Lambert, Fred, 1887-1971

Fred Lambert (1887-1971) was an author of Western history and poetry. He was born in Cimarron, New Mexico, and spent most of his life there. He was a deputy sheriff and deputy game warden in Cimarron in his younger days.

From the description of Papers, 1908-1969. (University of Wyoming, American Heritage Center). WorldCat record id: 27671748

Law enforcer, writer, painter and museum curator. Born in Cimarron, N.M. Served with the New Mexico Mounted Police. Wrote cowboy poetry and sketched.

From the description of Papers, 1850-1971. (University of New Mexico-Main Campus). WorldCat record id: 32151002

Fred Lambert, law enforcer, writer, painter and museum curator was born on January 23, 1887, in the historic St. James Hotel in Cimarron New Mexico. His education was typical of his time; he attended public school and eventually went on to the New Mexico Military Institute in Roswell.

Lambert became a deputy sheriff at the age of 16 and later was a lawman with the New Mexico Mounted Police and Indian Service (1913). This was the beginning of a 40 year career in law enforcement. The pioneer lawman also worked on ranches and spent his spare time writing cowboy poetry and sketching. He published a book of his poems and pen and ink drawings titled, Bygone Days Of The Old West and contributed to other books including, A Cowboy Detective, and New Mexico, A Guide to the Colorful State. He assisted in the preparation of a book on the history of the New Mexico Mounted Police, The Thin Gray Line, and wrote a brief introduction entitled, "A Few Words From an Old Mountie". He also served as a consultant for other publications such as, Satins Paradise and Haunted Highways.

Many legends surround Fred Lambert and his family. His father, Henri Lambert came from Bordeaux, France, in 1858. He was a cook for Gen, Ulysses S. Grant and cooked in the White House for President Lincoln. He came to Cimarron during the gold rush in 1863 and opened the St. James Hotel. The many legends surrounding Fred Lambert include how he single-handedly captured three murderers at age 16 and was deputized during a gun fight, and, how in his youth, Lambert served as a bartender at his fathers hotel -- a place where no less than 26 men died in wild gunfights. Men such as Buffalo Bill, Pawnee Bill, Charlie Siringo, Bob Masterson, Buckskin Charlie, Black Jack Ketchum and Tom Boggs, grandson of Daniel Boone all seem to have been among Fred Lambert "of the Cimarron's" acquaintances.

Fred Lambert was active as curator of the Old Mill Museum in Cimarron, which was built by Lucien Maxwell, where a variety of historical items are displayed. Fred Lambert died in Raton in 1971.

Source: Thin Gray Line-- The New Mexico Mounted Police, Hornung, Chuck Fort Worth, 1971.

From the guide to the Fred Lambert Papers, 1850-1971, (University of New Mexico. Center for Southwest Research.)