JAMES LAKE
James Lake was born on October 17, 1788 at White Creek, New York. His parents were James Lake and Margrita M. Hagerman. He married Philomelia Smith, a relative of Joseph Smith, in 1823 in Tobaro, Upper Canada.
James and his family were some of Brigham Young's first converts to the Mormon Church. Moving to Zion, James and his sons hauled and helped lay the cornerstone for the Kirtland Temple in Ohio. They also helped build the Nauvoo Temple. They suffered much persecution but complained very little.
James was ordained a Bishop and was appointed captain of a company of fifty wagons when the Saints were forced to flee to the west. He lost his left leg, but he had unlimited energy and strength and devotion to his large family and all of those about him. Captain Lake's company was especially well prepared for the journey on to the "promised land." The Lake's alone had forty cows, one hundred sheep, six yoke of good oxen, three brood mares, and two wagons loaded with abundant provisions. Three years previous to this they had been destitute, but with everyone working hard, they had come forth well prepared for the long journey.
James had three wives and thousands of descendants. He died on October 7, 1874 at Oxford, Oneida, Idaho at the age of 95.