Family of Ralph Rafe DRAKE and Mary J. OSBURN

Husband:	Ralph Rafe DRAKE (1830-1913)
Wife:	Mary J. OSBURN (1842-1916)
Marriage	aft 1882	Perry, Ohio, USA

Husband: Ralph Rafe DRAKE

Name:	Ralph Rafe DRAKE
Sex:	Male
Father:	Ralph DRAKE (1797-1872)
Mother:	Catherine HUSSELTON (1796-1873)
Birth	12 Mar 1830	Pennsylvania 1,2,3
Burial	1913 (age 82-83)	Maplewood Cemetery
Occupation		Farmer
Death	24 Jun 1913 (age 83)	Monroe, Perry County, Ohio 4,5

Additional Information

Burial	New Lexington, Perry Co., Ohio
Death	Cause: Obstructive Jaundice

Wife: Mary J. OSBURN

Name:	Mary J. OSBURN
Sex:	Female
Father:	-
Mother:	-
Birth	1842
Burial	1916 (age 73-74)	Maplewood Cemetery
Death	1916 (age 73-74)	Perry County, Ohio 6

Additional Information

Burial

New Lexington, Perry Co., Ohio

Note on Husband: Ralph Rafe DRAKE - shared note

Ralph inherited a large property from Aurilla's father, Squire John McDonald. Mr. McDonald settled the homestead in 1814 and it became a part of Perry County, Ohio in 1823. The first house was demolished, and Ralph inherited the second house. Ralph, in turn passed this home on to his son, Miles Theodore Drake and subsequent heirs. The history of the original homestead chronicles a period of about 165 years in what is now known as Southern Perry County.

 

The homestead was active before the Civil War. It was pillaged by Morgan's Raiders at the close of that conflict (when the population of Perry County was a scant 20,00 people).

 

The homestead was in an opportune spot to play a part in the expansionism of the Reconstruction Period after the war, When the railroad came through a station was built on or near the property, and the name of the community surrounding the land was changed from "Snowden" to "Drakes Station", later shortened to "Drakes". Because of its proximity to coal, iron and oil deposits, the area also prospered at the advent of the industrial revolution in the late 1800's.

 

The house thrived under Ralph's son, Miles and his wife, Belle. After the "Great War" (WW1) the house and farm served as a prosperous self contained unit. The sixty adjoining acres supported livestock, a splendid orchard with its beehive center, and a lush garden.

 

By then the house was a mixture of styles: bold, white-fram, Federal windows, elegant center hall and a spacious stairwell. Its landscaping of catalpa and pine trees with a huge black walnut tree in the background provided immediate recognition. The periphery was surrounded with and iron fence and dahlias. The long L-shaped verandah was the site of many family activities.

 

The homestead was the site of many happy summer family reunions, a much celebrated 50th wedding anniversary, private fireworks for Independence Day and a host of other communal activities.

 

During the period of 1934-1944 it was also the home of the Jesse Drake family, and, later for the George Drake family--sons of Miles and Belle Drake.

 

As the years passed, it became too difficult to bring the house up to modern standards, and it was torn down a few years ago.(?in the 80's?)

 

Excerpted from an article sent to me by Vera Morgan-Knowlton. Source not given, but it appears to be from a fairly modern History of Perry County, Ohio.

Sources

1	"LDS Ancestral File".

2	"1860 and 1870 Census-Perry County, Ohio".

3	"1850 Census- Monroe, Perry, Ohio".

4	"Perry Co, Ohio-Record of Deaths 1867 to 19__ Register #36".

5	"Maplewood Cemetery List , New Lexington, Perry Co., Ohio". 145. Text From Source: Drake, Ralph 3-12-1830 d1913.

6	Ibid. 145. Text From Source: 2nd wife of Ralph Drake, Mary J. Osburn b1842 d 1916