Drakesville

		The town of Drakeville is located on sections 4 and 9, township 69, range 14, west, on land originally owned by John A Drake. It was surveyed by Thomas G Given, county surveyor of Wapello County, on the 12th day of February, 1847, and in 1850 contained 108 inhabitants. -1882 History of Davis County
		HIGH LIFE HOTEL
John P Gaston came to Drakeville from Morgan County, Ohio, in 1856 and no one having continued the "tavern" business he opened up an undertaking establishment in the "Routh House" and administered the burial rites for the departed in the community for 54 years, or until his death in 1910. All caskets or coffins, they were called, were for many years made by him out of native walnut lumber.	Mormon Log Cabin Donated and reconstructed at the Park location.	The family of Thomas Lockman very early arrived in the Drakeville community, coming from Hendrix County, Indiana, in the fall of 1847. Mr Lockman purchased and settled upon a claim adjoining the town site of Drakeville on the west. The family consisted of 1 son, John B., and 6 sisters. Of this family, the youngest one, Mrs Joseph Higbee, still survived (1924). John B married Nancy M Drake, thus becoming allied with the Drake family, and for years was engaged in farming and stock business and later a general mercantile business also in the town under the name of Drake & Lockman. Thomas Lockman died at Drakeville in 1862, and John B., in 1896.
	Drakeville Grocer billing Harmon Grocery

BYGONE DAYS IN DRAKEVILLE

Annuals of Iowa Vol 14, No 5, July 1924

The family that did the most in the way of developing the community under consideration, the one that contributed most to the common good not only of that day, but also of the future, the one that really gave Drakeville a permanent name and place in the history of the state, was the Drakes. They were capable people. They could and did do things.

John Adams Drake and Harriet Jane Oneal, the founders of this family, and of the town of Drakeville, were originally from the South. Both were born in North Carolina and were married there in 1827. The moved to Tennessee, Illinois, then to Ft Madison, Iowa, then to where is now the town of Drakesville, in 1846. Drake engaged in merchandising, superintented farming, and established a mill for manufacturing flour and meal and sawing lumber. After some years it was destroyed by fire. His business ventures were prosperous, under the name of Drake & Sons. He established the first Bank in Drakesville. He served the county as its representative in the 4th General Assembly. The business ability and character of the sons is discoverable in their careers as bankers and merchants in Drakeville, Unionville, Centerville, and Albia. John Drake and his generosity helped to assist in the developing of Drake University. Parents of Francis Marion Drake, governor of Iowa.

Fortunatous Humble
Drakesville Cemetery

Grandson of Uriah Humble & Charity Custer.

History of Davis County 1882 by The Des Moines State     Historical Co
Pg 520-
Privates- Fourteenth Inf, Co I, F C Humble enlisted Oct 1, 1861,           discharged for disability at Corinth, July 29, 1862;
Pg 547-
21st Missouri Infantry, Co H, F C Humble second musician,       enlisted Jan 11, 1862, discharged Apr 4, 1862.
Pg 665-
Daughter Martha, her father, Engaged in a dry goods, and          grocery
1850 & 1856 Census Davis Co IA, Brick mason
1860 Census Davis Co, 2nd wife Elizabeth
1870 DC census, not listed
The Pioneers of Davis County, by the Women's Federation
Elected sheriff, of Davis Co, 1844.

Willis Morgan and his wife came some time before the war. He was a blacksmith. The track of the Rock Island Railroad in the west part of town runs over the spot where his house stood. Willis Morgan and his wife lost their lives in that house due to a night-time fire.

George and John Elliott, came early from Pennsylvania. John established himself in a long, low, log house a mile and a quarter northeast of Drakeville. George's home was a mile North of town. He started the first nursery in Davis County and he or his son Frank, in partnership with John Clarke, bought and used in the community the first corn planter. Here it may be said that Henry Taylor owned the first mowing machine, and John Lockman the first reaper, and George Elliott had the first Cane mill and made the first sorghum molasses.

MORE EARLY SETTLERS-

George W Lester, came in 1843, built a log cabin. He had a dau named Mrs W A Wishard, In 1844, he moved to Pike Co., ILL.

S B Downing came around 1838 from PA, and lived West of Drakeville, 2 1/2 Miles. Samuel was also one of the local preachers.

Ezra Kirkham lived 3/4 mile East. Wm VanBenthusen came from Indiana in 1853 then moved to Bloomfield. Hiram Pagett was from Malta, Morgan Co., OH. Alexander Breeding homesteaded 2 miles North and was from Shelby Co., IN. Horatio A Wonn was from Zanesville, OH., and was said to have interests in the Underground Railway.

The first country school was 2 miles East, and called school District #1, Bloomfield township. In Febuary, 1847, Geo W Lester was elected director and it was ordered that a school house of round logs, be completed at a cost of $25, and allow 50 cents per day for services. Fidelia T Fullerton was the first teacher. -Annuals of Iowa Vol 14, No 5, July 1924