or write, Rents home
Harkleroad, Bessie, Wife, F, W, 25 yrs old, First marriage, Married 5 yrs, 3 children with 3 still living, Born in NC, Father born in TN, Mother born in NC, Speaks English, Can read & write
Harkleroad, Herman, Son, M, W, 4 yrs old, Born in NC, Father born in NC, Mother born in NC
Harkleroad, Ernest, Son, M, W, 2 yrs old, Born in NC, Father born in NC, Mother born in NC
Harkleroad, Infant, Daughter, F, W, 2/12 mos old, Born in NC, Father born in NC, Mother born in NC
Lines 18-20, Dwelling 188, Family 198, “Freshour, James“, Head, M, W, 23 yrs old, First marriage, Married 1/12 yrs, Born in NC, Father born in NC, Mother born in NC, Speaks English, Laborer as saw mill hand for wages, Cannot read or write
Freshour, Jala (sic, should be Ida or Ada, but Ancestry.com indexed it as Jala), Wife, F, W, 24 yrs old, First marriage, Married 1/12 mos, Born in NC, Father born in NC, Mother born in NC
Freshour, Alver (sic, Ancestry.com has him indexed as Alver but may be Alven, Alvar), M,, W, 1 5/12 mos old (must be a son from former marriage or born out of wedlock?), Born in NC, Father born in NC, Mother born in NC
Lines 21-26, Dwelling 189, Family 199, “Harkleroad, James” (sic), Head, M, W, 68 yrs old, First marriage, Married 36 yrs, Born in VA, Father born in VA, Mother born in VA, Speaks English, Farmer of general farm, Cannot read or write, Rents farm
Harkleroad, Ema, Wife, F, W, 55 yrs old, First marriage, Married 36 yrs, 9 children with 8 still living, Born in NC, Father born in NC, Mother born in NC, Can read & write
Harkleroad, Bettie, Daughter, F, W, 25 yrs old, Single, Born in NC, Father born in VA, Mother born in NC, Speaks English, Laundress at home, Can read & write
Harkleroad, Harry, Son, M, W, 19 yrs old, Single, Born in NC, Father born in VA, Mother born in NC
Harkleroad, Ben, Son, M, W, 17 yrs old, Single, Born in NC, Father born in VA, Mother born in NC
Harkleroad, Laura, Daughter, F, W, 15 yrs old, Single, Born in NC, Father born in VA, Mother born in NC
Lines 40-42, Dwelling 193, Family 203, “Harkleroad, Emet” (sic), Head, M, W, 29 yrs old, First marriage, Married 2 yrs, Born in NC, Father born in NC, Mother born in NC, Speaks English, Farmer of general farm, Owns farm free of mortgage
Harkleroad, Mera (sic, looks to me like Nora but Ancestry.com has her indexed as Mera), Wife, F, W, 24 yrs old, First marriage, Married 2 yrs, 1 child with 1 still living, Born in NC, Father born in NC, Mother born in NC
Harkleroad, Allene, Daughter, F, W, 3 yrs old, Born in NC, Father born in NC, Mother born in NC
Lines 46-50, “Lamb, John E.”, Head, M, W, 27 yrs old, First marriage, Married 5 yrs, Born in NC, Father born in USA, Mother born in TN, Speaks English, Laborer for saw mill, Can read & write
Lamb, Noda, Wife, F, W, 24 yrs old, First marriage, Married 5 yrs, Born in NC, Father born in NC, Mother born in NC
Lamb, Artee M., (sic, should be Lamb, Artie M.), Daughter, F, W, 2 yrs old, Single, Born in NC, Father born in NC, Mother born in NC
Miller, Perlle (sic, should be Miller, Pearl), Daughter (this is Noda‘s daughter but not Ed‘s, but Ed raised her as his own), 6 yrs old, Born in NC, Father born in NC, Mother born in NC
Miller, Cintha, Mother-in-law, F, W, 70 yrs old, Widowed, 8 children with 6 still living, Born in NC, Father born in NC, Mother born in NC
Pg 10B, Lines53-54, Dwelling 197, Family 207, “Freshour, John T.“, Head, M, W, 69 yrs old, First Marriage, Married 40 yrs, Born in NC, Father born in NC, Mother born in TN, Speaks English, Laborer as wood chopper for wages, Can read & write
Freshour, Margaret, Wife, F, W, 72 yrs old, First marriage, Married 40 yrs, Born in TB, Father born in TN, Mother born in TN, Can read & write
Lines 55-61, Dwelling 198, Family 208, “Lamb, John R.“, Head, M, W, 48 yrs old, First marriage, Married 28 yrs, Born in TN, Father born in TN, Mother born in TN, Speaks English, Farmer of general farm, Can read & write, Rents farm
Lamb, Sarah J., Wife, F, W, 48 yrs old, First marriage, Married 28 yrs, 6 children with 5 still living, Born in TN, Father born in TN, Mother born in TN, Can read & write
