Biographies: William LAKE, Maple Grove Township, Barron Co., WI ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor, or the legal representative of the contributor, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Victor Gulickson 13 April 1999 ==================================================================== William Lake, who owns a farm of 120 acres in Sections 8 and 9, Maple Grove Township, came here when the settlers were few and scattered, and took his share in the development which has resulted in the prosperity of today. He has many interesting stories to tell of those days, when comforts were few and hardships were many, and when it took the utmost courage and perseverance to persist in one's efforts to carve a home and a farm from the wilderness. He recalls with interest the fact that when he first came here he acquired a few bushels of potatoes, all he could get in the neighborhood, a few bushels of rutabagas which had been raised among the stumps, and a dressed pig, this being practically all the meat and vegetables his family had until he was able to get some crops raised. Mr. Lake was born Sept. 12, 1858, in Marshall County, Ind., the son of Joseph and Cynthia (Fuller) Lake, natives of New York State, who settled in Indiana, and there farmed, the father dying in 1868, and the mother in 1904, after spending a quarter of a century with her son, William. In the family there were six children: Lawrence, David (deceased), William, Nancy (deceased), Cassie (deceased), and Alice (deceased). William Lake received his early education in the district schools, and as a youth did farm work and was engaged in railroading. In 1885 he came to Barron county, and settled in Maple Grove Township, making his home with an old friend from Indiana, and devoting his time to farm labor. In 1887, he was enabled to purchase his present place. He cleared 60 acres, placed fences about the fields, erected buildings, and successfully carried on general farming and dairying for many years. In addition to this he rented other farms from time to time and assisted in their development. In 1917 he rented the home farm to his son, Lawrence, but continues to reside there. He has been active in the affairs of the community, and has served on the school board for six years. Mr. Lake was married Dec. 30, 1881, to Emma McDonald, daughter of Samuel and Maria (Springer) McDonald, who spent their lives in Indiana, the father dying there, and the mother died on Feb. 25, 1875. In the family there were seven children: Jessie (deceased), Thomas (deceased), Simion (deceased), John, Oliver (deceased), Sherman (deceased) and Emma. Mr. and Mrs. Lake have nine children; Lawrence N., who rents the home farm, was born Jan. 26, 1883; Arvilla L. was born Oct. 30, 1884, and is now Mrs. Alfred Cobb, of Maple Grove Township; Jesse F. was born Oct. 8, 1887, and lives in Maple Grove Township; David W. was born March 23, 1890, and lives in Barron. Anna M. was born June 14, 1892, and is now Mrs. Clarence Olson, of Barron; Cora I. was born March 7, 1896, and is now Mrs. George Raven, of Barron; John S., born Feb. 10, 1898, works on a farm in Prairie Farm Township. He was inducted into the United States service June 12, 1917. Edith E. was born March 18, 1903, and is at home. Harold was born July 14, 1908 and died the following day. --Taken from: History of Barron Co., Wisconsin, H. C. Cooper, Jr., & Co., 1922, pp. 420-421