William Wilmington Drake

CRUMRINE, DEVAULT, DRAKE

Posted By: Judy Wight Branson (email)
Date: 8/3/2004 at 10:21:19

William W. Drake, a farmer and stockman of Webster township, is a native of that township, born, February 2nd, 1868, of the marriage of Dennis and Maria (Crumrine) Drake, the father born in New Jersey in 1828 and the mother in Washington County, Pennsylvania, also in that year. Dennis Drake, who was born and reared upon a farm, came by wagon to Madison County in 1858 and entered government land, built a cabin and broke the land, thus transforming part of the wild prairie into a farm. He had the usual pioneer experiences and was one of the leaders in the promotion of the community enterprises. He helped to organize the Webster Methodist Episcopal Church and was on the building committee when the church edifice was erected. He was also quite prominent in political affairs and held a number of township offices. He passed away upon the homestead in January, 1908, while his wife's death occurred in 1906. Two of his sons are residing in this county, the brother of our subject being John N. Drake, of Jackson township.

William W. Drake is indebted to the public schools of Webster township for his education and to his father for his early knowledge of agriculture. He remained at home and farmed nearby land until 1898. In that year he moved to Jackson township, where he still owns one hundred and sixty acres. However, in 1912, he rented one hundred and eighty acres in Webster township, which he is still operation. He feeds some stock and is proving very successful both as a stock-raiser and as a general farmer. On the 20th of March, 1894, Mr. Drake married Miss Effie Devault, a daughter of Henry Devault, who is mentioned at greater length elsewhere in this work. Mr. and Mrs. Drake have four living children: Alfred, who was born in January, 1895; Cecil, born in December, 1899; Deva, whose birth occurred in 1904; and Loretta, born June 19, 1910. One son, Harold, died in infancy.

Mr. Drake is a progressive in politics and in all phases of life is forward-looking, seeking to secure development along the right lines. Both he and his wife are quite active in the work of the Methodist Episcopal Church, to which they belong. They are widely known in Madison County and those who know them best esteem them most highly.

Taken from the book, "The History of Madison County, Iowa, 1915."