James Frank Lambert

James Frank Lambert, known as Major Lambert, came to St John County, Florida prior to 1900, as he is found on page 82 of the 1900 census as head of the household in the Haw Creek area later known as St. Johns Park), with occupation given as "Mfg Turpentine," and with Isaac I Moody, Jr. as a boarder and his occupation, "Woodsman." They were operating a turpentine camp for George W. Deen about 12 miles west of the present town of Bunnell.

They worked together for several years before forming a partnership and purchasing from Fairhead and Strawn of Jacksonville a shingle mill operated by Alvah Alonzo Bunnell at the railroad flag stop called Bunnell Stop. They then purchased a 30,000 acre tract of land from George W. Deen for turpentine and timber purposes. After operating their turpentine business for several years the Bunnell Development Company was chartered in 1909, surveying the land into 10 and 20 acre parcels to be sold for farming. Town sites were also plated and the town was named Bunnell.

Mr Lambert erected the first house in the town of Bunnell which was still standing on the NE corner of railroad and Lambert streets in 2008. He erected a water tank at his home in Bunnell in Feb 1913 and another at the home of J B Boaz. He was also the proprietor of the Hotel Halcyon (across the street to the south of his house - also still standing in 2008 but abandoned). The compiler lived in the Lambert House at one time during the late 1940's with his aunt and uncle, Otis and Pauline Sisco Magee.

In 1911, the Bunnell State Bank was organized with Lambert as vice-president and director. He was elected president of the bank in Jan 1919, succeeding Isaac I Moody, Jr who had died the preceding month.

He was found on the first list of registered voters for the town of Bunnell on 01 Dec 1915 with occupation given as banker. He was appointed a councilman when Bunnell was incorporated and was a member of the delegation going to Tallahassee in 1917 to appear before the legislature supporting the formation of the County of Flagler.

In Sep 1916, he and Isaac I Moody, Jr, purchased 7,000 acres of farming land from the Harwood Naval Stores Company. The land was located, just south of the St Johns County line.

In the Bunnell Home Builder of July 1917 was an account of a fire in the lumber mill of "Ford & Lambert" at DuPont which spread to several buildings, one of which was the magnificent dwelling house known as "The Mansion." The "beautiful Tippicanoe Inn" was saved.

On 10 Jun 1919, a deal was consummated whereby the Lambert Moody turpentine holdings of Flagler County became the property of Gaines and Allen, one of the state’s largest turpentine distribution firms.

In Oct 1919, he began, with James Emmett Deen and Jesse Hildreth McKnight, the operation of the Green Bay Turpentine Company, just across the Flagler County line in Volusia County.

He retired as president of the Bunnell State Bank in Aug 1922 when its holdings were sold to attorney Claude G Varn and associates.

On 1 Dec 1923, he purchased the Bank of Hastings. G W Lee who was the cashier at the Bunnell State Bank assumed that position with the Bank of Hastings

In Dec 1928, his turpentine plant located in Orange Hammock, 12 miles west of Bunnell, was destroyed by fire when then charge of rosin in the big kettle was allowed to become too hot and was then turned into the vats - as soon as the ferrule ran down to a mere skim of rosin on the bottom it flashed and caught the rosin in the vats through the kettle outlet.

Through the years Major lambert was active in the affairs of the town and county. His name was on the cornerstone of Bunnell High School as a School Trustee at the time the building was erected in 1924. J F. Lambert was an Organizing/Charter member of Bunnell Lodge #200 F & AM, formerly a member of Island Grove, Florida Lodge #125.

James Frank Lambert was born Jun 1862, SC and was killed instantly on Saturday 26 Feb 1938 when the automobile in which he was riding collided with a freight train on the railway crossing on Moody Boulevard in Bunnell, Flagler CO, FL. He married around 1899, Marie Catherine Ludwig, dau of Dr John C Ludwig and Susan LNU, born 26 Sep 1860, Charleston, Charleston CO, SC, died 09 Aug 1931, Lambert Home, Bunnell, Flagler CO, FL. Both are buried in St Augustine, St Johns CO, FL.

Marie Ludwig came to the area from St Augustine to teach school at St. Johns Park. Mr and Mrs Lambert were the parents of a daughter;

1. Anna Marie Lambert born 04 Jun 1902, FL, died 20 May 1998, St Augustine, St Johns CO, FL, married 03 Jul 1922, St Paul’s Catholic Church, Daytona Beach, Volusia CO, FL, John Lesesne (Johnnie) Center, Jr, son of John Lesesne Center and Mary Florence Pacetti, born 21 Mar 1902, St Augustine, St Johns CO, FL, died 01 Jun 1976, St Augustine, St Johns CO, FL.

James Frank Lambert married 2nd, about 1934, Annette Barrett, dau of Michael Barrett and Margaret LNU, born about 1878, died 14 May 1937, Chicago, Cook CO, IL as the result of injuries received in an automobile accident near Chicago on May 11th. She served as Worthy Matron of the Bunnell Chapter of the Order of Eastern Star.

Source: The First Families of Flagler by Mary Ketus Deen Holland who cites as her sources, Census and Published Articles.

Additional sources used by the compiler were: 1860 United States Federal Census, Williamsburg, Williamsburg CO, SC 1870 United States Federal Census, St Augustine, St Johns CO, FL; 1880 United States Federal Census, Braidwood, Will CO IL; 1880 United States Federal Census, Johnson, Williamsburg CO, SC; 1880 United States Federal Census, Precinct 4, Saint Johns CO, FL; 1900 United States Federal Census, Precinct 7, Saint Johns CO, FL; 1910 United States Federal Census, Precinct 7, St Johns CO, FL; 1920 United States Federal Census, Bunnell, Flagler CO, FL; 1930 United States Federal Census, Bunnell, Flagler CO, FL; Florida Death Index, 1877-1998; The Flagler Tribune, Bunnell, FL, 30 Oct 1919, 06 Jul 1922, 03 Aug 1922 and The Bunnell Home Builder, Sep 1916.

Please send questions, corrections or additions to Sisco Deen, P.O. Box 637, Flagler Beach, FL 32136 or email him at Sisco_Deen@hotmail.com.