LAMB, JAMES L., brother to George Lamb, was born Nov. 7, 1800, at Connellsville, Fayette county, Penn. His father, George Lamb, died while he was quite young, leaving six children to be cared for by the widowed mother. The family were members of the "Society of Friends." James early desired to assist his mother in bringing up the family, and at twelve years of age went to Cincinnati, making his trip on horseback, and engaged as clerk with Hugh Glenn, a relative of the family, and a prominent merchant of that city. In 1820 J. L. Lamb removed to Kaskaskia, Ill., where he engaged in mercantile pursuits and pork packing, in company with Col. Thos. Mather and S. B. Opdycke, at that place and at Chester, Ill. This firm packed and shipped the first barrel of pork ever sent to New Orleans from Illinois. J. L. Lamb was married, Jan. 13, 1824, at Cincinnati, Ohio, to Susan H. Cranmer, daughter of Dr. Cranmer of that city. She was born there, Aug. 13, 1803. They moved to Springfield, Ill., in 1831, and in moving his effects it was necessary to charter a boat at St. Louis, and take it up the Kaskaskia river to the village. This was the only instance of a steam boat ascending that stream. The goods were landed at Beardstown, and transported to Springfield in wagons. Mr. and Mrs. J. L. Lamb had seven children; two died young. Of the other five--

JOHN C., born June 16, 1825, in Kaskaskia, was married in Goshen, N. Y., Dec., 1868, to Anna Pougher, a native of England. J. C. Lamb was engaged with his father in pork packing, and is now the proprietor of the ’tna foundry and machine works, in Springfield, Illinois.

SUSAN A., born April 3, 1828, in Kaskaskia, was married in Springfield, Oct. 20, 1847, to John Cook, who was born June 12, 1826, in Belleville, Ill. Mr. and Mrs Cook had seven children, four of whom died in infancy. JAMES L., JOHN C. and WILLIAM J. live with their parents. John Cook was the only son of Hon. Daniel P. Cook, one of the early congressmen from Illinois, who married a daughter of Gov. Ninian Edwards. She died when the subject of this sketch was quite young, and he was brought up by his grandfather, Gov. Edwards. He was under the instruction of Rev. John F. Brooks (then of Belleville, but now of Springfield), from 1834 to 1840, and entered Illinois College, at Jacksonville, in 1841. He was obliged to abandon his studies the next year, from a temporary loss of sight, and afterwards attempted to finish his education at Kemper College, St. Louis, Mo., but failed from defective sight; and clerked in a commission house in the latter city for three years. Jan. 8, 1846, he formed a partnership with Hawley & Edwards, in Springfield, Ill., in the dry goods business. In 1854 John Cook was elected Mayor of Springfield, and in 1856 Sheriff of Sangamon county. At the expiration of his term, Gov. W. H. Bissell appointed him Quartermaster General of Illinois, and in 1858 he organized an independent military company, called the Springfield Zouave Grays, and was chosen Captain. This company was accepted by Gov. Yates, under the State's quota of 75,000 men in 1861, and was the nucleus of the 1st Reg., Ill. Vol. Inf., of which he was chosen Colonel, and which was called No. 7, in honor of the six regiments furnished by Illinois for the Mexican war. Col. Cook's commission was dated April 24, 1861, and the regiment was mustered in at Camp Yates, April 25, 1861, by Capt. John Pope of the regular army, and was, consequently, the first regiment to enter the field from Illinois for suppressing the rebellion. They were ordered to several different points, and at Fort "Joe Holt," Ky., Col. John Cook was assigned command of a Brigade. Feb. 3, 1862, he was assigned to the command of Gen. Charles F. Smith, in the movement up the Cumberland and Tennessee rivers. After the capture of Fort Donelson Col. Cook was commissioned Brigadier General, for gallant conduct. During the advance on Corinth he was ordered to report to the Secretary of War, and was assigned a command consisting of his brigade, with two brigades from Gen. Shields division, eleven batteries of Artillery, and two regiments of cavalry. After McClellan's retreat from Harrison's Landing and Pope's retreat from the valley, Gen. Cook was relieved, at his own request, and the following fall was ordered to report to Major Gen. John Pope, commanding the military department of the northwest, under whom he remained until Oct. 9, 1864, when he was assigned command of the military district of Illinois, with headquarters at Springfield. He was there mustered out, having been previously commissioned by President Johnson, Major General by brevet. He was elected in the fall of 1868, Representative in the Illinois State Legislature, from Sangamon county. He was instrumental in securing the second appropriation for the erection of the New State House. Gen. Cook and family reside in Springfield, Illinois.

CAROLINE F., born Feb. 8, 1831, was married in Springfield, Dec. 19, 1855, to William J. Black, who was born in Vandalia, Ill., Nov. 11, 1828. He died, Nov. 24, 1861, leaving a widow, who resides with her mother in Springfield.

HANNAH M., born July 6, 1838, in Springfield, was married there, June 18, 1862, to Legh R. Kimball, who was born Aug. 7, 1826, in New Hampshire. They had one child JULIA L., who died in infancy. Mr. Kimball was paymaster on the Chicago & Alton railroad, and afterwards General Agent on the T. W. & W. railroad. He died May 30, 1865, in Springfield, Ill., and his widow resides there with her mother also.

ELIZABETH T., born July 29, 1844, in Springfield, was married June 8, 1864, to Gideon R. Brainerd. They have four living children, LEGH KIMBALL, BENJAMIN H., JAMES L. L. and SUSAN L. Mr. Brainard was book-keeper in the Marine and Fire Insurance Company's Bank. He is now engaged in farming, two miles west of Springfield, Illinois.

James L. Lamb was an clder in the First Presbyterian church of Springfield, and a director of the Theological Seminary of the Northwest, at Chicago. He was an active, earnest, christian gentleman, always interested in education, and a friend to those in need, as the writer of this can testify from personal knowledge. He was in the pork packing business, in Springfield, from 1842 to the time of his death, which occurred Dec. 3, 1873. His widow and children reside in Springfield, Illinois.