SAMUEL J. PAKE

FROM: The History of Gallatin, Saline, Hamilton, Franklin, and Williamson Counties, Illinois (Chicago: Goodspeed Publishing Co., 1887).  P. 734-735.

          Samuel J. Pake was born near Belleville, Canada West, April 27, 1842, the son of Samuel S. and Sarah (O'Reilly) Pake, natives respectively of Canada and Ireland. Our subject was reared and educated in his own county, and at the age of twelve years entered a mercantile house as clerk in the town of Belleville., Canada West. Three years later he removed with his employer to Madoc, Canada West, where he remained two years more in the mercantile business, after which he removed to Birmingham, Conn., and was actively engaged in the mercantile business for two years more. He then entered the employ of a large manufacturing firm as bookkeeper, and remained with them until the year 1864, when he enlisted in the Fifth New 'York Heavy Artillery, then under the command of Gem F. H. Sheridan in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, and was mustered out one year later as lieutenant. On December 25, 1865, he married Mary A. Holmes, of Plattsburg, N. Y., and removed to Evansville, Ind., in September, 1866, Where be accepted a position as traveling salesman in a large wholesale dry goods house. In 1878 he came to McLeansboro Ill., and actively engaged in his present business, which be had started in company with Mr. J. G. Berridge some four years before, and which be has largely increased by his strict attention to business and his knowledge thereof, learned during the past thirty-three years be has been engaged therein. He has one soil, Royal G., now seventeen years old; is a member of the Masonic order, and has been master of his lodge for several years; is a Democrat in politics, and be and his family are Episcopalians.