Willis Jacob Drake

As printed in 1908

WILLIS JACOB DRAKE, a prosperous farmer of Pike Township, Clark County, Ohio, is located on a farm of seventy-one acres about eighteen miles northwest of the city of Springfield, and in addition has a tract of twenty-five acres in Jackson Township, Champaign County. He was born on what is now known as the Jacob Sultzbach farm in Pike Township, March 20, 1861, and is a son of Thomas and Mary (Deaton) Drake. Thomas Drake was born in Elizabeth Township, Miami County, Ohio, September 18, 1836, and was a son of Jacob Drake, who came from New Jersey to Miami County during pioneer days. Jacob Drake was first married January 12, 1814, to Phoebe Stout, by whom he had two sons, Thomas and William. He was again married June 27, 1839. to Ruth A. Titous, and they had four children, Ezra H., Willis H., Albert and Mary A. (Lamme).

Thomas Drake, father of our subject, spent his boyhood days on the home farm, which he assisted in clearing. They lived in a log house for many years, and in 1853 Mr. Drake erected a magnificent frame house, the finest in the county at that time. After his marriage he moved to the Fuller farm in Pike Township, Clark County, which he rented for two years; then, during the following three years, lived on the farm of his wife's mother. At the end of that time he moved to Champaign County, farming near Addison for five years, and then moved to a farm on the Clark Coimty line. The family next lived on the Sheets farm near Tippecanoe for a period of eighteen years, then on the Strock farm in Pike Township for nine years. From there they moved to Jack-. son ToT\iiship, where they remained but a short time, locatmg soon after on a small farm that Mr. Drake bought near Addison. Three weeks after moving on the place, Mrs. Drake died, on December 13, 1907. Mr. Drake is now retired and lives in the village of Addison. His wife, Mary (Deaton) Drake, was born in Pike Township and was a daughter of William and Catherine Deaton, early pioneers of the county. Six children were born to them: William, Willis Jacob, Elizabeth F., who died at nine years; Sherman, who died at eight years; Grant and Levi.

Willis J. Drake was reared on the farm and attended the district schools. He began dealing in stock in a small way when a young man and also followed general farming. He lived at home until one year after his marriage. October 30, 1891, he purchased his present farm from the Samuel Lind heirs and erected a fine nine-room frame house, a good barn and other buildings. He makes a specialty of hogs and cattle, particularly the former, and has nine acres in tobacco.

December 20, 1883, Mr. Drake was united in marriage with Catherine Widener, a daughter of WUliam and Amie (Rollins) Widener, her father coming from Pennsylvania and her mother from Indiana. Mrs. Drake is one of eleven children, as follows: Charles, deceased; Catherine (Drake); William Elmer; Warren E.; John E.; Harry F. and Hattie F., twins, the latter, wife of James Dick; Caroline E. (Staley); Hays; Ross; and Laura (Cottingham). Mrs. Widener died in 1896 and is survived by her husband, who lives in Troy, Ohio.

Mr. and Mrs. Drake have three children, as follows: TuUy L., who was married December 15, 1907, to Amelia Group, and is now farming in Champaign County; Florence E., who died in infancy; and Eva E., who attends the Willis Business College in Spring-field. Mr. Drake is a Republican in politics, and served as supervisor in Elizabeth Township, Champaign County; and many years as road superintendent in Pike Township. He and his wife are consistent members of the Christian Church.

As printed in 20th century history of Springfield, and Clark County, Ohio, and representative citizens (1908). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.