William Demus Lake is believed to have joined the 1853 Hagans-Cockrill train at Ft. Kearney.

Listed in 1870 Census for Cuffys Grave, Big River Township, Mendocino Co., CA (postoffice: Navarra), dwelling #396, William D. Lake, age 44, Dairy Man, bp. New York. Also enumerated, Hellen Lake(a. 34, bp. MO), keeping house, and George E. (a. 1, bp. CA). Also listed in this household are Robert Cockrill (a 21, bp. CA) Dairy Hand; Frank Smith (a. 18, bp. New York) Dairy Hand; and James F. Cook (a. 18, bp. CA) Dairy Hand. A Anson B. Lake (a. 38, bp. New York), Dairy Man, was enumerated in dwelling #395 under the Thomas Wealsh family.