GEN. FRANCIS MARION DRAKE

DRAKE, LORD, ONIEL

Posted By: Mona Sarratt Knight (email)
Date: 5/31/2009 at 20:21:24

FRANCIS MARION DRAKE, GEN., lawyer, Centerville; born in Schuyler Co., Ill., Dec. 30, 1833; he moved to Fort Madison with his parents in 1837 and located in Davis Co., Iowa, in 1846. In 1852, he organized a train to cross the plains, known as the Drakeville train, consisting of six six-ox wagons with sixteen men and a boy; he crossed the Missouri River at Council Bluffs, May 1; when at Horseshoe Bend, near Platte River, opposite Pawnee village, he was attacked by 300 Pawnee warriors, who would have massacred them, but, by a quick and decisive action, he repulsed the attack, the Indians leving nine of their number dead upon the field; he having singled out the chief, killed him by a blow from his musket, which demoralized the warriors who would not fight without a leader. He arrived in Sacramento safely, when he engaged in the stock business; returned the following winter by sea; he recrossed the plains in 1854 with a drove of cattle, consisting in part of the 100 milch cows, 97 of which he arrived with in good condition, makng the most successful trip known. On his return in the steamer Yankee Blade, same year, she was wrecked near the Point of Aquilla, on the Pacific coast; vessel was a total wreck and 800 lives were lost; he swung down a hawser, secured a small boat, with which he saved several lives, making three trips to the shore, a barren coast, where he remained five days, living on raw meat; was picked up by steamer Goliah, a mail packet, and landed at San Francisco; took passage on the Golden Gate for home; she caught fire, but arrived safely at her destination in November 1854. He then went into the mercantile business with his father and brother in Drakeville; moved to unionville, this county, in 1859 and to this city in 1865. He assisted Col. Edwards in the organizing his independent Iowa Regiment, in the spring of 1861, and took command of Co. A; he was promoted to Major in September 861; his rgiment attacked Gen. Patton (Confederate), of Missouri, at Albany, who had driven Col. Crainor (Union) out of Missouri; his regiment pressed Patton across the Platte River, near St. Joe; Patton burned the bridge in his rear, which prevented further pursuit; he then reported to Gen. Prentiss, who put him in command of the garrison at St. Joe, Mo., consisting of half of his own regiment, some Kansas Cavalry and a battalion of Ohio Infantry, whoch post he held during Gen. Mulligan's campaign in Missouri and surrender at Lexington, successfully repelling an attack of Jackson's Missouri army after Mulligan's surrender. He was commissioned Lieutenant Colonel of the 36th Iowa Vols., in August 1862, four companies of which were raised in this county; he proceeded to Tennessee, and served int he Army of the Tennessee and Trans-Mississippi; he was wounded at Mark's Mills, Ark., April 25, 1864, and captured on the field, and reported mortally wounded; as soon as able to be removed, he was paroled and sent into the Union lines under a flag of truce; he was present at the capture of Little Rock, battle of Elkins' Ford, having command of a detachment of six companies of infantry, two of cavalry and a section of Peat's Missouri Battery, with which he fought Gen. Marmaduke, repulsed him and held the Ford against superior numbers for which he was brevetted Brigadier General. He was mustered out at Davenport, Iowa. He married Miss Mary J. Lord in 1855; she was born in Newark, Nova Scotia, in 1833; their children are Willie J., Jennie Eva, Frank E., John A., Mary, and George who died when 22 months old. Are members of the Christian Church; Republican. Commenced the practice of law in 1866; associated with Judge Harris; in 1870 he organized the M.I.&N.R.R. Co., of which he was elected President; he built the road from Alexander to Centerville, completing it Dec. 27, 1872; he resumed the practice of law May 1, 1875, associated with Gen. A. J. Baker, late Attorney General of the State of Missouri. His father was John A. Drake; mother, Harriet J. O'Niel.