Middletown transcript., 1907-03-09
JAMES LAKE TO RETIRE
He Was Prominent In South
American Flour Trade

!; Mr.. James Lake, formerly one OF the
largest -four merchants in the South
American trade of this country and one
Of the Oldest active members of the Bait.
more Chamber of Commerce, is about to
retire from business, and will make his
home on bis farm in Hartford county.
The retirement of Mr.. Lake is gener-
ally regarded as an event in the history
Of the Chamber Of Commerce. He has
been in attendance on the floor almost
daily for the last AZ years, and he will be
missed particularly by the older mem
bers, who have been bis daily associates
for years.
The direct cause Of Mr.. Lakes retire.
ment from the hour-exporting trade has
been the passing of the coffee trade Of
Baltimore Of recent years and the end of
the sugar trade of years ago. 1t was
through the channels of the sugar and
coffee trade that Baltimore figured as a
leading factor in the exporting of -four to
Rio and other South American ports.
Since most of the sailing. vessels used
in the coffee trade have been disposed OF
to be converted into coal barges death
knelI has been sounded for the Rio -four
trade. Mr.. Lake then came to the conclu-
sion that his DAYS as -four merchant
had ceased. For while he looked over
the general business field, and on several
occasions considered entering other lines
OF business. Finally he made up his mind
to sever his connection with all his old
associations and become farmer. With
this end in view he purchased several
months age from Charles Vail the Forest
Hill farm, in Hartford county. He, to-
gether with Mrs. Lake and one of his two
daughters, one being married and now
residing in Pennsylvania, will leave Bal
timoie about the middle of March, and
expects to spend the rest Of his life as
farmer.
Mr.. Lake is held in the highest esteem
by all the members of the Baltimore
Chamber oil Commerce.
Mr.. Lake is of a very quiet, retiring
disposition, and one OF those men who
reach the highest degree of success with
the least possible noise and display.
When at the height of his business career
he sold hundreds of thousands of barrels
OF -four to shippers for South American
ports, Net bis closest friends on the floor
knew little of the business lie was doing.
An idea OF the business transacted by
Mr.. Lake in tile South American trade
can be seen when in one year in the be-
ginning of the 90's the total exports of
-four from Baltimore to Rio amounted to
about 100000 barrels. aud OF this amount
Mr.. Lake soldto Baltimore shippers $780,
900 barrels. In latter years, however, the
South American trade has dwindled to
practically nothing as far as Baltimore
-four exports are concerned.
Mr.. Lake WAS born in Delaware, in
MiddIetown, IS years ago. He came to
Baltimore i'll 1865 when young man and
entered the employ of the -four firm of
William H. Corner & Co. Later he be.
came partner in the -four firm Of Stone
braker & Co. This concern was one of
the largest -four houses not only in Balti-
more but in the country, and carried
stock of -four at times amounting to co.,
600 barrels. After the crash in the Balti-
more sugar-refniDg industry in the late
7U's this firm, which to some extent was
also indirectly interested in the sugar
commerce OF the city, dissolved. Mr..
Lake then became -four commission
merchant, and represented the firm Of
Hoffer & Co, of Harrisburg in Baltimore.
This concern ground -four especially for
the South American trade, and large
portion of the output of the plant was
hand ed by Mr.. Lake.
Since lie has been member OF the
Baltimore Chamber of Commerce Mr..
Lake has been a member of the board of
directors several terms and also mem
ber of number of important committees.
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