My name is Nathan H. Lake, I was born June 30, 1847, in Gransville, Wisconsin. I am the son of Jesse and Rebecca Lake.
I enlisted on June 4, 1864 in Milwaukee, in the 41st Wisconsin Infantry, Company F. I accompanied the command to Memphis and was at that place when Major General Nathan Forrest made his midnight raid which had 3 objectives: to capture 3 Union generals posted there; to release southern prisoners from Irving Block Prison; and to cause the recall of Union forces from Northern Mississippi. I performed guard duty in protecting the lives and property of pretended Unionists who possessed the sort of bravery which incited them to shoot men unaware. After 100 days I was discharged in Milwaukee.
On February 27, 1865 l reenlisted in the 51st Wisconsin Infantry, Company A, for one year during the war. My company was forwarded to St. Louis, where we were stationed when the events transpired which closed the war, and I was engaged in guarding the construction forces on the Pacific Railroad until August 1865, when I was mustered out.
Four of my brothers were in the United State service in the Civil War. Benjamin enlisted in the 14th Wisconsin Infantry, Company C, and after fighting the war, died in St. Louis. Boyd Lake enlisted in the 32nd Wisconsin infantry, Company H, , and died after the war in Milwaukee. Marion is a resident of Missouri and John lives in Dakota.
They enlisted respectively in the 14th Wisconsin Infantry, Company G. My sister, Eliza, is the widow of George Snyder. Caroline is the widow of Nathan Wheeler and lives in Dakota. Laura T. married John Trentlage, of Fond Du Lac County, who is postmaster at Waucousta.
I returned to Milwaukee for a short time, then moved to Fond Du Lac. In 1867 l married Ella Hull, of Ashford, and Fond Du Lac was our home until 1877. Then we moved to a farm in Shawano County. Five of their seven children are living. They are named Minnie, Jesse, Clara, Boyd, and Daisy. Those deceased were named Marion and Alice. Mr. Lake is a substantial farmer of Shawano County.
Funeral Services for Nathan Lake, 94, Shawano Counties last Civil War veteran, were held Monday afternoon at Woodlawn cemetery chapel.
Mr. Lake had lived in the vicinity until 16 years ago when he went to make his home in Waupaca, where he died last Friday (Died in1941).