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JAMES L. LAMB, one of the early merchants and for many years one of the leading business men of Springfield, was born in Connelsville, Fayette county, Pennsylvania, November 7, 1800. At twenty years of age he came to Illinois and located in Kaskaskia, formed a partnership with a brother-in-law, Thomas Mather, and I. B. Opdycke, and engaged in general merchandising, and also carried on beef and port packing extensively, which they shipped south. This firm shipped the first cargo of barreled pork to New Orleans ever sent from Illinois. In 1824, Mr. Lamb returned to Cincinnati, Ohio, and on June 13, of that year married Susan C. Cranmer, born in Cincinnati, in August, 1803, and the daughter of Dr. John Cranmer, of that city. They settled in Kaskaskia, where Mr. Lamb continued in business about eight years. In the fall of 1832 he severed his connection there and they moved to Springfield, and after a few months residence on Jefferson street settled on the site of Mrs. Lamb's present large and beautiful homestead. The hazle brush were cleared away to make room for their primitive pioneer home, from which a cow path led up through where Adams street now is. Mr. Lamb assumed the mercantile business in Springfield on Jefferson street, opposite the present St. Charles hotel. From there he moved to the west side of the square, and later to the corner now occupied by Hall & Herrick, at the southeast corner of the square. A number of years previous to his death he retired from that branch of business, and devoted the last years of his life to buying and packing pork. He departed from this life on December 3, 1873.