From The Newton Herald, February 8, 1912: “Mrs. E. E. Lambert has been appointed, by Mayor O. C. Meredith, as a member of the library board, to succeed Mrs. C. W. Campbell [q. v.], who resigned.”[1] She served until 1914.[2] Elizabeth Mary “Lizzie” Boydston, daughter of James Murray and Mary (Mahin) Boydston, was born in Cedar County, Iowa, April 7, 1864.[3] She was living with the family in Muscatine, Iowa, in 1870.[4] She was listed as a teacher in Newton in the 1885 Iowa Census.[5] On January 6, 1886, Miss Boydston married Col. Elliott Ellsworth Lambert (1863-1948), in Jasper County, Iowa.[6] Four children were born to Col. and Mrs. Lambert: Earl Boydston Lambert (1886-1961); Harold Reuben Lambert (1891-1954); Robert Elliott Lambert (1893-1963); and Marjorie B. (Mrs. William T.) Lampe (1896-1991).[7] Mrs. Lambert was “well known in church and social circles.” She was a member of Newton Chapter No. 100, Order of the Eastern Star, of which her husband was past worthy patron. She was also a member of Margaret Rebekah Lodge No. 237, of Newton. She was formerly president of the Twentieth Century Club of Newton.[8] Mrs. Lambert was also affiliated with the former Priscilla Club, and took a prominent part in the activities of the Auxiliary to Spanish-American War Veterans.[9] The entire Lambert family were members of the Methodist Church; Mrs. Lambert was a steward in the church.[10] A housewife, Mrs. Lambert died in Des Moines, Iowa, August 2, 1936, age 72 years, 3 months, and 25 days. Paul Morden, M. D., of Des Moines, certified that the principal cause of death was “Cardiac Decompensation with pulmonary congestion” with Diabetes as a contributory cause.[11] Burial was in Newton Union Cemetery.[12]
-Larry Ray Hurto
[1] The Newton Herald, February 8, 1912.
[2] 1896-1957 Library Trustees, Newton Public Library History. https://cdm16179.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p16179coll1/search/searchterm/library%20trustees/field/subjec/mode/exact/conn/and/order/title/ad/asc. This source erroneously gives “Mr. E. E. Lambert” as the trustee. Mrs. Lambert apparently resigned in 1914 when she moved with Col. Lambert to Des Moines. The Newton Daily News, August 3, 1936; Jasper County Record, Newton, IA, August 6, 1936; August 27, 1936.
[3] Elizabeth Mary Boydston Lambert in the Iowa, U.S., Death Records, 1880-1968; Gen. James B. Weaver, ed., Past and Present of Jasper County, Iowa, Vol. I (Indianapolis, IN: B. F. Bowen & Company, 1912), p. 439.
[4] 1870 United States Federal Census.
[5] Lizzie Boydston in the Iowa, U.S., State Census Collection, 1836-1925.
[6] Lizzie M Boydalon (sic) in the Iowa, U.S., Marriage Records, 1880-1948.
[7] Past and Present of Jasper County, Iowa, p. 439; Mary Elizabeth Lambert (sic) in the U.S., Find a Grave® Index, 1600s-Current; Marjorie Lampe in the U.S., Find a Grave® Index, 1600s-Current. Weaver spells the daughter’s name Marjory.
[8] Past and Present of Jasper County, Iowa, p. 440; Jasper County Record, August 6, 1936. Mrs. Lambert was initiated into Newton Chapter No. 100, O. E. S. on February 15, 1892. Email, March 24, 2025, from Wade E. Sheeler, Secretary, Newton Lodge No. 59, Ancient, Free & Accepted Masons.
[9] The Newton Daily News, August 3, 1936; Jasper County Record, August 6, 1936.
[10] Past and Present of Jasper County, Iowa, p. 440. Upon removing to Des Moines she became active in the Trinity Methodist Church. The Newton Daily News, August 3, 1936; Jasper County Record, August 6, 1936.
[11] Elizabeth Mary Boydston Lambert in the Iowa, U.S., Death Records, 1880-1968.
[12] The Newton Daily News, August 6, 1936; Jasper County Record, August 27, 1936.