Draper, William H. 1811-1897

DRAPER, MEANS, SHEARER

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 3/19/2005 at 10:21:16

Death of Jasper Pioneer

Wm. H. Draper, a resident of Jasper County since 1851, died at the home of his son, Ira E. Draper, in Prairie City on Friday evening, July 2nd, aged 86 years, 5 months and 20 days.

Mr. Draper was a native of Cumberland County, Ky., born January 10, 1811. When fourteen years of age his parents moved to Indiana, where his early life was spent and where in 1833, he was married to Miss Nancy Means. They came to Iowa in the fall of 1850, settling on a farm near Hartford, in Marion County, and only remained there until February 1851, when they moved over into Jasper County, entering a large track of land from the government, in the vicinity of Vandalia. eginning as a poor man, but endowed with energy and perseverance, the after years brought him wealth and independence.

His children were Ira E., John J., and Eliza J. Draper and Mrs. H. J. Shearer all living except Eliza J., who died in 1893. On the 28th of July 1894, his wife died. For the past two years father Draper has made his home most of the time with his son John J. Draper near Vandalia.

Mr. Draper was a good man, honored and respected by all who knew him. From his early manhood he had been a member of the Christian Church, and through all his long and active life he remained steadfast in his Christian profession.

His remains were laid to rest on Thursday afternoon in the Vandalia Cemetery, attended by a large concourse of friends, some of whom had labored by him and with him for nearly a half century, bringing one of the prettiest section of our grand state from its primitive wilderness to blossom as a rose. ~ The Newton (Iowa) Record Friday, July 9, 1897
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Prairie City (IA) News, 1897

William H. Draper was born in Cumberland County, Kentucky, January 10,1811. They moved to Marion County, Indiana, where he grew to manhood.

He was married to Miss Nancy Means, March 3, 1833. He opened two Farms in the forests of Indiana, where he remained until 1844.

His two sons, Ira and Fountain, and his daughter, Mrs. H. J. Shearer, were born there.

He moved to Clinton County, Indiana, in 1844, where his son J. J. was born and where he hewed out another farm in the forest.

He came to Iowa in the fall of 1850, stopping near Hartford, where he remained until the following February when he entered a large tract of land, including the old homestead, near Vandalia.

Here Eliza J. the youngest was born. She died in June, 1855.

In 1880, he moved to Prairie City.

He died June 29, 1897.