LAKE, DR. C. B.

LAKE, BROWN, WOOD, KENNEDY

Posted By: Volunteer (email)
Date: 1/20/2005 at 16:08:59

Biography reproduced from page 480 of the History of Kossuth and Humboldt Counties, Iowa published in 1884:

Dr. C. B. Lake was born in Erie Co., N. Y., Nov. 17, 1826. In December, 1832, his father, Daniel Lake, died. In 1836 his mother, Mrs. Polly (Brown) Lake, moved to Chautauqua Co., N. Y., and three weeks afterward died, and was buried in Westfield. In about a year the subject of this sketch removed to McHenry Co., Ill., with his eldest brother, Henry Lake. He commenced farming, and followed it up until 1846 when he commenced studying medicine under Dr. Lewis N. Wood, of Walworth Co., Wis. His last year of study was under his brother, L. L. Lake, M. D., of McHenry Co., Ill. He also began to practice medicine in Decatur, Green Co., Wis., that year. In 1849 he graduated from Rush Medical College of Chicago, having attended two full terms. He is of the allopath school. After he graduated he went back to Green Co., Wis., and resumed his practice for one year. In June, 1849, he was married to Clarissa M. Wood, daughter of Dr. Lewis N. Wood. His wife being troubled with lung disease, he gave up business, and for the next four years they traveled. But all to no avail. For that dread disease, consumption had taken fast hold on her and she departed this life in September, 1853. She was buried on Big Foot Prairie, Walworth Co., Wis. In the spring of 1854 Mr. Lake started on an overland trip to California. He located at Horse Town, near Shasta, where he followed the practice of medicine until the fall of 1856, then he returned to his old home in Illinois. In April, 1857, he was married to Mary B. Kennedy, of Aurora, Portage Co., Ohio. They have had two children—Harry and Otis K. He then removed to Iowa, locating in West Union, Fayette county, where he resumed the practice of his profession. In March, 1862, he was examined by the State board of examiners and commissioned as surgeon in the 7th Iowa Infantry. He was in the service until October, 1863, when he was discharged by order of Gen. Grant, on account of physical disability. He returned to his home in Fayette county, remaining there until the fall of 1866, when he removed to Indianola, Warren Co., Iowa. He followed his profession in that place for several years, but was finally forced to quit on account of ill health. He owned 200 acres of land which he rented out. In 1878 he purchased the Indianola Republican, a republican paper in Indianola, which had been closed up a short time before. He christened it the People’s Advocate, and run it in the interest of the greenback party. He retained possession of the paper for about a year and a half, and then sold it to F. B. Taylor, of Indianola. In May, 1880, Mr. Lake went to Colorado, remaining there all summer. He then returned to his home and bought a grocery store, which he ran for a short time, and in the fall of 1881, he removed his stock of goods to Bancroft, Kossuth Co., Iowa. He opened his store in Bancroft, Nov. 20, 1881, having erected the first building in the town. Mr. Lake is equally as good a business man as he was a physician, and is now doing a very successful business. Mr. and Mrs. Lake are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In politics he is a greenbacker. He owns his store building and a very nice residence property in the village of Bancroft.