Charles John Lambert Born: November 5, 1845 Nauvoo, Illinois Father: Charles Lambert Mother: Mary Alice Cannon (The following was written by one of the children of Charles John Lambert, records in the possession of Ruth Eldredge Swenson.) Charles John was the oldest son of Charles Lambert and Mary Alice Cannon and was born in Nauvoo during the stirring days of the martyrdom of the prophet, Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum. Before continuing with his life history, let us revert back to the days when they left their home country for the journey to America. It was January 11, 1838, while John Taylor was doing missionary work that he visited his wife's brother, George Cannon and family in Liverpool, England. The visitor had hardly left the house after a brief call when the mother expressed the firm conviction that she felt that he was a servant of God, although he had not then made known the fact that he was a missionary or explained the gospel. After a short time spent in investigating, the parents and children who were old enough, were baptized, Grandmother being baptized in June, 1840. It did not take long to discover that there was not a bit of fellowship or tolerance for them among their relatives or former friends. Though formerly popular, they were now pitied or denounced, if not thoroughly hated. They soon became very desirous to migrate to America. Although the mother had a foreknowledge that she would never live to reach America, she was very anxious to start. They left for New Orleans in September, 1842. The mother died six weeks later and was buried at sea. April, 1843, seven months later, they finally reached Nauvoo. After having spent the winter at St. Louis, as they were prevented from going further north on account of the river's freezing over. The following August, the father went to St. Louis to obtain employment and died suddenly while there. Of the children thus left, George Q. and Ann found a home with their Aunt Lenora Taylor, and Mary Alice (our Grandmother) lacking two weeks of being 16 years of age, married Charles Lambert, in November, 1844, and provided a home for her other three siblings, Angus, David and Lenora. Charles Lambert was also born in England, embraced the gospel in 1843 and came to Nauvoo in 1844. His faith and zeal were such that he, the only one of the family, left friends, property, and all that he had formerly held dear, including aged parents who were loath to part with him, and come to America that he might be with the chosen people of God and assist in building up Zion. He was an expert stone cutter and could command ready employment and high wages in any large city in America had such been his object, but instead his service was freely given and gratefully accepted in the completion of the temple in Nauvoo, which took about two years. He and his young wife had a habit of appealing to the Almighty in prayer when in an extremity and they invariably found comfort in so doing and generally had their prayers answered. One occasion was when Father (Charles John), then an infant, was dangerously sick and they felt the want of 25 cents with which to purchase some medicine. Where to get it, they did not know. And so as usual, they prayed to the Lord to open a way to obtain it. They felt an assurance that their prayers would be answered, but they knew not how. Soon afterward the husband felt something hard stitched in the waistband of his pants. By cutting it open they found two dimes and one nickel, just the amount
required. Upon inquiring, the tailor knew nothing of it, so it was accepted as a gift from the Lord. They remained in Nauvoo for the defense of the city after the exodus of the main body of Saints. Grandfather promised the authorities of the church at the time of the dedication of the Nauvoo temple, that he would help the less fortunate to leave in safety. He took a prominent part in the city's defense from the mobocrats who surrounded and besieged the city, helping to manipulate one of the cannons which in emergency, he and others had improvised from an old steamboat shaft and mounted upon a part off the running gear of a wagon. After several days, a flag of truce was raised by the mob and a treaty affected. One of the provisions was that the Saints would vacate the city within three days. This they tried to do, but were greatly mistreated by the mob in crossing the prairies to the Missouri River. On one occasion, two men took Grandfather to the river and held him under water three times in succession while 14 others stood ready to shoot if he attempted to resist. It was while camped on the banks on the Iowa side that many suffering for want of food were visited by flocks of quail so tame that they could be killed with sticks and this was thankfully received as a gift from God. Upon arriving at Winter Quarters in November, 1846, they remained long enough to build a log cabin to shelter the family. Then Grandfather went to Missouri to find work. They were disappointed, however, for the Indians killed the team animals in the Spring of 1847. In February, 1848, they again set out for the journey westward. That journey of 150 miles from Missouri to Winter Quarters, at this season was a terrible one, but it was bravely accomplished. While crossing the river from Ferry Point to Winter Quarters, the ice broke through and the wagon with all the family possessed went into the river. Grandmother stood on the bank with Father (Charles John) in her arms and her younger brothers and sister clinging to her skirts to see all they possessed sink to the bottom. However, by the kind help of volunteers, most of the things were recovered, though some were spoiled. The next day, the wagon was pulled out. Following the advice of President Young, they decided to return to Missouri where Grandfather had work until the next spring. Six months more travel and they reached Utah in the fall of 1849, coming over in Allen Taylor's Company. Charles Lambert being captain of ten. By this time, father was four years of age. Growing to youth and manhood in this country, he was early identified with the activities of the pioneers and had performed his full share of all these experiences that made for the building of the foundation of the state of Utah. As a lad he often herded cattle and horses on the open range that is now Salt Lake County. One of his sports as a lad, was to go swimming. To this his parents consented, except on Sundays. But one Sunday, being urged by his companions and thinking his parents would never know, he went in a big creek on 6th West, between 9th and 10th South Streets. While ducking each other under, Father mysteriously became lodged under a large bridge timber. His companions searched for his body, but they could not find him, so they ran about a mile for help. They got a man who was living nearby, and he came and helped them. After hunting for a few minutes, they turned the timber over and there discovered the body, which they carried up on the bank. They worked with it and finally brought him back to life again. Father said that he saw them hunting for his body, which he could see through the log, and he tried to tell them where it was, but they did not seem to heed him. He also saw them roll the body over and saw water pour from his mouth. There were two people talking to him, and they repeated the fifth commandment, "Honor Thy Father and thy Mother that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord, thy God, giveth thee." He was made to realize that he had broken this commandment. He was given a chance to return if he would remember this. He had no pain leaving the body, but the pain was almost unbearable returning.
