[source: "Illustrated history of Kennebec Co., ME", Kingsbury & Deyo, 1892, pages 1264-]

William, born in Clinton December 2, 1822, worked away from home most of the time after he was 9yrs. of age, getting, in his words, "only a common schooling, and very little of that." At the age of 20 he gave his father $70 for his time, and bought 40 acres of land for $400, giving five notes, which he paid. The next 9 years he devoted to lumbering, doing little on his farm except cutting his hay.

He sailed December 6, 1852, in the new steamship, Uncle Sam, having a pleasant passage until they reached Aspinwall on the Isthmus, but while crossing many of the passengers were taken sick. He never knew what suffering was until this time. Leaving Panama, they ran into Acapulco on Christmas, and on that day buried 7 who died from cholera. Thence they sailed to Sacramento, reaching there January 6th, having buried 37 of the crew and passengers in 14 days. 75 were carried to the hospitals, many of them dying afterward. He located at Roses' Bar. He only worked at mining one half a day, but bought a team and did a business hauling freight from Marysville, a distance of 18 miles. That fall he bought a partnership with Wilder & Newcomb in a store at Roses' Bar, and in one at Sucker Flat. In the spring they took an inventory, and found they had $4,500 worth of goods, which represented just the amount of cash invested. Wilder had in some way got rich enough to start back east. William bought out both his partners, and in one month cleared $500. He then took Shepard Lowe as a partner, and in 1 1/2yrs. they had made $9,000, and in December following started for home, where he arrived $7,000 richer than when he left three years before.

On January 16, 1855, he was married to Caroline Spearin, of Benton, and settled on the old farm which had increased from 40 to 150 acres. Here they lived until 1866, when they sold the farm for $6,000, and bought of Zimri Hunter their present residence in Clinton. In 1867 he bought Major Lord's saw and shingle mill, added the manufacture of doors, sash and blinds, and in 1887 began making croquet sets, now averaging 12,000 per year, and giving work in the different departments of his mill to from ten to 30 people. He is president of the Clinton Dairy Association, has served as selectman, and in 1861 was a member of the state legislature.

Mr. Lamb has done much for the growth of the village by selling lots, building houses and making easy terms with purchasers. Politically, he is a democrat, and his religious affiliations are with the Freewill Baptists, being the most effective mover in the formation, a few years ago, of that church in Clinton, and in the building of its handsome house of worship.

Mr. and Mrs. Lamb have one child, Helen Eugenia, the wife of Rev. A. D. Dodge, pastor for the past five years of the Clinton Freewill Baptist church. They have one child, William Lamb Dodge.