My Genealogy Hound

HON. HENRY C. LAKE, a successful financier of Fredonia and an ex-member of the Assembly of New York, from the Second district of Chautauqua county, was born in that part of Gerry which is now included in the town of Charlotte, Chautauqua county, New York, May 30, 1823, and is a son of Calvin and Sarah (Mathers) Lake. The numerous Lakes throughout the United States are descended from three Lake families, one of which was of English origin, another of German lineage and the third of Irish descent. The subject of this sketch traces his paternal ancestry back to three brothers by the name of Lake, who came from England to Massachusetts soon after the voyage of the “Mayflower” and the landing of the Pilgrims at Plymouth. Two of these brothers returned to England, while the third brother remained and was afterwards killed by Indians. One of the descendants of this third brother was Henry Lake, grandfather of Hon. Henry C. Lake. Henry Lake was a resident of New Hampshire, and served in the Revolutionary war, and his son, Calvin Lake (father), was born in 1792 and died in September, 1851. Calvin Lake was a native of New Hampshire, and in 1819 removed to the town of Gerry. Some years previous to his death he lost his sight. He married Sarah Mather, daughter of Eusebius Mather, of Vermont, who was a Revolutionary soldier and a lineal descendant of the celebrated Rev. Cotton Mather, who figured so conspicuously in the early history of Massachusetts and New England.

Henry C. Lake was reared on the farm, attended Fredonia academy, and after leaving school taught several terms in the public schools. While teaching he read law for the purpose of fully qualifying himself for business pursuits and not with any intention of entering the legal profession. In 1851 he removed to Charlotte Centre, in the town of Charlotte, where he opened a general mercantile store and engaged in the manufacture of a wood-sawing machine for cutting railroad wood, besides giving some attention to various other lines of business. In 1865 he came to Fredonia, where he has resided almost uninterruptedly ever since and been engaged in various business enterprises. He was weigher for two years at the New York custom-house, and then was appointed assistant surveyor of that port, which position he held for over four years. Mr. Lake was interested for some years in financial matters. He was one of the proprietors of the Union bank of Fredonia. He was also interested in the Chautauqua County Savings bank for several years as vice-president and director.

On August 31, 1847, he married Margaret M. Ames, who is a native of New Hampshire. Their children are: Clarence H., assistant cashier of the Chautauqua County National bank and ex-sheriff of Chautauqua county; Nellie C. and Mary M.

In political matters Mr. Lake is a republican and has held the various offices of his native town. He was elected in 1862 as a member of the Assembly from the Second district of Chautauqua county, was re-elected in 1863 and served two full terms as an assemblyman at a very trying and stormy period in the history of New York, when the duties and responsibilities of that position were as numerous and important as at any other time within the career of the Empire State since its colonial days.