My Genealogy Hound

WILLIAM LAKE is the owner of a beautiful farm in township 47, range 25, Johnson County, consisting of seventy-nine acres. Like many of the best residents of this section, he was born in Tennessee, the date thereof being February 28, 1825. His parents were James and Mary (Monday) Lake, both natives of North Carolina, having been born in Buncombe County. The father left his native state when a lad of sixteen years, and made his way to Tennessee, where he was later married to Miss Monday.

The maternal grandparents of our subject, William and Mary Monday, were likewise born in North Carolina, where for many years they were classed among its substantial farmers. They later moved to Tennessee, and during the remaining years of their lives were occupied in farming on land in Claiborne County. The grandparents of our subject on his father’s side were agriculturists of North Carolina, their native state. They were highly regarded in their community, and during a storm which swept over their town were struck by lightning and killed instantly. They were the parents of two children: James, father of the subject of this sketch, and a daughter.

Being suddenly deprived of the care of his parents when young in years, our subject’s father and his younger sister were taken into the home of Dick Hill, of North Carolina, and while inmates of his household the sister died. James remained with him until fully equipped, educationally and otherwise, to begin the battle of life on his own account. He later lived with William Monday, whose daughter Mary he later married. This lady was born December 7, 1807, in North Carolina. After their union the young couple established their home on rented land, which they operated for a period of ten or twelve years. At the end of that time he was enabled to become the owner of a good farm in Tennessee, on which he lived for about eight years. Disposing of this tract at the end of this time, he moved to another in the same locality, which he rented for fifteen years. His next change found him living in Harlan County, Ky., also on rented property, making this place his home until his decease. His widow then lived with her children until her decease, which occurred in 1873, she passing away at the home of our subject. By her union with James Lake there was born a family of seven children, of whom we make the following mention: Ewuen married Recy Lay, and died in Davis County, where his widow still resides on a farm; Elisha married Alpha Thomas, and when last heard from they were residing in Tennessee; William was the third-born; Judy died aged forty-six years; Elizabeth became the wife of Jack Williams, and is now living in Oklahoma; Mary married B. F. Goin, and they make their home on a farm one-half mile south of our subject’s estate; James died in infancy. The sons and daughters were educated in the schools of North Carolina and Tennessee, which at that early day were very poor, both as regards the building and the manner of instructing the children.

One year prior to attaining his majority our subject started out for himself, beginning farming on a piece of rented land in Carbon County, Tenn. He made his home there for several years, and in 1858 he decided to try his fortunes in Missouri, in which state he had a sister living. Accordingly, accompanied by his widowed mother, a brother and sister, he set out for this section, coming hither with wagon and team. The little party stopped for two months in Crawford County, but, not finding a suitable location, moved on to Phelps County, where William entered a claim and lived for three years. From that place he moved to Lafayette County, this state, and for one summer lived on a rented farm. The out-look not being very promising here, he rented another tract in the same county, where he made his home for six years and a-half, and at the expiration of that time, in 1866, came to Johnson County. That year he purchased eighty acres of land, comprised in his present homestead, for which he paid $12.75 per acre. To this he added at one time fifty acres, and later purchased sixty acres. A portion of this he has sold, however, but the remaining tract is improved in such a manner as to make of it one of the most attractive and productive farms in the township.

April 4, 1876, Mr. Lake was married to Miss Phebe Bowman, a native of this county, who was born September 18, 1844. She is the daughter of John and Maria (Brown) Bowman, the former born in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, February 3, 1812, and the latter, born in Washington County, Pa., in February, 1822. The parents were married in Brooke County, W. Va., where they lived for about two years, and then took up the line of march for this state, making their home in Johnson County about 1843. They lived on section 29, township 47, range 25, near the Lafayette County line, until their decease, the mother passing away September 4, 1886, and the father dying in January, 1888. To them was granted a family of six daughters. Maggie, the eldest, married John Gossett, and they are living in Warrensburg; Phebe, Mrs. Lake, was the next-born; Allie is now Mrs. Alexander McConkey, and makes her home in Defiance County, Ohio; Nora lives on the old homestead in this county, and is the wife of Reuben Poole; Bethy married John Roach, and makes her home in this county, near Hazle Hill; and Eliza died when six years old.

On the outbreak of the late war our subject enlisted in the militia under Col. Henry Neale. During the three months in which he was in the service he was stationed with his regiment most of the time in Lafayette County, near Lexington. He was discharged in that city in 1864, and since returning home has been employed in the peaceful pursuits of farm life.

To our subject and his excellent wife has been born one son, William F., whose birth occurred January 17, 1884. He is a bright lad, and is prosecuting his studies in the district school near his home. Mr. Lake has always been greatly interested in educational affairs, and for many years has been Director in his district. He is a Republican in politics, having cast his first Presidential vote for U. S. Grant. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church of this township, while his good wife is connected with the Cumberland Presbyterian denomination of Oak Grove.

They are very worthy people, and possess many warm friends throughout the county.