JOSEPH A. DRAKE was born in Wood County, Ohio, September 4, 1845, and reared on a farm. His father, Joseph Drake, was a native of Pennsylvania, as was also his mother, Mary (Sweny) Drake. They moved to Wood County at a very early period, and Mr. Drake was one of those who assisted in the construction of the old Ohio Canal. He was a class-leader in the Methodist Church over twenty-nine years. His eife died in 1847, and he in 1862. May 2, 1864, our subject enlisted in Company E, One Hundred and Forty-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was discharged in August the same year. He went to Indianapolis in November, 1864, in the employ of the Government, and remained there about two years; from there he went to Fosteria, Ohio, and commenced retailing medicine for Dr. Chance. Having received considerable experience in this business, he commenced studying, and by diligent sutdy he was enabled to invent several first-class remedies; some of his leading remedies are, "The World's Benefactor", the "Blood and Liver Tonic", "Drake's Ague Drops", etc. The real value of these medicines is undoubted. Mr. Drake was married August 22, 1867, to Miss Severnia E. Turner, who was born in Ohio April 15, 1848. This lady moved to Seneca County, Ohio, with her parents, when four years old, and from there to Hancock County. At the time of her marriage with Mr. Drake, she was one of the leading milliners of Fostoria. By their union have been born two daughters - Mary A. and Emma E. Mr. Drake is a Republican and a member of the Knights of Honor of La Grange. Both are members of the Medthodist Church of Valentive, near which village they reside on their farm.

Source: "1882 History LaGrange County, Indiana" by F.A.Battey & Co.., - Johnson Township