George Tanner Lake

Geo. T. Lake, 69, one of the oldest residents of Washington County and the oldest merchant of Fayetteville in point of active business life, died of a heart malady Sunday afternoon at one o'clock at the family residence, 212 North College Avenue. Mr. Lake had been in declining health for several months and had been confined to his room four weeks. Death was not unexpected.

Funeral services were held from the First Presbyterian Church at 4 o'clock this afternoon with the Rev. J. T. Caughley, assisted by the Rev. N. M. Ragland, officiating. Interment was made in Evergreen Cemetery.

As a mark of respect to the deceased, business houses were closed this afternoon during the funeral services.

Deceased is survived by his widow; two daughters, Mrs. Horton Howe of Texarkana and Mrs. Louise Wooten of Helena; a sister, Mrs. Ella Barnett of Prairie Grove; and a brother, Frank Lake of Oklahoma.

Though actively interested in politics for forty years, Mr. Lake avoided partisan bitterness. He held few public offices, being sheriff of Washington County for two terms-from October 1892 to October 1896-alderman for the city of Fayetteville several years ago, and at one time president of the school board. At the time of his death he was chairman of the Washington County Democratic Central Committee, having served continuously in that capacity since 1908.

In September 1896, Mr. Lake purchased a hardware business from E. Z. Davies and devoted his entire time to it until stricken a few weeks ago.

Mr. Lake was a member of several fraternal orders and was a member of the Presbyterian Church. His father, Milton Lake, was a delegate to the Arkansas Constitutional Convention of 1874 and at one time served on the Board of Trustees of the University of Arkansas. Mr. Lake received his early education in the schools at Prairie Grove and later attended Ozark Institute, a seminary located a few miles northwest of Fayetteville and which suspended about the time the University of Arkansas was founded.

Mr. Lake was born in Lauderdale County, Tennessee, September 6. He came to Prairie Grove, Arkansas, about 1870. Mr. Lake was employed as a clerk for four years by the late Stephen K. Stone. In 1876 he entered the drug business with W. H. Whitlow. In 1896 he sold his interest in the drug store and engaged in the grocery business. He disposed of his grocery business-

Monday’s Fayetteville Democrat

George T. Lake, president of the school board of Fayetteville, belongs to

that pushing and energetic class of men who are doing so much to increase the

industrial interests of this city. He was born in Louderdale County, Tenn.,

September 6, 1849, and is a son of Milton F. and Margaret (Braden) Lake, natives

of Davidson and Maury Counties, Tenn., respectively. In 1860 Mr. Milton

Lake, with his family, left Tennessee and located upon a farm near Prairie

Grove, of this county, where he at present resides. Our subject was reared

upon the farm, and during his youth attended the public schools of that locality.

Possessing a desire to embark in mercantile life, when of age he started in life

for himself, and passed four years clerking in a store in this city. In 1875 he

established himself in business, and being ever ready to meet the wishes of his

customers he has steadily increased his business and patronage until he has

taken his rank among the prominent business men of this place. His success is

mainly attributed to strict attention to business, untiring energy and a high

standard of integrity. He was united in marriage at Fort Smith, Ark., to Miss

Mary H. Stratton, an estimable lady, daughter of the late D. H. P. Stratton and

Louisa (Kransser) Stratton. Mr. Stratton is a descendant from the Strattons

of New Jersey, which was his native State. Early in life he sought a home in

the West, and settling in Fort Smith, Ark., became one of its honored and

respected citizens. Mrs. Stratton was a native of Germany, who carefully

reared her children and lived to see them well established in life. Mr. and Mrs.

Lake have a family of two children: Horton and Louise. They are well-to-do

citizens, and regular communicants of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Lake has

served both in the town councils and on the school board. He is a Royal Arch

Mason, an I. 0. 0. F. and a K. of H.