The first one if very close to "Mom Zimmer's" Lumberjack cake. I've seen almost identical recipes as "Depression Cake." Mom Zimmer died at about 88 around 1992, and she gave me the recepe when I was dating her son (not DH). I make it every winter to remember her, and it is very good though it is quite heavy.
There's another version I've seen called "War Cake," with the same idea. It is the boiled raisen's the really make the cakes. I've done them with mixed dried fruit and that works too.
expatriate Californian living in rural Ireland with husband, dogs, horses. garden and many, many cats