Necrology of Toledo's Woodlawn Cemetery

Clarence Lamb

Clarence Lamb was born on August 1, 1854, in Hornell, New York. As a young man, Lamb came to Toledo and found work pulling mail boats across the Maumee River. He married Mary Gross in 1881 and they built a home in Toledo. The Lambss later sold that home to invest money in a fish business.

Mr. Lamb founded the Thompson & Lamb Fish Company, a company that proved to be very successful. The business sold its produce in the northeast, central midwest, and southwestern parts of the country. The fish they sold was gathered by their own fleet of gasoline boats.[Killits, John. Toledo and Lucas County, Ohio 1623-1923. vol. 3 (Chicago: S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1923), p.181]. The Lambss original investment paid off and they were able to purchase a much larger home on the river.[Toledo Biographical Scrapbook (Krup-Lam). Local History Room. Toledo Lucas County Public Library]. Also the (Toledo Blade, 1 August 1940 and 8 December 1941). The Thompson & Lamb Fish Company served Toledo from its office at Summit and Cherry Streets for over 47 years. The company later became Goulden & Lamb. When Lamb retired, his son, Chester, replaced him.(Toledo Biographical Scrapbook).

After retirement, Clarence Lamb enjoyed watching the work that was carried out on the lake. He kept a close eye on the progress of the engineers and workmen who built the intake of Toledo's lake water supply project. Mr. Lamb had a special interest since the construction site was the original site of one of the first fish camps that he established on Lake Erie's southwestern shores.

On December 8, 1941, after several months of failing health, Clarence Lamb passed away. Surviving Mr. Lamb were his wife, seven of their ten children, sixteen grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.

Clarence Lamb's grave

(Photography of Woodlawn Cemetery by Josef Schneider.)