The Lambert Land Memorial

The Lambert Land Memorial Project
The Lambert Land, located in Morgan Township, is a historic landmark of Gallia County, and its story has almost been forgotten. Traditional stories about this segment of our local Afro-American history have been handed down by word-of-mouth for about six generations by members of local families whose ancestors once inhabited the land. It is a fact, however, that in 1843, a Frank Lambert, along with 30 freed slaves, purchased land in Gallia County, Ohio where they could live in freedom. This event happened 20 years before Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation. When the group came to Ohio, their surnames were all listed as Lamberts on the property deeds. Shortly after the settlement occurred, many of them changed their Lambert names to that of their master. Traditionally speaking, it is said that Frank Lambert had two brothers named Minnis Lambert and Miller Lambert; consequently several Minnis families and Miller families presently live in the Bidwell-Porter area. Within two years, the settlers had established the Morgan Bethel Church just east of the settlement. A cemetery is located adjacent to the church where many of the early settlers and their descendants are buried. At the present time, many individuals are buried there without markers. Included with the unmarked grave sites are about 30 Black soldiers who served their country, including the Civil War. One of the three primary goals of the Lambert Land Preservation Society is to maintain a memorial at the cemetery. The memorial will consist of three marble monuments, one of which will contain an etching showing the first Lambert settlers crossing the Ohio River. Glenn Miller, whose ancestors were among the Lambert Land's initial settlers states, "The Ohio River was to his ancestors what the Statue of Liberty in New York harbor was to those who sought their freedom when they came to this country." On the obverse side of the monument will be listed the names of the first settlers. The other two monuments will contain the inscribed names of about 150 individuals known to be buried there but who do not have grave markers. The committee believes that if someone has lived and had a name, then they need to be remembered. Another goal of the committee is to see that government markers are provided for those soldiers who do not have a gravestone at the present time or who have a stone that needs to be replaced because it is no longer readable in the cemetery. The third goal is to create a map of the Lambert Land and to show the locations of different family homes located there. These maps would be reproduced and given to various libraries, churches, and historical societies. Gallia County had more than one major route for slaves to escape from the southern plantations in their quest for freedom. The Lambert Land was a communal property and served as the homestead for many families. Descendants of the Lambert Land settlers lived on the property until 1972. By that time, many had moved to other locations, and the Lambert Land was sold on the courthouse steps for back taxes. The Lambert Land Memorial will not only save this history from oblivion, but it has the potential of becoming an attraction for many visitors to visit and learn about Gallia County's past. On September 14th of this year, at 1:00 in the afternoon, the Lambert Land Preservation Society dedicated this historical memorial. The society is seeking donations from churches, organizations, corporations and individuals who would like to help finance this project. Donations are tax deductible. The price tag for this memorial is estimated to be between $15,000 and $20,000. Checks can be made out to The Lambert Lands Society in care of the treasurer, Corliss Miller, 3680 Clark Chapel Rd., Bidwell, OH 45614. Mrs. Miller can be contacted by calling (740) 388-8648 or by e-mailing her at Glencor44@yahoo.com. Donations are being collected at this time.

The Lambert Land Memorial Project

The Lambert Land, located in Morgan Township, is a historic landmark of Gallia County, and its story has almost been forgotten. Traditional stories about this segment of our local Afro-American history have been handed down by word-of-mouth for about six generations by members of local families whose ancestors once inhabited the land. It is a fact, however, that in 1843, a Frank Lambert, along with 30 freed slaves, purchased land in Gallia County, Ohio where they could live in freedom. This event happened 20 years before Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation.

When the group came to Ohio, their surnames were all listed as Lamberts on the property deeds. Shortly after the settlement occurred, many of them changed their Lambert names to that of their master. Traditionally speaking, it is said that Frank Lambert had two brothers named Minnis Lambert and Miller Lambert; consequently several Minnis families and Miller families presently live in the Bidwell-Porter area. Within two years, the settlers had established the Morgan Bethel Church just east of the settlement. A cemetery is located adjacent to the church where many of the early settlers and their descendants are buried. At the present time, many individuals are buried there without markers. Included with the unmarked grave sites are about 30 Black soldiers who served their country, including the Civil War.

One of the three primary goals of the Lambert Land Preservation Society is to maintain a memorial at the cemetery. The memorial will consist of three marble monuments, one of which will contain an etching showing the first Lambert settlers crossing the Ohio River. Glenn Miller, whose ancestors were among the Lambert Land's initial settlers states, "The Ohio River was to his ancestors what the Statue of Liberty in New York harbor was to those who sought their freedom when they came to this country." On the obverse side of the monument will be listed the names of the first settlers. The other two monuments will contain the inscribed names of about 150 individuals known to be buried there but who do not have grave markers. The committee believes that if someone has lived and had a name, then they need to be remembered. Another goal of the committee is to see that government markers are provided for those soldiers who do not have a gravestone at the present time or who have a stone that needs to be replaced because it is no longer readable in the cemetery.

The third goal is to create a map of the Lambert Land and to show the locations of different family homes located there. These maps would be reproduced and given to various libraries, churches, and historical societies.

Gallia County had more than one major route for slaves to escape from the southern plantations in their quest for freedom. The Lambert Land was a communal property and served as the homestead for many families. Descendants of the Lambert Land settlers lived on the property until 1972. By that time, many had moved to other locations, and the Lambert Land was sold on the courthouse steps for back taxes. The Lambert Land Memorial will not only save this history from oblivion, but it has the potential of becoming an attraction for many visitors to visit and learn about Gallia County's past.

On September 14th of this year, at 1:00 in the afternoon, the Lambert Land Preservation Society dedicated this historical memorial. The society is seeking donations from churches, organizations, corporations and individuals who would like to help finance this project. Donations are tax deductible. The price tag for this memorial is estimated to be between $15,000 and $20,000. Checks can be made out to The Lambert Lands Society in care of the treasurer, Corliss Miller, 3680 Clark Chapel Rd., Bidwell, OH 45614. Mrs. Miller can be contacted by calling (740) 388-8648 or by e-mailing her at Glencor44@yahoo.com. Donations are being collected at this time.

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