From The Portrait and Biographical Album of Rock County, Wis., publ, 1889 - page 418, 419
JOHN F. DRAKE, of Janesville, is one of the pioneers of Rock County, and first entered this city on the 3d day of July, 1845. He is a native of the Empire State, having been born in Genesee County, N.Y., on the 10th day of August, 1823, and his father James DRAKE, was a native of Greene County. He belonged to one of the early families of the State, and was of English ancestry. He was a soldier in the War of 1812 and took part in the battle at Black Rock during that struggle. His occupation was that of farming, which he carried on in Genesee County, N.Y., where he cleared and improved a heavily timbered farm during the early days of that county. His wife, whose maiden name was Hannah BLACKMARR, was born in Greene County, and was also a representative of one of the early New York families. Seven children grace their union, four sons and three daughters. Norman resides in Careyville, Genesee County, N.Y.; Elisha B., deceased; John F. is the next in order of birth; Frank, the youngest of the family, is living in Chicago; Lucinda, who became Mrs. YEOMAN, died in Janesville in 1858; Adeline married Chester WHITE, and resided in Michigan at the time of her death; Octavia became the wife of Origin M. COLMAN, and died at Bloomington, Ill.
The subject of this sketch was reared to farm life, and in the spring of 1845, accompanied by his brother, Elisha B. DRAKE, he came to Janesville. The following year he began the planting of an extensive nursery, the first of any importance ever planted in Wisconsin. The brothers were extensively engaged in this business, and at one time had about forty acres of nursery stock, comprising about 800,000 tress, and great body of which was apple trees, but also included about 20,000 peach trees, all varieties of cherries and other fruits. They also cultivated a large number of ornamental trees, many of which they imported from Europe, and Mr. DRAKE now has several fine Norway fir spruce trees, grown to stately dimensions, which he imported from Norway many years ago. This enterprise proved eminently successful until the sever winter of 1856-7, which killed a large number of trees and caused a severe loss of valuable nursery stock, but the business was continued on a small scale until about 1865. Elisha B. DRAKE, who for many years was associated with our subject in business, died at Janesville in 1873. He left a wife and three children; the former was in her maidenhood Miss Electa M. SMITH, a native of Geneva, N.Y.
Since retiring from the nursery business, Mr. DRAKE has been engaged principally in farming, but has also filled the office of under sheriff for four years, and is now engaged in the grocery trade with Charles A SANBORN.
Mr. DRAKE has been twice married; his first wife was Miss Helen A. DICKEY, a daughter of Phineas W. DICKEY, a native of Livingston County, N.Y. In 1873 his wife died, and he was subsequently united in marriage with Miss Lydia FOLSOM, who belongs to an old Vermont family. Her family are relatives of that of the wife of ex-President Cleveland. Mr. DRAKE has two daughters by his first marriage: Nellie, wife of Charles A. SANBORN, who is associated with Mr. DRAKE in business, and Clara, a teacher in the public schools of Minneapolis, Minn.; three children died in early infancy. Mr. DRAKE is one of the well known and highly esteemed citizens of Janesville. Cordial and genial in disposition, fair and honorable in his dealing, he is numbered among the enterprising and progressive business men of this city. In politics he affiliates with the Republican party, and for the long period of thirty-five years has been a voter in the ward in which he now lives.
JOHN F. DRAKE, of Janesville, is one of the pioneers of Rock County, and first entered this city on the 3d day of July, 1845. He is a native of the Empire State, having been born in Genesee County, N.Y., on the 10th day of August, 1823, and his father James DRAKE, was a native of Greene County. He belonged to one of the early families of the State, and was of English ancestry. He was a soldier in the War of 1812 and took part in the battle at Black Rock during that struggle. His occupation was that of farming, which he carried on in Genesee County, N.Y., where he cleared and improved a heavily timbered farm during the early days of that county. His wife, whose maiden name was Hannah BLACKMARR, was born in Greene County, and was also a representative of one of the early New York families. Seven children grace their union, four sons and three daughters. Norman resides in Careyville, Genesee County, N.Y.; Elisha B., deceased; John F. is the next in order of birth; Frank, the youngest of the family, is living in Chicago; Lucinda, who became Mrs. YEOMAN, died in Janesville in 1858; Adeline married Chester WHITE, and resided in Michigan at the time of her death; Octavia became the wife of Origin M. COLMAN, and died at Bloomington, Ill.
