A native of Cortland County, New York, where he was born November 18, 1830. He attended district school winters assisting at farm work during the summers until seventeen years old. His education was continued in New York Central College and a manual training school at McGrawville. He continued his studies at Cortland Academy, supporting himself by teaching. He came to Iowa in 1855, locating at Independence where he studied law and in 1858 was admitted to the bar. In 1861 he was elected Representative in the House of the Ninth General Assembly and in 1862 entered the Union army during the extra session. He was tendered the position of Collector of Internal Revenue, but preferred the military service and soon after was commissioned lieutenant-colonel of the Twenty-seventh Iowa Volunteers. He participated in the capture of Little Rock, the Red River expedition, Battle of Nashville, and capture of Mobile besides many minor engagements. In 1865 he succeeded to the command of the regiment upon the promotion of Colonel Gilbert. After the war closed Colonel Lake resumed practice at Independence. In another place is given an account of his services in successfully defeating the drive well monopoly, for which the General Assembly of Iowa by passage of joint resolutions tendered to him the thanks of the people for the great service rendered the country in saving millions of dollars in unjust attempts to collect royalties. Colonel Lake was appointed by President Harrison one of the commissioners to appraise 60,000 acres of land in California. He was also one of the commissioners having in charge the building of the Hospital for the Insane at Cherokee.