March 17, 1884, Lewis
was born in Eden Township, Benton Co., Iowa to parents Floyd Adelbert Dake and
Mary Catherine Young. He always went by the nickname of Carl. His sister Nira
told stories about Lewis' childhood; " When Carl was a little boy he was riding
one hot summer day with grandfather in a buggy. He picked up the horsewhip when
grandfather wasn't looking and hit the horse hard. When the horse started running
fast, Carl turned to grandfather and said " See grandpa its much cooler when
we go fast". She also told the story about Carl enjoying riding down a hill
in a buggy using only ropes to steer.
He attended Tilford Academy (equivalent to High School) in Vinton, Iowa.
According
to the 1915 Iowa census, he finished 12 grades plus one year of college. This
must have been advanced training at Tilford Academy. After graduation he ran a
Bicycle Repair Shop with a partner (Albert Cook).
He wears a dark military jacket with insignia, white shirt, and bow tie. The black and white portrait photograph shows a solemn, dignified expression typical of early 20th century military photography.
Around the time of World War I, he belonged to the National Guard, Company G.
(See attached picture of Company G in 1905) Once while on military maneuvers they
need food and he shot a robin to eat. For several years he was a Volunteer Fireman.
He lived with his brother Floyd R. Dake, on the farm worked by their parents,
prior to their move to Vinton.
He married Maude Ann Thrasher in Vinton, Iowa on Feb. 9, 1910, in the Henry Thrasher
home. They moved to his father-in-laws' farm, in Big Grove Township, when Mr.
Thrasher retired from farming and moved to Vinton. They had a son who died at
birth.
In the 1915 Iowa Census his total income for 1914 was listed as $500. In the same
Census he was listed as owning the following farm animals:
He tried to purchase the
farm from his father-in-law but defaulted during the Depression. He later inherited
the farm from the Thrasher Estate. The family farm was located (S.W. 1/4 of S.W.
1/4 and S.E. 1/4 of S.W 1/4 in Section 13 and N.E. 1/4 of N.W. 1/4 of Section
24, Township 84, 120 acres.) All the buildings on the farm burned in June 1, 1934
with the exception of the house and had to be rebuilt.
Big Grove Township See H. Thrasher Farm in Section 12
3 HORSES DIE IN BLAZE
ON FARM
Fire Sweeps Five Buildings
on Carl Dake Place
BENTON COUNTY NEWS
Flames of unknown origin early
Saturday destroyed the barn and three other building. on the Carl Dake farm, eight
and a half miles southwest of Vinton, causing a tentatively estimated loss of
nearly $10,000
Twelve hundred bushels of sealed corn were destroyed by the, raging fire, which
could be seen from many sections of the county. Three horses and a bull perished.
The blaze swept the barn, In which it started; cattle shed, calf shed, hog house
and corn crib.
Machinery, Harness Burn
All machinery, harness and
'grains in the building were destroyed. The farm Is owned jointly by H. H. Thrasher
of Vinton and his son in-law, Mr. Dake. All of the farm equipment, livestock and
grain belonged to the son-in-law. The hen house caught fire, but it and the chickens
were saved. The loss is partly covered by Insurance.
Mrs. Dake was awakened shortly before midnight She saw light from the flames shining
through the barn windows. Vinton firemen responded to a call at 11:55 p. m. Because
of engine trouble the fire truck was abandoned at the Narber corner, five miles
south of here. Fire Chief Geo. Gordon went on to the fire in his own car, and
the firemen were taken in other automobiles. Later the Keystone fire company was
called. One thousand neighbors and residents of nearby towns gathered on be Dake
place during the fire. The highway was blocked with cars.
The only buildings left on the farm are the residence, hen house and garage. None
of the buildings were electrically lighted.
He seldom raised his voice but had a favorite saying when trying to keep his
children in line "I'm telling you this once and only once". He was very mechanically
inclined and would completely overhaul his own cars. He converted a 1920 Buick
Touring Car into a truck that his children drove to school in Vinton. He was an active Farm Bureau Member. He was secretary of the Big Grove Township
School Board and was responsible for hiring country schoolteachers. In 1944
he retired from the farm and moved to Vinton, Iowa, to live in the home previously
built and lived in by Henry Thrasher, at 513 b. Ave., Vinton, Iowa. Maude
and Carl were active members of the Vinton Methodist Church in Vinton. He
enjoyed fishing as a past time.
Vinton Iowa Home
His wife died in 1958 and
he lived alone for several years before entering the Virginia Gay Hospital Annex
(Convalescent Home). h3 Feb. 22, 1966 he died at the home and was buried next
to his wife in Evergreen Cemetery, Vinton, Iowa. (Lot 23, Block 3, NW Addition)
Thelma, Myron, LaVonne Maude, Lewis (Carl)
LEWIS CARLTON
DAKE FAMILY AND GRANDCHILDREN
Back Row: Monica Reed, Karen Reed, Myron Dake, Charlotte Dake,
Thelma (Dake) Reed, Donald Reed, LaVonne (Dake) McVey, Orval McVey, Beverly
McVey
Middle Row: Maurice Dake, Dennis Dake, Maude (Thrasher) Dake, Carl
Dake, Barbara McVey, Janice McVey
March 17, 1884, Lewis
was born in Eden Township, Benton Co., Iowa to parents Floyd Adelbert Dake and
Mary Catherine Young. He always went by the nickname of Carl. His sister Nira
told stories about Lewis' childhood; " When Carl was a little boy he was riding
one hot summer day with grandfather in a buggy. He picked up the horsewhip when
grandfather wasn't looking and hit the horse hard. When the horse started running
fast, Carl turned to grandfather and said " See grandpa its much cooler when
we go fast". She also told the story about Carl enjoying riding down a hill
in a buggy using only ropes to steer.
He wears a dark military jacket with insignia, white shirt, and bow tie. The black and white portrait photograph shows a solemn, dignified expression typical of early 20th century military photography.
