Russell and Sarah were born and lived all their lives in Lake City.
     Russell, born in 1896, was the oldest son of Riley and Pearl Lake and
     Sarah was the only daughter of Marlin and Jane Roark. They were child-
     hood sweethearts from their grade school days, and were married in 1917.
       Russell got his high school and college education in Manhattan at what
     is now Kansas State University. Since there was no high school in Lake 
     City, the whole Lake family, with the exception of Riley, spent the 
     school year in Manhattan. Sarah went to Medicine Lodge High School,
     boarding in town during the week, and coming home for weekends.
       Except for the first 1 1/2 years of their marriage, they lived in the
     brick house one-half mile east of Lake City on a hill overlooking Sand
     Creek and the town.
       Russell started working for his father after he married, and by the
     mid-Twenties had assumed full responsibility for the farming and ranching
     operations. He operated the farm and ranch until he died in 1974 at age 78.
       Russell was fascinated with applying machinery to farming, and was always
     in the forefront in the Lake City area. He set up a comprehensive shop in
     the old Community Building in the center of Lake City for machinery over-
     haul, major modification, and sometimes construction from scratch.
       He also started irrigation in the area, with the first well in 1938. He
     was deeply interested in conservation and the preservation of land. The
     tree belts to the north, south, and east of Lake City were his work. His
     terracing work east of town was also a pioneering effort. He was a leading
     participant in the Barber County Soil Conservation District.
       In his later years he became quite interested in the early history of
     Lake City and its pioneering families, and had accumulated extensive notes
     on it by the time of his death.
       Sarah was very active in the Methodist Church during her early years,
     and was for many years the producer of the children's programs at Christmas,
     etc. She was an avid gardener, both flower and vegetable, with a special
     interest in roses, peonies, and lialcs, and contributed many bouquets to
     the community. Most of her life she had 400-500 laying hens and provided
     many eggs locally. She was characterized by an unbending sense of right
     and wrong based on strong fundamental religious convictions and by a great
     generosity.
       Their oldest son, Robert, migrated to the East as a Design Engineer. The
     younger son, Russell Jr., farmed with his father until his early death. His
     wife, Ella, raised their five children in Lake City. Their oldest son, Rusty,
     still farms on the original place. Sarah and Russell also raised their
     niece, Betty Jo Roark, after the death of Betty's mother.
                 
     Source:Chosen Land - Barber County, Kansas,  pg. 268 
     Submitted by: Robert G. Lake