H.S. DRAKE, one of the defenders of our country and flag, was born in Steuben County, New York, in 1838; son of Leonard and Elizabeth (Cleveland) Drake, natives of Vermont. The father was born in 1804 and died in Michigan at nearly eighty-nine years of age, while the mother died in Erie County, Ohio, in 1843. Mr. Drake first attended the public schools and later spent some time at Obelin college. He continued on the farm until Aug. 6, 1862, when he enlisted in Company G, One Hundred and First Ohio volunteers infantry for three years, or during the war. At the battle of Chickamauga, September, 1863, Mr. Drake was seriously wounded, having been shot through the left forearm. Other important battles in which he participated may be mentioned: Kennesaw mountain, Mission Ridge and Lookout mountain. He was a true and brave soldier. The conflict over, he returned to Ohio, where he resided until 1873, when he came to Fulton County, Ind., and since then has been engaged in farming about two miles southeast of Rochester, where he now owns a well improved farm of 115 acres, besides which the family have some valuable property in the city of Rochester. The marriage of Mr. Drake occurred Dec. 25, 1866, to Miss Norris, a native of county Tipperary, Ireland, born in 1841. In 1846, in the company of her father, Patrick Norris, she came to the United States and settled in Erie County, Ohio. Her father died at Toledo, Ohio, at about sixty-five eyars of age. To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Drake are these three living children, viz.: Benjamin, who spent two years at the university of Michigan, and is now living at Hammond, Ind.; Charles, an 1893 graduate of the university of Michigan and now a teacher of science in the high school at Alpena, Mich., and Fred, who is also a graduate of this noted western university, in the school of pharmacy department and is now engaged in the practice of his profession. Mrs. Drake was educated at Oberlin college, and for some time was engaged in teaching. She is a woman of strong force of character and believes in a continuous, progressive education. She is a member of the M.E. church. In politics Mr. Drake is an uncompromising republican, a member of the McClung post, No. 95 G.A.R., and a member of the Masonic fraternity. He is a man of pleasing personality and public spirit.

"Pictorial History of America, The Fulton County Edition" by Elia Peattie - published in 1896