She was the great-great-granddaughter of Jacob Kumler, born 1742 or 1743 in Basle, Switzerland. Jacob came with his parents to North America in 1760; they settled in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

Extract from the 1860 Census:
Name: Emmy J Kumler
Age in 1860: 2
Estimated birth year: 1858
Birthplace: Ohio
Race: white
Sex: female
Relation to head-of-house: daughter
Home in 1860: Helen, McLeod, Minnesota
Post office: Plato
Occupation: not listed
Siblings living at home: none
Census place: Helen, McLeod, Minnesota; Roll M653_571; Page: 371; Image: 376; Family History Library Film: 803571
Date: 16 Jun 1860

Extract from the 1875 Minnesota State Census:
Name: Emma J Kumler
Age: 17
Estimated birth year: 1858
Birthplace: Ohio
Race: white
Gender: female
Residence county: McLeod
Residence state: Minnesota
Locality: Helen
Father's birthplace: Ohio
Mother's birthplace: Ohio
Siblings living at home: Ida M (age 9), Robert F (7), and Mable C (1)
Census date: 1 May 1875

Extract from the 1880 Census:
Name: Emma Kumler
Age: 22
Estimated birth year: 1858
Birthplace: Ohio
Race: white
Sex: female
Relationship to head-of-household: daughter
Home in 1880: Helen, McLeod, Minnesota
Marital status: single
Father's birthplace: Ohio
Mother's birthplace: Ohio
Father's occupation: farmer
Occupation: teaching school
Siblings living at home: Ida (age 14) and Robert (12)
Census place: Helen, McLeod, Minnesota; Roll: T9_625; Family History Film: 1254625; Page: 80.3000; Enumeration District: 81; Image: 0673
Date: 18 Jun 1880

Extract from the 1885 Minnesota State Census:
Name: Emma J Lambert
Age: 26
Estimated birth year: 1859
Birthplace: Ohio
Race: white
Gender: female
County: Wadena
Locality: Wadena
Parents of foreign birth: no
Date: 1 May 1885
Line: 25
Roll: MNSC_44

Children:
(1) Leonard Elijah Lambert
(2) Blaine Lambert
(3) Joseph Lambert
(4) Elizabeth Hermine Lambert
(5) Ira Raymond Lambert
(6) Asa Elwin Lambert.