from The Republican (Danville, Indiana)--issue of Thursday, March 10, 1898--page 1, column 1:
Republican candidates for county offices:
was born in Illinois in 1845. His parents moved to Boone county, this state in 1847 and in 1859, to Plainfield. In 1860, Mr. Lakin went to work at the blacksmith trade and continued in the shop until 1862 when he enlisted in the 54th regiment. At the expiration of this service, he enlisted in the 117th and later he enlisted in the Second Battery, Indiana Light Artillery serving until the close of the war. He then returned to his trade and in 1868, he moved to Danville where he worked one year when he moved to Coatesville where he has engaged in the blacksmith, implement, and buggy business since. He always [has] taken an active interest in the party's good and has done good service.