The subject of this sketch was reared to farm life, and in the spring of 1845, accompanied by his brother, Elisha B. DRAKE, he came to Janesville. The following year he began the planting of an extensive nursery, the first of any importance ever planted in Wisconsin. The brothers were extensively engaged in this business, and at one time had about forty acres of nursery stock, comprising about 800,000 tress, and great body of which was apple trees, but also included about 20,000 peach trees, all varieties of cherries and other fruits. They also cultivated a large number of ornamental trees, many of which they imported from Europe, and Mr. DRAKE now has several fine Norway fir spruce trees, grown to stately dimensions, which he imported from Norway many years ago. This enterprise proved eminently successful until the sever winter of 1856-7, which killed a large number of trees and caused a severe loss of valuable nursery stock, but the business was continued on a small scale until about 1865. Elisha B. DRAKE, who for many years was associated with our subject in business, died at Janesville in 1873. He left a wife and three children; the former was in her maidenhood Miss Electa M. SMITH, a native of Geneva, N.Y.
Since retiring from the nursery business, Mr. DRAKE has been engaged principally in farming, but has also filled the office of under sheriff for four years, and is now engaged in the grocery trade with Charles A SANBORN.
Mr. DRAKE has been twice married; his first wife was Miss Helen A. DICKEY, a daughter of Phineas W. DICKEY, a native of Livingston County, N.Y. In 1873 his wife died, and he was subsequently united in marriage with Miss Lydia FOLSOM, who belongs to an old Vermont family. Her family are relatives of that of the wife of ex-President Cleveland. Mr. DRAKE has two daughters by his first marriage: Nellie, wife of Charles A. SANBORN, who is associated with Mr. DRAKE in business, and Clara, a teacher in the public schools of Minneapolis, Minn.; three children died in early infancy. Mr. DRAKE is one of the well known and highly esteemed citizens of Janesville. Cordial and genial in disposition, fair and honorable in his dealing, he is numbered among the enterprising and progressive business men of this city. In politics he affiliates with the Republican party, and for the long period of thirty-five years has been a voter in the ward in which he now lives.
From The Portrait and Biographical Album of Rock County, Wis., publ, 1889 - page 418, 419
JOHN F. DRAKE, of Janesville, is one of the pioneers of Rock County, and first entered this city on the 3d day of July, 1845. He is a native of the Empire State, having been born in Genesee County, N.Y., on the 10th day of August, 1823, and his father James DRAKE, was a native of Greene County. He belonged to one of the early families of the State, and was of English ancestry. He was a soldier in the War of 1812 and took part in the battle at Black Rock during that struggle. His occupation was that of farming, which he carried on in Genesee County, N.Y., where he cleared and improved a heavily timbered farm during the early days of that county. His wife, whose maiden name was Hannah BLACKMARR, was born in Greene County, and was also a representative of one of the early New York families. Seven children grace their union, four sons and three daughters. Norman resides in Careyville, Genesee County, N.Y.; Elisha B., deceased; John F. is the next in order of birth; Frank, the youngest of the family, is living in Chicago; Lucinda, who became Mrs. YEOMAN, died in Janesville in 1858; Adeline married Chester WHITE, and resided in Michigan at the time of her death; Octavia became the wife of Origin M. COLMAN, and died at Bloomington, Ill.
The subject of this sketch was reared to farm life, and in the spring of 1845, accompanied by his brother, Elisha B. DRAKE, he came to Janesville. The following year he began the planting of an extensive nursery, the first of any importance ever planted in Wisconsin. The brothers were extensively engaged in this business, and at one time had about forty acres of nursery stock, comprising about 800,000 tress, and great body of which was apple trees, but also included about 20,000 peach trees, all varieties of cherries and other fruits. They also cultivated a large number of ornamental trees, many of which they imported from Europe, and Mr. DRAKE now has several fine Norway fir spruce trees, grown to stately dimensions, which he imported from Norway many years ago. This enterprise proved eminently successful until the sever winter of 1856-7, which killed a large number of trees and caused a severe loss of valuable nursery stock, but the business was continued on a small scale until about 1865. Elisha B. DRAKE, who for many years was associated with our subject in business, died at Janesville in 1873. He left a wife and three children; the former was in her maidenhood Miss Electa M. SMITH, a native of Geneva, N.Y.
