Polk County, Missouri Biographies - William G. DRAKE
History Of Hickory, Polk, Cedar, Dade And Barton Counties, 
Missouri  1889, published by Goodspeed, Pgs. 638, 639
Polk County Biographies Section

    William G. Drake, M. D., was born in Greene County, Tenn.,
March 5, 1845, his parents being Joseph and Blanche (McPherson)
Drake, both natives of Tennessee, the former of English, and 
the latter of Irish descent.  In 1845 the family started for 
Texas, and in passing down the Chuffey River the boat struck a 
bridge, which fell, killing the father; the mother turned back, 
and still lives in Tennessee, at an advanced age.  Both were 
members of the Presbyterian Church.  He was a farmer, and in 
politics a Whig.  The family consisted of three children, two 
sons and one daughter. One son died from wounds received in 
battle while in the Federal army.  The subject of this sketch 
was raised on the farm, but was attending Greenville College 
when the war broke out, and, though but seventeen years of age, 
he enlisted in Company I, First East Tennessee Cavalry, U.S.A.,
in July, 1862, and served till the close of the war.  Starting 
out as a private, he arose, step by step, till he held the office
of second lieutenant, being the youngest officer of his regiment.  
He was in the battles of Chickamauga, Nashville, Franklin, and 
the Atlanta campaign.  Having been taken prisoner at Atlanta, 
and while being marched to prison, he stepped behind a tree, 
allowing the others to pass, and thus escaped.  After returning 
home he attended Tusculum College for two years, and in 1867 
married Virginia Robinson, a native of Tennessee, who died in 
1870. In 1869 Mr. Drake moved to this county, and, having studied
medicine, he took a course of lectures in the medical department 
of the University of Louisville, Ky., then practiced till 1875, 
when he again took a course of lectures at the St. Louis Medical 
College, graduation in 1876.  In 1882 he removed to Bolivar from 
his former location at Fair Play, and has since enjoyed a 
lucrative practice.  In 1875 he married Amanda L. Hendricks, by 
whom he has had five children: William T., Mamie R., Joseph A., 
Carl J. and Charles E.  He has a farm of 780 acres.  He is a 
Republican, a member of the G.A.R. and of the A.O.U.W.  Both he
and his wife are Presbyterians.
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