JOHN M. LAMEY, Among the citizens of Madison County who have won material success through the exercise of their own industry and native talent, John M. Lamey, of Anderson, is deserving of more than passing mention, Compelled to face the world and make his own way when but still a lad, he has so perseveringly pursued the vocation that he early chose as his life work, that today he finds himself one of the substantial men of his community, and the general esteem in which he is held is ample evidence of the fact that his activities have been governed by a high sense of business integrity. Mr. Lamey is a native of Anderson, a son of James and Mary (Turney) Lamey.
James Lamey was born in County Cork, Ireland, where he grew to young manhood, Like thousands of others of his native countrymen, he early decided that better opportunities awaited him in America, and he accordingly took passage for this country, first locating in Canada, He subsequently came to Winchester, Indiana, where he adopted the vocation of butcher, and was so engaged at the outbreak of the struggle between the North and the South, Enlisting in the Nineteenth Regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry, he served with that organization for four years, participating in numerous hard-fought engagements and at all times proving himself a brave, cheerful and faithful soldier. On the completion of his term of service, he returned to his trade, and was rapidly becoming successful in a material way when his death occurred, hastened, no doubt, by the hardships of his army life. He left his widow with two sons: John M., and Paul, the latter of whom passed away at the age of twenty-one years.
John M. Lamey acquired his education in the Catholic Sisters, school and the public schools of Anderson, but left the latter at the age of fourteen years, the death of his father making it imperative that he assist in the support of his mother and brother, He first entered the factories at Anderson, where he was employed for three years, and at the end of that period learned butchering, He was only twenty-one years old when he entered business on his own account at Anderson, but his thorough knowledge of the business, his energy, his progressive ideas and his inherent ability all contributed to the building up of a business that has continued to grow steadily to the present time, and he is now known as one of his section’s heaviest stock buyers and a wholesale and retail meat dealer whose trade extends far beyond the limits of the local communities, His subsequent career has been spent in unswerving devotion to the duties of life, in the conduct of an honorable business and in fidelity to family and friends, and no one is more deserving and more enjoys the confidence and esteem of those with whom he has been brought into contact, His hobby may be said to be a love of fast horses and he is at present the owner of a number of valuable animals. Mr. Lamey owns a valuable property which has been made more desirable by the erection of a number of buildings equipped with every modern appliance for the conduct of his business. Essentially a business man, he has not cared for public life, but takes an interest in the success of the Democratic party and staunchly supports its principles and candidates.
In July, 1905, Mr. Lamey was united in marriage with Miss Esther Langley, and three children have been born to this union: Paul, James and Ireta.