Jacob R. Lampert was born August 9, 1844 in Flasch, Switzerland and was the fourth of six children born to Jacob Lampert (b. 10/25/1814, d. 5/26/1848) and Anna Katherine Lampert (b. 10/13?/1813, d.10/13/1902) note: (5) Jacob and Anna Katharine came to America in 1846, docking at the port of New Orleans after a 7 week sail. They settled in the woodlands near West Bend, Wisconsin. Jacob was found dead, killed by a rolling log, by his son Johann Peter when he went to call his father for breakfast 5/26/1848. (5) Jacob R. was almost 4 at that time and Joseph was born 8 months later. It is written that Anna Katherina supported her family then by 'sewing suits for men on near by farms in exchange for farm labor until the children were able to work'. (5)

Jacob R. Lampert married Helena Kresse (b.11/14/1849 Aldenburg, Germany, d. 3/14/1903 Rapid City, SD) on 2/10/1869 in Neenah,Wisconsin. Jacob came to the Black Hills of South Dakota at a young age, searched and found the famous J-R Gold Mine near Hill City SD. After working the rich claim for a number of years he sold his share of the mine and moved to Rapid City, founded and operated a flour mill, was involved in cattle ranching, and became a partner in The Rapid City Lumber and Machinery located at the corner of 5th and St. Joseph Streets.

Little is written or known about Helena. She must have been one of those hardy pioneer women who had plenty to do in the emerging Dakota territory raising a family with five children. Helena died in 1903 in Rapid City, South Dakota at age 54.

On January 29, 1917 Jacob married Mary E. Plymat at Blue Earth, Minnesota. Jacob died in Lincoln, Nebraska on October 16, 1917 at his age 73. Little is known about Mary Plymat other than she may have had daughter born in 1910. Marriage Documents

 

There were five children born to Jacob and Helena, three sons, Jacob George, Orlin Walter and Arthur Arno and two daughters, Alma Lovina and Ada Elmira.