-------------------------------
biography from Portrait & Biographical Album of Mahaska Co., Iowa, 1887
Rev. JAMES W. LAMBERT, Pastor of the Methodist Episcopal Church at New Sharon, a native of Red Creek, Randolph Co., W. Va., and was born Jan. 24, 1850, and is the son of Nathan S. and Jemima (Bonar) Lambert. The early life of the subject of this sketch was passed on the farm, and during those years he received his education at private schools, and being inclined to books, and of studious habits, made rapid progress. In the sixteenth year of his age he became converted, and united with the Methodist Episcopal Church in Wirt County, W. Va., and when seventeen, becoming convinced that it was his duty to enter the ministry, commenced preparing himself for the work before him. He was appointed a Class-Leader when seventeen years old, licensed as an exhorter at eighteen, and to preach at twenty, and was admitted to the traveling connection in the West Virginia Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, March 21, 1877. He was ordained a Deacon Oct. 13, 1878, by Bishop W. L. Harris, and an Elder by Bishop J. P. Peck, Oct. 17, 1880. Before he was admitted to the conference as a traveling preacher, he taught school for about four years. He organized Randolph Mission in West Virginia, and traveled it two years as a supply, was stationed at Centerville three years, Parkersburg Circuit three years, Ravenswood two years, and Elizabeth, nine months, from which latter place he was transferred by Bishop Merrill to the Iowa Conference, was appointed as a supply to New Sharon, two months before Conference, and was returned to the same work Sept. 10, 1885. Rev. Mr. Lambert, on Oct. 23, 1870, at New Interest, Randolph Co., West Va., was united in the holy bonds of matrimony with Sue M. Schoonover, a native of Randolph County, and born the West Virginia Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, March 21, 1877. He was ordained a Deacon Oct. 13, 1878, by Bishop W. L. Harris, and an Elder by Bishop J. P. Peck, Oct. 17, 1880. Before he was admitted to the conference as a traveling preacher, he taught school for about four years. He organized Randolph Mission in West Virginia, and traveled it two years as a supply, was stationed at Centerville three years, Parkersburg Circuit three years, Ravenswood two years, and Elizabeth, nine months, from which latter place he was transferred by Bishop Merrill to the Iowa Conference, was appointed as a supply to New Sharon, two months before Conference, and was returned to the same work Sept. 10, 1885. Rev. Mr. Lambert, on Oct. 23, 1870, at New Interest, Randolph Co., West Va., was united in the holy bonds of matrimony with Sue M. Schoonover, a native of Randolph County, and born Jan. 14, 1851. Of this union there have been born five children: the eldest, Lillie L., died at the age of eighteen months; those living are Nathan J., Flavius W., Harry B. and Lulu May. Mr. Lambert became a member of the Masonic fraternity at New Sharon. He is also an active member of the I. O. of G. T. He was one of the first to promote the cause of prohibition in West Virginia, and since coming to this State, has not abated his zeal in the cause.
Portrait & Biographical Album of Mahaska Co., Iowa, 1887
Mahaska County, Iowa Genealogy