My Genealogy Hound

Dr. Justin W. Lamson, a descendant of an old New England family, was born in Suncook, N. H., in 1844. Tradition has it that three brothers by the name of Lamson caine from England and settled in New England at an early period. On the maternal side Dr. Lamson is descended from the Pilgrims through the Bradford family, who landed on Plymouth Rock in 1620. William Lamson grandfather of Dr. Justin W., was a farmer of Brooktleld, Vt., and lived to be a hundred and one years of age. He died in 1876. His son, William Lamson, Jr., the father of Dr. Justin W. Lamson, was born on his father’s farm in Brookfield in 1808, and received a common-school education. He was married in 1826, at the early age of eighteen, to Miss Sarah Starrett, who bore him four children: William B., George S., Sarah F. and Justin W. After marriage Mr. Lamson moved to Suncook, N. H., and from there to Woodford County, Ill., in 1856, settling on a farm, where he remained until 1877. He then moved to Los Angeles County, Southern California, and at the age of eighty is a hale, hearty man, managing his farm, although in easy circumstances. He is a Liberal Congregationalist in his religious views, and is a worker in his church and Sunday-school. He is cheerful in his disposition, and very tolerant in all his views. His son, Dr. Justin W. Lamson, was reared on his father’s farm in Suncook, N. H., receiving a good common-school education, and at the age of eleven years moved with his father to Illinois. He remained at home until the breaking out of the late war, and, when nearly seventeen years of age, in April, 1861, he promptly enlisted in Company G, Seventeenth Illinois Infantry, as a private. He was in the battle of Fort Donelson, and after nearly eighteen months’ service was honorably discharged, on account of being afflicted with inflammatory rheumatism, and after lying in the hospital at St. Louis three months. He then returned home, and was confined to the house for most of the winters of 1862 and 1863. In April, 1863, he began the study of medicine with Dr. James S. Whitmire, and, after attending Rush Medical College, Chicago, during the winters of 1865 and 1866, he received his degree of M. D. in March, 1867. He then came to Southwest Missouri, locating in Granby in April, 1867, and there remained in practice until November, 1887. In January, 1871, he married Miss Sue Ritchey, daughter of Judge M. H. and Mary (King) Ritchey, residents of Ritchey, whose sketch appears elsewhere. Dr. and Mrs. Lamson are the parents of two children, Roy C. and Ina M. Dr. Lamson has had a very successful and active practice. He is well known all through a large section of this country, and, although he has retired from active practice, he frequently has calls from old patients, who will, in extreme cases, employ no one else. In November, 1887, Dr. Lamson retired from active practice, and became secretary and superintendent of the Ritchey Flouring Mill, being a stockholder in the same. In 1876 he represented Newton County in the State Legislature, the first Republican elected for some years. He is a charter member of Ritchey Lodge, A. F. & A. M. Mrs. Lamson is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. The Doctor has long resided at Newtonia, Mo., where he has a pleasant residence, but now considers himself a resident of Ritchey, and is identified with its interests. He is a man who, although coming to Southwest Missouri directly after the war, when all the bitterness of party feeling was at its height, has, by native merit and a practical urbanity, made himself very popular and highly respected.