Myron C. Lake: Difference between revisions
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'''Myron Charles Lake''' (Feb. 1828 - June 20, 1884), merchant/entrepreneur, was the hot-tempered, | '''Myron Charles Lake''' (Feb. 1828-June 20, 1884), merchant/entrepreneur, was the hot-tempered, tight-fisted founder of Reno, Nevada. Between 1861 and 1873, Lake lorded over the town through his vast real estate holdings and control of a vitally important toll bridge and road. He quickly assumed the posture of a stereotypical “avaricious” robber baron, and in an unhappy marriage, often resorted to domestic violence. But he also wielded a keen business acumen and in so doing, ensured that the Central Pacific Railroad during the building of the great transcontinental project would run through Reno, thereby securing the future growth and prosperity of western Nevada.<ref>Townley, p. 146-47; Rocha, p. 28; Cafferata, pp. 25-32.</ref> | ||
===Early life=== | ===Early life=== | ||
Very little is known about Lake’s early years and much of what is known remains unclear. He was born in New York state in either | Very little is known about Lake’s early years and much of what is known remains unclear. He was born in New York state in either Cayuga or Cortlandt county, the oldest of 7 children (5 boys, 2 girls) born to Catherine Van Tassell (1803-1874) of New York state and John Lake (Aug. 24, 1799-Jan. 15, 1877), of Maine.<ref>John Lake was a Baptist farmer and is buried next to his son in Reno's Mountain View Cemetery. In 1876, John and Catherine relocated to Reno from DeKalb County, Illinois; they moved in with Myron and Jane at their Junction House ranch (now, corner of S. Virginia Street and Peckham Lane). Townley, pp. 148, 166.</ref> | ||
About 1839, the family moved to Paw Paw, Dekalb County, Illinois, about 70 miles west of Chicago. Lake saw service in the Mexican-American War (1846-48) as an infantry private in Illinois’ volunteer Company D, First Regiment. Following the war, he returned to Illinois and established a farm of 320 acres, comprised of a 160-acre | About 1839, the family moved to Paw Paw, Dekalb County, Illinois, about 70 miles west of Chicago. Lake saw service in the Mexican-American War (1846-48) as an infantry private in Illinois’ volunteer Company D, First Regiment. Following the war, he returned to Illinois and established a farm of 320 acres, comprised of a 160-acre government land grant and his personal acquistion of the rest.<ref>For the Illinois relocation date, ''Reno Evening Gazette'', Jan. 16, 1877, p. 2; Illinois State Archives, ''Illinois Mexican War Veterans Database'', http://www.ilsos.gov/GenealogyMWeb/mwvd.html. accessed Nov. 30, 2008; Cafferata, p. 28.</ref> | ||
By 1852, he had moved on to Rabbit Creek, Calif. (near Sacramento) to try his hand at mining; | By 1852, he had moved on to Rabbit Creek, Calif. (near Sacramento) to try his hand at mining; Five years later, he moved to Honey Lake Valley, Calif. where he built a modest ranch. It was here that he met Charles W. "Bill" Fuller who shortly thereafter, some 25 miles to the southeast, established a bridge over the Truckee River, on the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada. Evidence indicates that, in October 1857, Lake played "prominently" in the vigilante apprehension and near lynching of the notorious Lowery Gang.<ref>Townley, p. 53.</ref> | ||
===Lake’s Crossing=== | ===Lake’s Crossing=== | ||
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===References=== | ===References=== | ||
<small> | <small> | ||
There is no single biography and much information remains to be collected especially with regard to Lake's life in | There is no single biography and even now much information remains to be collected, especially with regard to Lake's life prior to his settlement in Nevada. He left no diaries or journals. A collection of ''Myron C. Lake Papers'' can be found at the Nevada Historical Society in Reno. The works below were explicitly consulted during the composition of this article. | ||
</small> | </small> | ||
*Cafferata, Patricia D. ''Lake Mansion: Home to Reno's Founding Families'' (Reno: Eastern Slope | *Cafferata, Patricia D. ''Lake Mansion: Home to Reno's Founding Families'' (Reno: Eastern Slope Publisher, 2006). | ||