Lamb, Maggie, Daughter, F, W, 25 yrs old, Single, Born in NC, Father born in TN, Mother born in TN, Can read & write
Lamb, Margie, Son (?), M, W, 22 yrs old, Single, Born in NC, Father born in TN, Mother born in TN, Laborer, wood chopper for wages, Can read & write
Lamb, Mannie M. (sic), Daughter, F, W, 20 yrs old, Single, Born in NC, Father born in TN, Mother born in TN, Can read & write
Lamb, Jessie, Son, M, W, 16 yrs old, Born in NC, Father born in TN, Mother born in TN, Farm Laborer on home farm
Lamb, Dortha (sic), Daughter, F, W, 12 yrs old, Born in NC, Father born in TN, Mother born in TN
Almany, Walter, Boarding, M, W, 22 yrs old, Single, Born in NC, Father born in NC, Mother born in TN, Speaks English, Farm laborer on home farm
Lines 76-77, Dwelling 201, Family 211, “Lamb, John A“, Head, M, W, 49 yrs old, Second Marriage, Married 2 yrs, Born in NC, Father born in NC, Mother born in NC, Speaks English, Farmer of general farm, Owns farm free of mortgage, Cannot read or write
Lamb, Ema (sic), Wife, F, W, 50 yrs old, First marriage, Married 2 yrs, 0 children, Born in NC, Father born in NC, Mother born in NC
Their first biological daughter was Sueda and she died of the Spanish Flu during the Flu Epidemic of 1918-1919. She was only 11 yrs old. Noda was pregnant when Sueda died. She had her baby girl on 1/22/1919 but Noda did not survive the Flu and childbirth. Noda died on 1/26/1919 in Madison County, NC. Three months later, the new baby (named after her mother), died too.
Noda has 2 death certificates. The only difference between the two are her middle name being “Vesta” on one and “Vester” on the other. Neither of her death certificates stated a cause of death. Her death date on the death certificate was 5 months later than what is on her tombstone. I don’t know how that happened. She is buried at the Old Antioch Cemetery in Madison County, NC. Was the tombstone added much later? Who did that, her parents or her re-married husband? Or was there simply a mistake from the tombstone maker? Maybe he was making so many tombstones (due to the Flu Epidemic) and simply made a mistake. Or maybe the doctor actually made a mistake on BOTH death certificates. I’m sure with the Flu Epidemic the doctors got behind on paperwork. So I don’t know if the death certificates are correct or the tombstone. The first time I visited Noda and Sueda‘s graves the tombstones were readable but the last time I went they were unreadable and need to be replaced. Mother said the baby was buried in her Noda‘s arms but that would have meant exhuming Noda‘s grave. Maybe little Noda was just buried beside her mother and older sister and her infant grave is not marked. ?
This is a photograph of one of the times we visited Noda‘s grave. From Left to Right: Lee, Luke with Elaine, Melinda, Mom with Jenny in front of her, Me.
Ed and the surviving girls had a terrible time. According to the family, Ed Lamb was overcome with grief after the death of Sueda, Noda and the baby. He took his family to Laurens, SC where he found a job at the textile mill there called Watts Mill. In the 1920 U.S. Census he is in Laurens with Artie, Fanny, Geneva, Pearl and her first husband (Dewey Roberts) and their little girl, Edna. He also had Cynthia Hickam Miller (his mother in law) living with them.
WWI Draft Registration Card, Roll 1765688, board 0, Serial #1370, Order #116, John Edward Lamb, DOB 5/29/1882
John Edward Lamb
Tennelina, Mad(ison County), NC
36 yrs old, May 29, 1882
1st box checked
1st box checked
Farming, Self in Tennelina, Mad., NC
Nearest Relative is (Wife) Noda Lamb in Tennelina, NC
Back of card:
32_1_31_C
Height Short
Build Slight
Color of eyes: Gray
Color of hair: Light
Signed by John Edward Lamb and J.E. Lance on 9/10/1918
1920 Census of Davis St, Laurens, Laurens County, SC, Roll T625-1700, Image 191, ED 63, Sheet 14A, Taken 1/12/1920, Lines 23-30, Number of Farm 514, Number of Dwelling 246, Number of Family 252, “Lamb, Ed.”, Ancestry.com also has him indexed as “Lamp, Ed” (This is probably Watts Mill.)
