Myron C. Lake

Myron Charles Lake (Feb. 1828-20 June 1884), merchant/entrepreneur, was the founder of Reno, Nevada. Between 1861 and 1884, Lake “ran” the town with something of an iron fist through his control of an important toll bridge and road. In an unhappy marriage, he frequently resorted to domestic violence and assumed the posture of a stereotypically “avaricious” robber baron. But while wielding a keen business acumen, he 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 northern Nevada.

Early years
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 Sterling or Preble, the oldest of 7 children (5 boys, 2 girls) born to Catherine Van Tassell (1803-1874) of Schaghticoke, New York and John Lake (1799-1877?), of Kennebec, Maine.

Sometime prior to 1850, 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 gov’t land grant and his personal acquistion of the rest.

By 1852, he had moved on to Rabbit Creek, Calif. (near Sacramento) to try his hand at mining; after five years, he moved to Honey Lake Valley, Calif. where he built a small 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 a large part in the vigilante apprehension of the notorious Lowery Gang.

Lake’s Crossing
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-1861 June 29 (VA City Territorial Enterprise): purchased Fuller’s bridge and hotel. (traded ranch for Fuller’s bridge and hotel.)

-1862, Dec. 17: Terr.Legis. confers 17-mile toll road from Junction House. (Virginia St. and Peckham La.) to Honey Lake. (Calif. Border). -loses monopoly (Nev. Supreme Court): 1783 May; Sept: turns over deed and $1500.

-married Jane Conkey Bryant (June 20, 1837-Jan. 14, 1903) in Lassen County, California in September 9, 1864. divorced in Nov. 1881. one child Charles born Nov. 26, 1875 in SF, Calif.

-1868 (Mar.): persuades Crocker to build CPRR through his town. Crocker buys 160a. north of river for $200; agrees to sell back to Lake, 80a. north, 109 south. -May 13: named Reno by Crocker. (stories of exactly how the naming transpired abound).

-divorce: dec 13 1879 – apr 1881

-1783 May: loses bridge/toll road monopoly.

-died: in his Lake House hotel in Reno from a coughing attack brought on by an ongoing bout with asthma.

-funeral: June 23, 1884, Lake House (hotel). Procession of 79 carriages to… -buried: same day, old IOOF Cemetery, Reno. -estate value at death: $

http://homepages.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~nvjack/beede/data/b34384.htm#P34384 -Myron Charles LAKE (son of John LAKE and Catherine VAN TASSELL) was born in 1828 in Sterling Twp, Cayuga, New York.78,606

He appeared in the census in 1870 in Reno, Washoe, Nevada. Age 42, hotel keeper, born New York.

He signed a will on 6 Sep 1882 in Reno, Washoe, Nevada.607

He died on 20 Jun 1884 in Reno, Washoe, Nevada.78,297 His obituary was published on 21 Jun 1884 in the Weekly Nevada State Journal in Reno, Washoe, Nevada.

A PIONEER AT REST Death of Myron C. Lake, One of Reno's Oldest and Best Known Citizens This community was startled yesterday morning by the announcement of the death of Myron C. Lake, one of our oldest and best known citizens. His death occurred at the Lake House at 6 o'clock yesterday morning. Tuesday evening he was troubled greatly with asthma and Wednesday evening could not leave his room. He rapidly grew worse until Thursday evening when he seemed to lose consciousness, and at 6 o'clock Friday morning passed away. Mr. Lake was born in Union county, New York, in February 1828, and was therefore in his 57th year. While but a mere lad he moved with his parents to Illinois where his boyhood days were spent upon a farm.. He served as a volunteer in the Mexican war, and in 1851 crossed the plains to California. He followed mining for a number of years and in 1858 located in Honey Lake Valley as a farmer. In 1860 he purchased what was known as the Fuller toll bridge, which a few years ago was removed and the present Reno iron bridge erected in its place. At an early day he located the land on which Reno stands. He realized a handsome fortune from tolls on his bridge before his purchase expired. In 1868 the town site of Reno was located on his land, which fact alone added no less than a quarter of a million to his wealth. A very large portion of his estate consists of real estate in Reno. He leaves a wife and one child. The funeral will take place from his late residence at the Lake House at 2 o'clock Sunday afternoon.

Nevada State Census, 1875 Given Name:	Myron C. Surname:	Lake Age:	47 Sex:	M (Male) Race:	White Occupation:	Hotel Keeper Place of Birth:	New York Head of Household:	Self Community:	Washoe County

Source Information: Barghouti, Kim, comp.. Nevada State Census, 1875 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2000. Original data: Report booklet published for the state in 1876. Carson City, NV, USA: State Publishing Office, 1876. Description: An extraction of the Nevada state census of 1875.

1850 United States Federal Census Name:	Miron Lake Age:	22 Estimated Birth Year:	abt 1828 Birth Place:	New York Gender:	Male Home in 1850(City,County,State):	Paw Paw, Dekalb, Illinois

Source Citation: Year: 1850; Census Place: Paw Paw, Dekalb, Illinois; Roll: M432_104; Page: 348; Image: 365. Source Information: Ancestry.com. 1850 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2005. Original data: United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Seventh Census of the United States, 1850. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1850. M432, 1,009 rolls.

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