Thankyou: Miami County Biography Ref. Page

WILLIAM P. DRAKE, an enterprising citizen of Perry Township, is a native of Hunterdon County, New Jersey, born May 28, 1829, the son of Jacob and Phebe (Stout) Drake. Thomas Drake, paternal grandfather of our subject, was also a native of New Jersey; he served three months in the Revolutionary War when but fifteen years old. He died in his native State, and is buried in Hopewell Cemetery along with John Hart, one of the signers of the declaration for which he fought. Subject’s maternal grandfather, Ira Stout, was born in New Jersey, and was colonel of a regiment which was sent to quell the "Whiskey Insurrection." Jacob Drake emigrated to Ohio in 1830, where William P. was reared to manhood, he remaining with and assisting his parents on the farm until he attained the age of twenty-three years. His education was in keeping with the facilities afforded the children of his day. August 17, 1852, his marriage with Catharine Strock was solemnized. The year following they emigrated to Indiana and Miami County, of which they have since continued residents. Their union has been blessed with four children, these two now living: George W., who married Laura Bayles, and Eli T., who married Magdaline Butler, now deceased. Mr. Drake has been uniformly successful in his vocation of farming, owning 248 acres of well-improved land. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Lodge, No. 365, located at Roann. In politics he is a Democrat and has been honored with an election to the offices of Justice of the Peace and Township Trustee, filling both positions to the entire satisfaction of the individuals whose suffrages elected him.

From History of Miami County, Published in 1887 by Brant and Fuller in Chicago - Perry Township