From:
Ellen Lutz
Date: Sunday, November 04, 2001 4:46 AM
Walter Drake, son of Larnard and Susanna Phillips Drake.
His siblings were: Melvin, Larnard, Jotham, William Martin, Susanna P.,
Hiram Sanford, Mary Ann and Phylura Drake.
Walter Drake's Obituary:
WALTER DRAKE DEPARTED
An Old Resident of Laingsburg Died May 5th, 1900
INTERRED AT HENDERSON
He leaves Two Children, Besides a Host of Warm Friends.
(in the body of the obit, date of death is stated to be May 5, 1903)
Walter Drake was born in Massachusetts May 20, 1808, and died in this
village May 5, 1903. Thus is summed up a long and eventful life in the
early history of Michigan. From childhood to early manhood he lived in
Orange county, Vermont, and in 1830 he came to Detroit, where he engaged in
fishing and boating on the Detroit River. In 1831 he went to Southfield,
Oakland county and purchased a farm in the wilderness, soon after which he
was engaged to and married Adaline Hunter, and built for himself a home.
Often we have heard him tell of his early experience in pioneer life, when
he could step a little way from his home and hunt the deer, the bear, the
wild turkey, and the more destructive animal, the wolf.
When the Toledo War broke out he enlisted in the Oakland County Rifles, and
was made a lieutenant. Burrell Chipman of Owosso was major.
In 1844 he received an appointment from the government to instruct the
Indians at Old Mission, Grand Traverse, in the art of farming. Again in
1848 he returned to Oakland county and remained on his farm until 1860 when
he bought a large and newer farm in Genesee county. Later he sold this and
went into business with his son in law, HT Lewis, of Owosso, where he
remained five years. Again he and his sons went into the wilderness and
cleared up a farm, where he lived until 1896, when he came to Laingsburg to
live with his son MW (Melvin W.) Drake.
In politics he was a Democrat and was a lifelong reader of the Detroit Free
Press which he read from its earliest publication until his eyesight failed
him. In religion he was a staunch Methodist having for years filled the
position of class leader and steward.
Four children were born to them, Cornelia (or Cordelia) M. Lewis late of
Owosso, Mary R. Daniels of Southfield, Oakland county, Lucius S. Drake, who
died in Rush township, and Melvin W. Drake of Laingsburg.
