

ALLEN DRAKE. 



Peter Drake was a native of New Jersey ; married 

 Rhuhama Russell, also born in that State. Soon after 

 their marriage, in the year 1813, they removed and settled 

 in the town of Benton, Yates Co., where they remained 

 for sixteen years and carried on farming ; and in the year 

 1829 came to the town of Jasper, where they purchased 

 one hundred and fifty acres of timbered land in the west 

 part of the town, where they lived the remainder of their 

 days. He died in 1852, aged sixty-five. She died in 1851, 

 aged sixty. Their children are Allen, born in New Jersey, 

 Sidney, Mrs. David Dennis, Mrs. Hiel Savage, Ayres, Mrs. 

 Leler Moors, and Charles Peter. The last two were born 

 in Steuben County ; the others, except Allen, were born in 

 Yates County. 



Mr. Allen Drake received no pecuniary assistance in 

 starting out for himself in life. His education from books 

 was confined to the common school, but the lessons learned 

 while at home, during his minority, of industry, necessary 

 economy, and judicious management laid the fotmdation 

 for a successful business career. 



At the age of twenty- four he married Priscilla Benaway, 

 of Jasper. The children of this marriage are Sidney, Mrs. 

 William H. Wheeler, Mrs. Andrew Murphy, and Mrs. 

 Harrison Purdy. 



Mr. Drake began life in the log house and on fifty acres 

 of wild land ; soon after he added fifty acres more ; after six 

 years, in 1840, he settled on one hundred acres, where he 

 now resides, to which he has made additions of some five 

 hundred and sixty acres ; some two hundred acres he 

 cleared of the original forest, and all of which he has put 

 in a good state of cultivation, having built on the same 

 some four dwelling-houses now occupied by his children, 

 together with some thirteen framed barns and as many 

 framed sheds. His farm is the largest cultivated farm in 

 town, and possibly in Steuben County, and shows the work 



of a life-interest and care of a careful husbandman and 

 agriculturist. Mr. Drake has given his attention mostly 

 to dairying, sheep and 'stock raising, and is ranked among 

 the most successful farmers of the county. 



He has ever been interested in all matters of local im- 

 provement in town and county ; was a member of the 

 Democratic party until the election of Buchanan, when he 

 united with the Republican party. While a young man he 

 officiated as assessor for several years ; since which time he 

 has never consented to accept official honors, although often 

 solicited to hold high places in the gift of the people. His 

 life has been given strictly to business, yet not so closely 

 to his own affairs as to neglect what duty required in his 

 neighborhood and town. 



Mr. Drake is known as a thrifty, enterprising, candid 

 man, possessed of strong resolution, quick perception, and 

 force of character to complete whatever he undertakes. 

 A man of correct habits and genial disposition, and among 

 his associates sociable, and especially in his family is this 

 characteristic particularly exemplified. He is a liberal sup- 

 porter of church 'and kindred interests, a staunch supporter 

 of morality and good society. His wife died May 29, 1847. 



For his second wife he married, in 1847, Olive Savage, 

 of Jasper. She died Aug. 24, 1848, leaving a daughter 

 who lived to the age of seventeen. 



He married for his present wife, Nov. 19, 1848, Lucinda, 

 daughter of Abel Andrew, of Orange, formerly in this county. 

 The children of this marriage are Luzerne, Mrs. Harmon 

 Huntington, Fannie, and Bertha. 



Mr. Drake is now in the sixty-ninth year of his age, having 

 been born Nov. 3, 1810. For some two years past failing 

 health has compelled him to relinquish largely the active 

 duties of life, but he sees around him the fruits of his 

 labor, and devoted children comfortably enjoying places 

 prepared for them by him. 



