From: Judith Weeks Ancell
Date: Friday, July 07, 2000 11:37 AM
The Centennial History of Oregon 1811-1911, Biographical, Volume IV, Joseph
Gaston. Illustrated:
page 842-843
WILLIAM HENRY DRAKE (IMAGE) Who is living retired in Silverton, is one of the
largest taxpayers and most extensive property owners in this section of
Marion county. He was born in Ohio on the 6th of April, 1847, and is a son
of John M. and Elizabeth (Thompson) Drake, the father a native of
Pennsylvania and the mother of Ohio. Both families are of English
extraction, the paternal forefathers being direct descendants of Sir.
Francis Drake. Mr. and Mrs. Drake were married in Ohio, in 1846, and to
them were born the following children of whom our subject is the eldest:
John t., of Markham, Oregon; Charles W., deceased; one who died in infancy;
Emma J., the widow of Alexander Ross of Portland; Francis, who is also
deceased; and Ellie J., the widow of Roscoe Langley. As he was only a child
of five years when he accompanied his parents on their removal to Oregon,
practically the entire life of William Henry Drake has been passed in this
state. The journey from Ohio to St. Joseph, Missouri, was made by water and
from there the family crossed the plains with wagon and ox teams. They
arrived in The Dalles too late in the autumn to cross the mountains, so they
went down the river below the Cascades and finally reached Oregon City in
the early winter. That first year they encountered all of the hardships and
privations incident to pioneering, not only finding it difficult to provide
feed and shelter for their stock, but having a desperately hard struggle at
times to procure food for themselves. In the spring the father filed on a
donation claim of three hundred and twenty acres in the southern part of
Clackamas county, a portion of which is now the property of John T. Drake, a
brother of our subject. William Henry Drake was reared to manhood and was
given the rudiments of a common-school education. When he was seventeen he
left home to become a wage earner and during the first year engaged at any
work that came at hand. At the expiration of that period he apprenticed
himself to the blacksmith's trade, following this occupation for twenty-five
years. In 1890 he disposed of his, business and invested in a ranch,
beginning with a tract of one hundred and twenty acres. later he increased
his holdings by addition of another one hundred and sixty acres and he
subsequently bought another tract of two hundred and forty acres. His home
is located on a twelve-acre tract in Silverton, and all the remainder of his
property adjoins this. For fifteen years he was successfully engaged in the
cultivation of his land, but in 1905 he withdrew from agricultural pursuits
and is now renting his property, with the exception of the twelve acres
which comprise the homeplace.
For his wife and helpmate, Mr. Drake chose Miss Lavina H. Small, a native of
Indiana and a daughter of Isaac and Esther Ann (Campbell) Small. The
parents of Mrs. William H. Drake were natives of Ohio and were married in
Indiana, where the father followed farming. In 1854 they came to Oregon,
settling in Marion county, where Isaac Small continued in his former
occupation until he removed to Silverton, where he engaged in Carpenter work
in later years. Both parents passed away in Marion county. Of nine
children born to them, seven are now living, namely: Ellwood, Mrs. Drake,
Calvin, Sarah Woolford, Isaac, Ada Matthias and Hettie. William H. Drake
has been a member of the Masonic fraternity since 1875, and his father
likewise affiliated with this order, having been a charter member of
Multnomah Lodge, No. 1, A. F. & A. M., of Oregon City. Mr. Drake is also
identified with the Independent Order of Oddfellows.
His political support is given to the republican party and he has always
taken an active interest in municipal affairs. He assisted in incorporating
the city and has the distinction of being a member of the first council.
Progressive and enterprising in his ideas with high standards of
citizenship, he has made many stanch friends here during the long period of
his residence in Marion county, and is accorded the esteem and respect that
is always paid to men of integrity and good principles."
Judith
"And which of you by being anxious can add a single cubit to his life's
span? Matthew 6:27
Judith Weeks Ancell
1810 Edgecliff Terrace
Boise, ID 83702-2911