Ed Lamb, Head, Rent, M(ale), W(hite), 38 yrs old (DOB would have been 1882), Widower, Can read and write, Born in NC, Father born in NC, Mother born in NC, Can speak English, Carpenter, House, wages
Artie Lamb, Daughter, F, W, 11 yrs old, Single, In School, Can read and write, Born in NC, Father born in NC, Mother born in NC, No occupation
Fannie Lamb (Ancestry.com has her indexed as Lannie Lamb), F, W, 8 yrs old, Single, In school, Can read and write, Born in NC, Father born in NC, Mother born in NC, No occupation
Geneva Lamb (Ancestry.com has her indexed as Genevia Lamb), F, W, 4 10/12 yrs old, Single, Born in NC, Father born in NC, Mother born in NC
Dewey Roberts, Son-in-law, M, W, 22 yrs old, Married, Can read and write, Born in NC, Father born in NC, Mother born in NC, Can speak English, Run frames in cotton mill for wages
Pearl Roberts, Daughter, F, W, 19 yrs old, Married, Can read and write, Born in NC, Father born in NC, Mother born in NC, Can speak English, Spools in cotton mill for wages
Edna Roberts, Granddaughter, F, W, 2 2/12 yrs old, Single, Born in NC, Father born in NC, Mother born in NC
Syntha (sic) Miller, Mother, F, W, 54 yrs old (?), Widowed, Born in NC, Father born in NC, Mother born in NC
The oldest girl, Pearl, who was married to Dewey Roberts, lost her husband on 9/2/1921 in Laurens, SC. She was left with her daughter, Edna, to support. Fortunately she met and married Floyd Alexander Shipley on 4/20/1922 in Cocke County, TN.
1930 Census of Marion, McDowell County, NC, Roll 1704, Pg 13B, ED #9, Image 112.0, Ancestry.com, Lines 73-82, Dwelling 214, Family 218, “Lamb, John E.”
John E. Lamb, Head, Rents home (2), M(ale), W(hite), 50 yrs old, Married, 25 yrs old when married, Can read and write, Born in NC, Father born in NC, Mother born in TN, Carpenter at cotton mill
Bessie B. Lamb, Wife, F, W, 46 yrs old, Married, 20 yrs old when married, Can read and write, Born in NC, Father born in NC, Mother born in NC, Prop (Proprietor?) of Boarding House
Geneva Lamb, Daughter, F, W, 15 yrs old, Single, At school, Can read and write, , Born in NC, Father born in NC, Mother born in NC,
Earnest Harkelroad, St-Son, M, W, 21 yrs old, Single, Can read and write, , Born in NC, Father born in NC, Mother born in NC, Truckdriver, private
Myrtle Harkelroad, St-Daughter, F, W, 20 yrs old, Single, Can read and write , Born in NC, Father born in NC, Mother born in NC, Spinner at Cotton Mill
Harry Harkelroad, St-Son, M, W, 14 yrs old, Single, Attends school, Can read and write, Born in NC, Father born in NC, Mother born in NC
Daniel A. Lamb, Son, M, W, 8 yrs old, Single, Attends school, , Born in NC, Father born in NC, Mother born in NC,
Jay D. Tucker, Boarder, M, W, 22 yrs old, Married, 20 yrs old when married, Can read and write, Born in SC, Father born in SC, Mother born in SC, Carder in cotton mill
Colene Tucker, Boarder, F, W, 21 yrs old, Married, 19 yrs old when married, Can read and write, Born in SC, Father born in SC, Mother born in SC, Spinner in cotton mill
Ezell McSwain, Boarder, M, W, 19 yrs old, Widowed, 18 yrs old when married, Can read and write, Born in SC, Father born in SC, Mother born in SC, Doffer in cotton mill
But they must have come back home because he left his three little girls at the Dora Lynn School and went back to Laurens. Ginnie was only 4 years old. Aunt Artie was 11-12 and Aunt Fannie was 9-10 years old. Aunt Fannie and Aunt Artie thought it was an orphanage and were sure someone would want to adopt little Ginnie because she was so pretty. Every time they heard a car coming to the school, they would run with Ginnie and hide in the fields so no one would separate them. This made a big impression on their young lives. Eventually a neighbor widow woman named Bess Freshour Harkelroad, went to Ed Lamb. She and her family were already in Laurens, SC and lived nearby to Ed Lamb. The Freshours and Harkelroads had been their neighbors for many years in Madison County, NC. So they knew each other pretty far back. She had lost her husband and had small children and needed a husband. She told him the girls would be sent to an orphanage if he didn’t provide a family and home for them. She evidently made a bargain with him. If he would marry her and provide for her and her children, she would be a mother to his girls. They came back to the mountains married. They were married in 1921 in Laurens, SC. It turned out to be a bad arrangement. Bess was a terrible stepmother and Ed was harsh, with a violent temper. Bess took advantage of his temper and instigated trouble between Ed and the girls. It sounds like he may have suffered a deep depression after all the deaths and it may have left him bitter, angry. A bad second marriage didn’t help. But he had always had a quick temper. So I can’t say. I do know it made life at home miserable for the girls. Aunt Fannie and Aunt Artie married young to get away from a bad home life. They soon took little Ginnie with them. Despite marrying so young, all the girls had wonderful marriages.
