~ Union Veteran of the Civil War ~

Captain, Company C, 27th New Jersey Volunteer Infantry Regiment

- Enlisted in the Union Army on 6 Sep. 1862.

- Commissioned as Capt., Co. C, 27th N.J. Inf. on 19 Sep. 1862.

- Resigned his commission on 13 Oct. 1862 due to health reasons; honorably mustered out.

• Obituary of Capt. Nelson H. Drake from the 5 Jul. 1889 issue of The Warren Republican:

"Hon. Nelson H. Drake, who for many years has been a prominent citizen of Morris County, died of cancer of the stomach at his home in Flanders last Saturday morning, June 22, after an illness of nearly four months. Mr. Drake, had he lived until July 1, would have been 66 years old. He was a descendant of one of the oldest families of the place, three brothers of the name having been among the earliest settlers of that vicinity. His father, Anthony Drake, just after his marriage built the house where his son was born and died. Mr. Drake married Miss Mary Ming, of Chester, who died about sixteen years ago, and two daughters survive them. He represented Morris County in the Legislature in the sessions of 1860, '61 and '62, and filled a number of local positions, being a Justice of the Peace at the time of his death. In 1863 he went to the front as Captain of Co. C., 27th New Jersey Volunteers, but was compelled to resign in consequence of ill health. He was in every sense a strong type of the representative man of rural communities - in intelligence of mind, kindliness of heart and uprightness of character, and his memory will long remain with those who knew him as a good neighbor and friend. - Era." 

• Obituary of Capt. Nelson H. Drake from the 28 Jun. 1889 issue of Dover, NJ's The Iron Era:

"After a lingering illness of about three months Capt. N. H. Drake passed to his eternal rest last Saturday morning. He was born in Flanders and lived here nearly all his life. He was a member of the State Legislature and held other positions of trust. In the prime of life he married Mary, the second daughter of Mr. Chas. Ming, of Chester, who left him and two motherless daughters for her heavenly home about sixteen years ago. Then he turned his entire attention to the care of his children, almost filling the vacancy made by their mother's death. He was for many years a member of the Baptist Church of Mt. Olive. In the early history of the late war, when strong appeals were made throughout the country for volunteers, a company was formed and marched out to victory headed by Capt. Drake. Since the close of the Rebellion he has led a quiet life at the homestead and passed away tenderly ministered to by his daughters and friends. His patience and fortitude during his suffering were wonderful. The funeral services were held at the house on Tuesday afternoon. A passage of Scripture was read by Rev. Mr. Schofield, of Mt. Olive, followed by a selection rendered by the choir of the Presbyterian Church. The opening prayer was made by Rev. Mr. Cox, of the Baptist Church of Mt. Olive, and the address of consolation by Rev. G. H. Stephens, who took as a text the words found in St. Luke, [12.40]: 'Be ye therefore ready also.' In conclusion he said 'We commend you to God. He has promised to be the father of the fatherless and is even now looking down upon you with eyes filled with love and compassion. He will never leave you or forsake you. May the Lord comfort our hearts in all this sadness and grief. 'Be ye therefore ready also' that when called away from earth ye may be able to say, 'For me to live is Christ, to die is endless gain.' Miss Annie Coleman then sang 'Say, are you Ready,' and Rev. Mr. Schofield made a closing prayer. The deceased was a member of a Masonic Order and had nearly reached the age of sixty-six years. Before his death he selected the bearers who were to convey him to his last resting place. They were Mr. John M. Knight, of Stanhope, Mr. Wm. Budd, Mr. Charles Harden, Mr. Wm. Bird, Mr. Hiram H. DeCamp of Chester, and Mr. P. A. Hoffman, of Flanders. The sympathy of numerous friends is with the grief-stricken daughters in this their sad bereavement and there is one saying, 'Let not your heart be troubled, ye believe in God, believe also in me.' 'Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.'"

*Contributor: Robert Mayer III [50468536].

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Nelson, my 2nd cousin 3 times removed, was the son of Anthony Drake (1792-1877) and Margaret Corwin (1788-1844). They had three other children: Sylvanus (1819-After 1850), Anthony Atwood (1828-1879), and Mary (1840-).

He was the husband of Mary C. Ming, daughter of Charles Ming (1809-1869) and Susan A. Larison (1809-1890.

Nelson and Mary had two daughters: Margaret C. (1865-After 1880), and Jessie W. (1872-After 1880).

Nelson was commissioned on Sept. 6, 1862 as a Captain in the Union Army's 27th New Jersey Volunteer Infantry and mustered in as commander of Company C on September 19, 1862. He resigned his commission on October 13, 1862 and re-entered civilian life.

This cemetery was originally the Mount Olive Presbyterian Cemetery.