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John I Lamb, Jr - Sarah (Beaty) Draper
1873-1942
 John Isbell Lamb Jr, was born June 2, 1873, In a log cabin on the farm of his
grandparents, John Isbell and Ann Eliza (O'Keeffe) Lamb Sr,
three miles northeast of Mound. He was the second child of La Fayette and America Ann
(Rodgers) Lamb and one of fourteen children.
Joseph Leonard and Sarah (Beaty) Draper, a family from around
Oglesby bought the farm adjoining the Lamb farm. They had a pretty young daughter,
Cordelia Frances (Sis). John and Sis began attending social events together In their
community and fell In love. Their wedding plans were kept secret. One night they attended
a dance. Leaving the dance, they rode to within a short distance of her home. She left her
horse with John, walked to the housel went to her room and waited until her parents were
asleep. Then, slipping out a window, she re]oined John They eloped to Fort Gates, a
village about twelve miles northwest, to the home of Reverend J.A. Gardner, on this cold
night, January 16, 1894 they were married.
Their first home was a gift from her parents who gave them land and built their small
house. Sis kept the home fires burning for the next twenty two years, always backing John
all the way in business ventures until her death January 17, 1916. They were early members
of the Mound Baptist Church, having joined in 1897.
John and Sis had eleven children. Leonard was born in 1894. Myrtle, 1896. Simmie, 1898.
Edward, 1901. Viola, 1903. G.L. 1905, Aline, 1908. Joe, 1910. Joel, 1912. Gordon and
Jordan, 1915. Seven children lived past 70. Gordon lived 64 1/2 years.
After Sis died, the home was never the same. The children had a hard, lonely live. But
when they grew up, they all did well. They were school teachers, Machinists, civil service
workers, and business owners, all home owners with lovely families.
As of September, 1984, three of the children are still living -- Viola, 80, Aline, 76, and
Joel, 72. Edward died in 1974; G.L., 1978; Leonard, 1979; Gordon, 1980; and Myrtle, 1982.
In John's old age he lied with his children. He died on November 2, 1942, and was buried
beside Sis in the Lamb Cemetery, near their old home.
Descendants of John and Sis include 14 grandchildren, 32 great-grandchildren, and 13
great-great-grandchildren.
-- Margaret J. Marshall Calk, granddaughter of John and Cordelia
Frances Lamb.
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