Ed and his new wife, Bess Fresham Harkelroad (Dob: 5/22/1884 in Hot Springs, Madison County, NC; Dod: 7/31/1958 in Marion, McDowell County, NC) had a son of their own. He was Ed‘s only boy.
1) Daniel Atkins Lamb (aka Dan Lamb) (Dob: 1/31/1922; Dod: 12/28/1998 in Greer, Greenville County, SC) who married Eula Virginia Finley on 7/20/1940 in Gaffney, Cherokee County, SC. Eula Einley was born 7/28/1924 in Marion, McDowell County, NC. They had 3 children: Wanda Marie Lamb, Linda Doris Lamb, James Edward Lamb (aka Eddie Lamb).
Ed died 2/27/1937 of cerebral hemorrhage due to Hypertension and nephritis. My Mom thinks she remembers that he was up on their roof working when he died while on the roof. He is buried beside Bess at Oakwood Cemetery in Marion, McDowell County, NC. He was only 56 years old.
NC Death Certificates 1909-1975, Ancestry.com, Death Certificate #140, John E. Lamb, DOD 2/27/1937 in Marion McDowell County, NC
John E. Lamb of Clinchfield Station, Marion, McDowell County, NC
Male, White, Married to Bessie Freshour (looks like Frushour or Frishour so may be indexed that way)
DOB 5/29/1883, 55 yrs old, 8 mos, 28 days, born in Madison County, NC
Occupation: Textile
Father: Elb Lamb (Looks like Edd or Ebb Lamb) born in TN
Mother: Nancy M. Ricker (Looks like Kicher or Richer) born in Green County, TN
Informant: Marion Gen Hospital, Marion, NC
Burial: Oak Grove on 2/29/1939
Undertaker: M. Ca_is Funeral Home, Marion, NC
DOD: 2/27/1939. Dr attended deceased from 1/10/1939 to 2/27/1939. Last saw him alive on 2/27/1939. Death occurred at 12:45pm
Cause of death was cerebral hemorrhage (date of onset 2/22/1939)
Contributory causes was Hypertension- nephritic
No autopsy
Dr. L. Wm Hagna of Marion,
NC Death Collection, 1908-2004, Ancestry.com
John E. Lamb
White
55 yrs old
DOB 1884
DOD 2/27/1939 in McDowell County, NC
Source Vendor: NC State Archives, NC Deaths 1908-1967
An interesting medical fact: Ed died of a stroke at the age of 55. We don’t know if he had, or would have had, any type of dementia. All of his children died with dementia, Alzheimer’s Disease. The only one who didn’t was Pearl and she was Noda‘s child with the traveling salesman. My Grandmother, Geneva, had Alzheimer’s. Of her children, my Mother died of vascular dementia, James had Parkinson’s dementia. Judy died of Diabetes and Post Polio Syndrome but showed no signs of dementia and Glenn has a fine, strong mind.
I made a book about my Grandmother. The center of the book was about her Christmas in 1918 when her mother was still alive. Grandmother was only 4 when her mother died so she might have had memories of that last Christmas with her mother. I took the bare facts that I know but embellished with creative writing to make a story. So this is not word-for-word history. The facts are true and are in the story, but I used my imagination to make the story. I created these as digital scrapbook pages and had them printed in a book for a Christmas present. I wanted my grandnieces and grandnephews to read it with interest. There are typos in the text. I tried to catch them, but I missed some. These pages are the pages to do with Ed and Noda Lamb and their daughters. There are other pages so disregard the page numbers.
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