*Land, Barbara and Myrick. ''A Short History of Reno'' (Reno: Univ. of Nevada Press, 1995). | *Land, Barbara and Myrick. ''A Short History of Reno'' (Reno: Univ. of Nevada Press, 1995). | ||
*Rocha, Guy Louis. “Reno’s First Robber Baron,” ''Nevada Magazine'' 40,2(March-April, 1980), pp. 28-29, 62 | *Rocha, Guy Louis. “Reno’s First Robber Baron,” ''Nevada Magazine'' 40,2(March-April, 1980), pp. 28-29, 62. | ||
*Rowley, William D. ''Reno: Hub of the Washoe Country'' (Woodland Hills, Calif.: Windsor Publications, 1984). | *Rowley, William D. ''Reno: Hub of the Washoe Country'' (Woodland Hills, Calif.: Windsor Publications, 1984). | ||
*Townley, John M. ''Tough Little Town on the Truckee: Reno, 1868-1900'' (Reno: Great Basin Studies Center, 1983). | *Townley, John M. ''Tough Little Town on the Truckee: Reno, 1868-1900'' (Reno: Great Basin Studies Center, 1983). | ||
Revision as of 19:42, 4 December 2008
Myron Charles Lake (Feb. 1828-June 20, 1884), merchant/entrepreneur, was the hot-tempered, tight-fisted founder of Reno, Nevada. Between 1861 and 1873, Lake lorded over the town through his vast real estate holdings and control of a vitally important toll bridge and road. He quickly assumed the posture of a stereotypical “avaricious” robber baron, and in an unhappy marriage, often resorted to domestic violence. But he also wielded a keen business acumen and in so doing, ensured that the Central Pacific Railroad during the building of the great transcontinental project would run through Reno, thereby securing the future growth and prosperity of western Nevada.[1]
Early life
Very little is known about Lake’s early years and much of what is known remains unclear. He was born in New York state in either Cayuga or Cortlandt county, the oldest of 7 children (5 boys, 2 girls) born to Catherine Van Tassell (1803-1874) of New York state and John Lake (Aug. 24, 1799-Jan. 15, 1877), of Maine.[2]
About 1839, the family moved to Paw Paw, Dekalb County, Illinois, about 70 miles west of Chicago. Lake saw service in the Mexican-American War (1846-48) as an infantry private in Illinois’ volunteer Company D, First Regiment. Following the war, he returned to Illinois and established a farm of 320 acres, comprised of a 160-acre government land grant and his personal acquistion of the rest.[3]
By 1852, he had moved on to Rabbit Creek, Calif. (near Sacramento) to try his hand at mining; Five years later, he moved to Honey Lake Valley, Calif. where he built a modest ranch. It was here that he met Charles W. "Bill" Fuller who shortly thereafter, some 25 miles to the southeast, established a bridge over the Truckee River, on the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada. Evidence indicates that, in October 1857, Lake played "prominently" in the vigilante apprehension and near lynching of the notorious Lowery Gang.[4]
Lake’s Crossing
Dark Side
Legacy
Notes
- ↑ Townley, p. 146-47; Rocha, p. 28; Cafferata, pp. 25-32.
- ↑ John Lake was a Baptist farmer and is buried next to his son in Reno's Mountain View Cemetery. In 1876, John and Catherine relocated to Reno from DeKalb County, Illinois; they moved in with Myron and Jane at their Junction House ranch (now, corner of S. Virginia Street and Peckham Lane). Townley, pp. 148, 166.
- ↑ For the Illinois relocation date, Reno Evening Gazette, Jan. 16, 1877, p. 2; Illinois State Archives, Illinois Mexican War Veterans Database, http://www.ilsos.gov/GenealogyMWeb/mwvd.html. accessed Nov. 30, 2008; Cafferata, p. 28.
- ↑ Townley, p. 53.
References
There is no single biography and even now much information remains to be collected, especially with regard to Lake's life prior to his settlement in Nevada. He left no diaries or journals. A collection of Myron C. Lake Papers can be found at the Nevada Historical Society in Reno. The works below were explicitly consulted during the composition of this article.
- Cafferata, Patricia D. Lake Mansion: Home to Reno's Founding Families (Reno: Eastern Slope Publisher, 2006).
- Land, Barbara and Myrick. A Short History of Reno (Reno: Univ. of Nevada Press, 1995).
- Rocha, Guy Louis. “Reno’s First Robber Baron,” Nevada Magazine 40,2(March-April, 1980), pp. 28-29, 62.
- Rowley, William D. Reno: Hub of the Washoe Country (Woodland Hills, Calif.: Windsor Publications, 1984).
- Townley, John M. Tough Little Town on the Truckee: Reno, 1868-1900 (Reno: Great Basin Studies Center, 1983).