California Biographies, Santa Cruz County
L. J. DAKE. 

Transcribed by Peggy Hooper

Source:
History of Santa Cruz County, California 
Pacific Press Publishing Company
San Francisco, Cal. 1892
By E. S. Harrison 

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm
 

L. J. DAKE. 

An intimate identification with occupations of various kinds during different periods of his long residence in California 
has given to Mr. Dake a knowledge of the resources and possibilities of the state and has made of him an ardent champion 
of the golden west. Like the majority of the men who have come from eastern homes to earn a livelihood on the coast, he 
possesses an enthusiastic faith in the future of this region. This future, from his standpoint of vision, is not limited to 
agriculture, but covers the domain of commerce, facilities for which will be greatly enhanced with the development of the 
west and with the shipment of our products in an ever-increasing amount to supply the crowded countries of the 
Orient, The completion of the Panama canal will also open another avenue of commercial activity, so that the future 
lies bright before our sunny land. 

Mr. Dake was born in New York City March 24, 1858, and is a son of Moses and Eliza J. Dake, both natives of New 
York. At an early age he accompanied the family to Chicago and there attended the public schools, later becoming a student 
in the schools of Milwaukee. On the completion of his education he began to earn his own livelihood. During 1879 he 
came to California and settled in Santa Cruz, where since he has been associated with sundry occupations. For a time 
he studied surveying. Later he worked as a bookkeeper in a flour mill. With W. Gardner as a partner, he conducted a 
flour, feed and provision store, under the firm title of Gardner & Dake. Upon selling his interest in the store he went to 
Tulare county and established a sheep business, but two years later he abandoned the industry and returned to Santa 
Cruz, where he acted as deputy in the office of the county recorder. For a period of twelve years he acted as court re- 
porter in the superior court under Judge Logan and Judge McCann. During almost this entire period he also served as 
chairman of the Republican county central committee and took a prominent part in local politics. 

After a comparatively brief experience as a proprietor of the California market on Pacific avenue, an enterprise in 
which he had as a partner George A. Chittenden, during the year 1897 Mr. Dake became interested in the abstract busi- 
ness with H. E. Makinney as a partner, the firm title being Makinney & Dake. The junior partner proved of the greatest 
assistance to the older member of the firm by his accuracy in the searching of records. Much of the detail work was placed 
in his hands and in all of the important tasks committed to his care his accuracy was never questioned. Upon the death 
of Mr. Makinney in October, 1910, he purchased his interest and is now carrying on the business under name of L. J. Dake. 
Personally Mr. Dake possesses a genial disposition, is companionable and entertaining, and has a host of friends in 
business circles, as well as in the organizations of which he is an influential member, including the Independent Order 
of Odd Fellows (lodge and encampment), the Masons, Foresters and Ancient Order of United Workmen. His marriage 
united him with Miss Clara I. Chittenden, a native daughter of California and a lady of education and culture. They are 
the parents of two sons. The elder, Clarence G., is employed in his father's office. The younger son, Irving, is a student in 
the Santa Cruz schools.