Since retiring from the nursery business, Mr. DRAKE has been engaged principally in farming, but has also filled the office of under sheriff for four years, and is now engaged in the grocery trade with Charles A SANBORN.
Mr. DRAKE has been twice married; his first wife was Miss Helen A. DICKEY, a daughter of Phineas W. DICKEY, a native of Livingston County, N.Y. In 1873 his wife died, and he was subsequently united in marriage with Miss Lydia FOLSOM, who belongs to an old Vermont family. Her family are relatives of that of the wife of ex-President Cleveland. Mr. DRAKE has two daughters by his first marriage: Nellie, wife of Charles A. SANBORN, who is associated with Mr. DRAKE in business, and Clara, a teacher in the public schools of Minneapolis, Minn.; three children died in early infancy. Mr. DRAKE is one of the well known and highly esteemed citizens of Janesville. Cordial and genial in disposition, fair and honorable in his dealing, he is numbered among the enterprising and progressive business men of this city. In politics he affiliates with the Republican party, and for the long period of thirty-five years has been a voter in the ward in which he now lives.
JOHN F. DRAKE, of Janesville, is one of the pioneers of Rock County, and first entered this city on the 3d day of July, 1845. He is a native of the Empire State, having been born in Genesee County, N.Y., on the 10th day of August, 1823, and his father James DRAKE, was a native of Greene County. He belonged to one of the early families of the State, and was of English ancestry. He was a soldier in the War of 1812 and took part in the battle at Black Rock during that struggle. His occupation was that of farming, which he carried on in Genesee County, N.Y., where he cleared and improved a heavily timbered farm during the early days of that county. His wife, whose maiden name was Hannah BLACKMARR, was born in Greene County, and was also a representative of one of the early New York families. Seven children grace their union, four sons and three daughters. Norman resides in Careyville, Genesee County, N.Y.; Elisha B., deceased; John F. is the next in order of birth; Frank, the youngest of the family, is living in Chicago; Lucinda, who became Mrs. YEOMAN, died in Janesville in 1858; Adeline married Chester WHITE, and resided in Michigan at the time of her death; Octavia became the wife of Origin M. COLMAN, and died at Bloomington, Ill.
The subject of this sketch was reared to farm life, and in the spring of 1845, accompanied by his brother, Elisha B. DRAKE, he came to Janesville. The following year he began the planting of an extensive nursery, the first of any importance ever planted in Wisconsin. The brothers were extensively engaged in this business, and at one time had about forty acres of nursery stock, comprising about 800,000 tress, and great body of which was apple trees, but also included about 20,000 peach trees, all varieties of cherries and other fruits. They also cultivated a large number of ornamental trees, many of which they imported from Europe, and Mr. DRAKE now has several fine Norway fir spruce trees, grown to stately dimensions, which he imported from Norway many years ago. This enterprise proved eminently successful until the sever winter of 1856-7, which killed a large number of trees and caused a severe loss of valuable nursery stock, but the business was continued on a small scale until about 1865. Elisha B. DRAKE, who for many years was associated with our subject in business, died at Janesville in 1873. He left a wife and three children; the former was in her maidenhood Miss Electa M. SMITH, a native of Geneva, N.Y.
Since retiring from the nursery business, Mr. DRAKE has been engaged principally in farming, but has also filled the office of under sheriff for four years, and is now engaged in the grocery trade with Charles A SANBORN.
Mr. DRAKE has been twice married; his first wife was Miss Helen A. DICKEY, a daughter of Phineas W. DICKEY, a native of Livingston County, N.Y. In 1873 his wife died, and he was subsequently united in marriage with Miss Lydia FOLSOM, who belongs to an old Vermont family. Her family are relatives of that of the wife of ex-President Cleveland. Mr. DRAKE has two daughters by his first marriage: Nellie, wife of Charles A. SANBORN, who is associated with Mr. DRAKE in business, and Clara, a teacher in the public schools of Minneapolis, Minn.; three children died in early infancy. Mr. DRAKE is one of the well known and highly esteemed citizens of Janesville. Cordial and genial in disposition, fair and honorable in his dealing, he is numbered among the enterprising and progressive business men of this city. In politics he affiliates with the Republican party, and for the long period of thirty-five years has been a voter in the ward in which he now lives.
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