Lambert was born on December 1, 1825, in Vigo County, Indiana, a few miles northeast of Terre Haute.

[1] He returned to working in sawmills and as a log hauler until 1853, when he was again employed by Meek & Luelling, this time in their orchard business.

[1] In 1854, Lambert married Clementine Miller and they took up a 320-acre (1.3 km2) Donation Land Claim in Powell Valley.

[1] Lambert introduced new horticulture methods that in two years restored the health of the trees and again allowed them to produce "mammoth" crops of apples.

[1] Lambert became the sole owner of the orchards, which are notable for being the first to produce cultivated fruit in Oregon.

[6] The resulting cherry was large, richly colored, flavorful, and had a small pit, and it immediately became popular.

His former employer Seth Lewelling (formerly Luelling), developer of the Bing cherry, is so honored on the Senate side.