The Lake Cemetery is located four miles southeast of Janesville and is the oldest graveyard in Lassen County. The first burial was that of Charles Crawford who died on May 21, 1858 from wounds inflicted during an Indian skirmish. The second internment was that of the Frenchmen Harry Gordier who was murdered in late April 1858, but his body was not recovered until early June.
In February 1864, Thomas H. Epley and his family settled on 160 acres of land which the cemetery is located. Thomas and Mary Epley buried three of their children there: Guy who died May 3, 1870, Alvan, died January 28, 1872 and Pearl died June 30, 1872. Internments were infrequent and appeared to have discontinued by the 1880s.
In March 1916, Lassen County historian, Asa M. Fairfield appeared before the Lassen County Board of Supervisors who requested the cemetery be fenced. The county obliged. It should be noted the cemetery is on private property.