Genesee-Saginaw-Oakland County MI Archives Biographies.....Lake, Warner 1837 - 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com December 24, 2007, 1:29 am

Author: Chapman Bros. (1892)

JUDGE WARNER LAKE. Our subject is one whose residence in Flint dates from 1837,
before Michigan had taken on her dignity as a State. He is one of the honored
pioneers whose industry, enterprise and honesty have done much for this city. He
is an ex-Judge of the Probate Court in which he served eight years. Judge Lake
was born in Delaware County, N. Y., October 4, 1809. He was reared in his native
place until six years of age. He is a son of Warner and Betsey (Williams) Lake,
the former a native of Connecticut and whose father was of English descent.

  Our subject's father was reared and educated in Connecticut, thence became a
farmer in Cayuga County, N. Y. From that point he moved to Mt. Morris,
Livingston County, and was an early settler in Delaware County. In connection
with his agricultural labors he served in the capacity of minister of the
Baptist Church. In his early days it was not unusual for him to travel a
distance of fifty miles to preach to isolated settlers. He was one of the six
Baptist ministers west of Albany that founded the Otsego Baptist Association.
His decease occurred when in his eighty-third year.

  Our subject's mother, who was born in Washington County, N. Y., died at the
age of seventy years. Of nine children born to the parents he of whom we write
is the youngest. There are only two living, his only surviving brother being
eighty-six years of age.

  In his youth Judge Lake attended the district school and became an expert
speller by much practice in the spelling "bees." He remained at home in Mt.
Morris Township until twenty-one years of age and then purchased the farm and
operated the one hundred and fifty acres until 1836, when he sold it and came to
Michigan. He finally purchased four hundred and eighty acres of land in
Bridgeport Township, Saginaw County, but in the spring of 1837 came to Flint,
having sold his other land.

  The original of our sketch was engaged as an hotel-keeper and ran a stage,
also carried the mail to Pontiac. This business he sold, however, and located on
his farm in Genesee Township, which comprised two hundred and ten acres of wild
land. Returning to Flint and resuming his hotel business, and again going on a
farm in Groveland Township, Oakland County, he finally located permanently in
Flint in 1850, and here became engaged in the ashery and merchandise business.
In 1852 our subject was elected Judge of the Probate Court on the Whig ticket
and held the office for four years. In 1854 he allied himself with the
Republicans and in 1856 was elected Judge of the Probate Court on the Republican
ticket.

  On the breaking out of the war Judge Lake was appointed draft commissioner for
Genesee County b}T( Gov. Blair and later became Deputy Marshal under Mr.
Strickland and served as such throughout the war, during which time he was
called upon to punish many a deserter. About 1866 he was appointed Assistant
Deputy Internal Assessor for Genesee County and held the office for four years
and on completing that term of service became manager at Flint of the Singer
Sewing Machine Company and since then has been engaged in the insurance
business. His office is located on Saginaw Street and he insures in two
companies—the Phoenix and German-American.

  Judge Lake was married in Greece, Monroe County, N. Y, April 4, 1833, to Miss
Eliza Butler. She died in 1872, leaving her husband three children—Martin W.,
Ora E. and Charles E. Our subject has been School Director and has held other
offices. He is a generous supporter of the Baptist Church, in which he was reared.


Additional Comments:

Extracted from:

Portrait and Biographical Record of Genesee, Lapeer and Tuscola Counties,
Michigan, Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative
Citizens, Together with Biographies of all the Governors of the State, and of
the Presidents of the United States

Chicago:
Chapman Bros.
1892

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mi/genesee/bios/lake959gbs.txt

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