This was always a great lesson to Father, never to disobey his parents. Grandmother said he never did again. As a young man, Father worked along with Grandfather at stonecutting, masonry, logging and farming. He also drove the carriage for his Uncle John Taylor's family, as he was a good hand with horses. Father fought in the Black Hawk War in San Pete County. He was mustered into service in the spring of 1866. He belonged to John P. Winder's Company, serving about three months. He was bodyguard for General Wells. When he reached Salina, he was taken ill. He was then put in the Kimball Company. This company came back to Twelve Mile Creek. While camped there, the Thistle Valley fight took place. When the Kimball Company reached Thistle Valley, the Indians had left so they followed them. They lost track of them, so returned. They then went to Fish Lake and Castle Valley. They suffered greatly for want of water and provisions. They returned to Salt Lake and were released. Grandmother told me this incident that happened when Father was a little boy. Grandfather, having divided with others who were less fortunate than themselves, found their supply of flour had given out. They had to send the children to bed hungry. Grandfather, with the faith he always had, felt the Lord would answer their prayers so they would be able to procure food for the children. That night, Brother Henry Woolley, a dear friend living in Kaysville, was awakened three times with the thought that the Lamberts needed flour. His wife insisted that it couldn't be true as they had plenty a short time before. He couldn't rest so he loaded some flour in his wagon and started for Salt Lake City, arriving just as Grandmother was making a fire. She said that he came in and laid the flour down. She made biscuits and he ate breakfast with them. She didn't remember whether she thanked him or not, but she accepted it as a gift from the Lord. While he was on the way with the flour, a man offered him $20 for it, but he would not accept it. At October conference in 1867, he, with others, was called to take their wives and settle on the "Muddy". He wasn't married at this time, but he had been taking Mother out. He asked Grandfather Druce if he was willing for Mother to get married and go with him. Grandfather was hoeing and he made the hoe go faster and did not answer for some time, but finally consented as most of the Saints did what they were asked to do if they felt it was a call from God. He asked Brother Kimball when he could go to the Endowment House to be married. Brother Kimball said, "Let's see. Come tomorrow." Father said, "Oh, I can't get ready!" Brother Kimball said, "Oh, come and get ready after." He married Lilly Harriet Druce, October 26, 1867 and left right away on his mission. While on the way there, they were stopped by President Erastus Snow, who called him to go to St. George to help erect the tabernacle there. There he worked as a stone cutter. He spent all the money he had, besides flour, to make up enough to send to California to buy steel to make tools to work with. He was furnished, in the mean time, with tools from other men's kits, until his were made. This left him very short of money, not having enough to buy stamps or paper to write home unless they sent them some. He received 50 cents in money and one pound of sugar for Christmas. That was all the pay he received that winter. He was allowed a few provisions from the tithing office to help them with living and charge it on their work. Mother needed garments and as Brother Goddard was going to Washington (Utah), he bought some factory (cloth) for her, paying 75 cents a yard. He took his pay out of the tithing office on Father's work, about six months after. While in St. George, he made a bed by fixing four posts with rails held together by wooden pins and laced with a rope clothesline and used a straw mattress. In St. George they lived first with Aunt Sarah Cannon, wife of Angus Cannon. They then lived with David Cannon's wives, Aunt Wilhelmina and Aunt Josephine, while Uncle David was on a
mission. He then lived in a house belonging to Joseph Russell. He returned to Salt Lake City in the fall of 1868 and helped in the construction of the Union Pacific Railroad. He worked as foreman with Grandfather, who had the contract doing the rock work on the bridges. While working there, his first child, Lilly, was born. They stayed at Grandmother Lambert's home for a short time. They then moved to a house belonging to his brother George, on the northeast corner of 1st West and 5th South. From there, they moved to a place in Sugar House, just north of the paper mill. While living here, in about 1874, he built a lovely home in the 7th ward on 1st West between 3rd and 4th South. He rented it for some time to Dr. Ralph. After the death of his sister Annie, which was a great sorrow to Father and the rest of the family, Grandmother lived there until Father moved to