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John Isbell Lamb and Ann Eliza O'Keeffe
John Isbell Lamb, third child of Alva Anderson and Jane Graham Lamb
was born Dec 6, 1830 Princeton, Ala, Jackson Co on the Paint Rock River. Alva and Jane
Lamb were born In North Carolina John I. moved with his parents to Bedford Co. Tenn where
they lived until 1848, when the family migrated to Morgan Co Ill. He had two brothers and
six sisters.
John I married Ann Eliza O'Keeffe, daughter of Hugh O'Keeffe and Mary Morgan O'Keeffe, In
Morgan Co. III, Dec. 30, 1849. It is known that he was a gifted and intelligent person but
at the time of their marriage he could neither read nor write. His wife, being well
educated, taught him to read and write.
Their first child Marquis LaFayette was born on his father's 20th birthday, Dec. 6, 1850
In Cass Co., III.
In 1853 the family migrated by ox drawn wagons with the O'Keeffe family to Bell Co.,
Texas. Enroute, near where Pauls Valley, Okla is now located, one of their wagons broke
down delaying their trip several days. This area was Indian territory, therefore, their
guns were well loaded and always at hand On continuing, they noticed fresh burned prairie
land. This indicated the Indians had been scouting their trip. Had they not had wagon
trouble, the whole group could have been destroyed by fire.
On arriving in Texas, Hugh O'Keeffe bought land on Pepper Creek, six miles NE. of Belton.
John I settled in The Grove, a small village In Bell Co. which became Coryell Co. In 1854.
He engaged in farming and stock raising. During the Civil War he belonged to an
organization called Frontiers Men. These men guarded settlers from Indians and helped
women whose husbands were at war. While living at this place six more children were born
to them, Mary Jane, Daniel D., Ann Eliza, Ellen E, Hugh S., and Fannie I.
In the 1860's John I. and wife bought land three miles N.E, of Mound where they built a
large home John I. and Ann Eliza were faithful workers in the Missionary Baptist church at
Mound.
In 1870 Marquis LaFayette, their older son married America Ann Rodgers. They were the
parents of fourteen children. Their second child, born In 1873 was named John Isbell Lamb Jr. for his grandfather. He married Cordelia
Frances Draper (Sis) in 1894. This couple were my parents. My mother died in 1916, my
father in 1942. Both are buried in the Lamb Cemetery.
Ann Eliza O'Keeffe Lamb died April 16, 1889. She was buried in Lamb Cemetery. John I sold
his home, giving the heirs their mother's part of the estate. John I. married three times
after Ann Eliza died. 1st Mrs. Katherine Franks, 2nd Mrs. Rebecca Gotaas, 3rd Mrs. Mary
Blanchard. He out lived them all and later made his home with daughter, Ellen Rodgers
Draper in Gatesville. Not long before his death he told her she should have neighbors come
in and sit with him at night. He died Oct. 2, 1927 and buried in Lamb Cemetery. A grand
old person! Everyone far and near called him Uncle John I. and loved him.
--Aline Lamb Sellers
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