JAMES W. DRAKE GRAVESTONE PHOTO
The Iola Daily Register, Thursday, Oct. 10, 1901, Pg. 7.
Mr. James Drake, whose serious illness has been noted in the REGISTER, died Wednesday night at his home went of the river.
Mr. Drake was one of the pioneers of Allen county, having come here in 1858 and resided here ever since. He was born in Kentucky January 26, 1831. While a child, however, he was taken by his parents to Indiana and made that State his home until 1854 when he went to Illinois. In 1856 he removed to Iowa, from which State he came to Kansas two years later. He served through the war as a private in Company E, 9th Kansas Cavalry, being mustered out in November 1865. He was married in 1861 to Miss Mary A. McKenzie and they became the parents of seven children, Elizabeth, wife of Nicholas Burton; Viola, wife of John Harris; Dora, wife of George Stawderman; Nora, wife of Fred Baker; Cora and Frank. Mr. Drake was an industrious and remarkably successful farmer, steadily adding to his original homestead until he was the owner of several hundred acres of valuable bottomland.
Mr. Drake was a member o the Masonic fraternity, and the funeral ceremonies will be held at the residence at ten o’clock Sunday under the auspices of that order.
The widow and children have the sympathy of all their friends.