Salt Lake City in about 1877 or 1878. In March, 1870 Father began working at the Deseret Paper Mill in Sugar House in the building which was later used for 35 years by the Bamberger Coal Company. A monument was erected directly west of the structure in memory of the pioneer sugar industry as the building was first built for that purpose. This paper mill at Sugar House furnished wrapping paper for the stores of Great Salt Lake as well as newspaper and magazines. After two or three years, he became superintendent. On May 23, 1879 it was decided that a new mill should be built at the mouth of Big Cottonwood Canyon. Father, Mr. T.E. Taylor and Mr. Henry Grow, the architect, went east to investigate and get new ideas in mills, material used and machinery. They visited Chicago, New York, Philadelphia, Boston and other large cities. On account of the difficulties in building at that time it was December 27, 1882 before the mill was completed, which cost $150,000. The machinery was moved from the old paper mill. Later new machinery was purchased and both were used. March 1884, Father met with a very serious accident, being kicked in the face by a horse. They carried him in the office, thinking him dead. The nearest telephone was about 7 miles. It was necessary to phone to Salt Lake for a doctor. While waiting for the doctor, William Hadfield, one of the workmen, said, "Don't let our boss die like this. Let's put his feet in hot water." This they did. The blood shot from the wound and started circulating, thus saving his life. father was brought home which was then in Salt Lake City, on a cot in a wagon, a distance of 15 miles. He lay unconscious for 30 days and after gaining consciousness, he remained ill for two or three months, unable to return to his work. By the faith and prayers of the family and friends, with the help of the Lord, he was again able to resume his work for more than four years until poor health required a change of occupation. While employed at the paper mill, Father devoted his time entirely to business, trying to learn all he could that would be of a benefit. He worked night as well as day, when necessary for the interest of the business without extra charge. Although at times there were things that were a great trial to him, he was always willing to sacrifice in order to see the paper industry grow. He felt with proper management it could be made to become a big paying industry in Utah. He was offered a good position in a large paper mill in another state, but did not accept as his interest was in building up his own state. it was a great disappointment to him when he had to retire on account of his health. He was indeed sorry when, a short time after, the mill was destroyed by fire. He was disappointed because they did not rebuild the mill and use the expensive machinery which was not badly damaged. He was a kind and thoughtful father, doing all he could for the welfare of those he loved. He expected obedience of his children and they felt they could not disappoint him. On November 28, 1878, he married Mary L. Hovey, the daughter of James G. Hovey and Susannah Goodrige, as a plural wife, and was the stepfather to Genevieve Hardy. Genevieve's mother, Aunt
Mary's cousin, died when she was a baby and Aunt Mary had been a good mother to her. In September, 1888, he moved to his farm in Granger. He had bought 40 acres of wet alkali land. He endeavored to drain it by digging deep narrow ditches or open drains, getting up hours before anyone else and working while it was cool. Then he used a wooden drain by placing long pieces of timber on the sides with a piece on top to keep out the dirt. He later purchased tile, placing them end to end in the ditch. He was able to drain it in a lake on the north end of his land. By doing this, he made the land productive and raised as much as 75 bushels of grain per acre and other crops in proportion. During this time, he worked at intervals for the Lambert Paper Company, operated by his brother George C. Father was a lessor priesthood Supervisor both in the Seventh Ward of Salt Lake City and in Granger. He was a Sunday School teacher with Elizabeth Park in the first intermediate department for a number of years. He was also Secretary of the YMMIA and visiting High Priest with Brother John H. Woodbury in the Granger Ward. He was ordained an Elder, December 18, 1864 by Apostle Amasa M. Lyman, a Seventy, April 8, 1870 by George Q. Cannon, and a High Priest, May 15, 1910 by Nathaniel V. Jones. He visited all the temples which were built before his death, except the Hawaiian Temple. In 1917, he sold out his farm in Granger and moved to Salt Lake City. He spent the remaining part of his life working in the Salt Lake Temple. Father died at the LDS hospital following an operation, February 17, 1924. He was buried in the Salt Lake City Cemetery. His funeral was held in Farmers Ward. He was the father of ten children, two boys and eight girls.