Bio: John J. Drake : Pittsfield, Merrimack County, New Hampshire

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Submitted by: Rick Giirtman rickman@worldpath.net
Date: March 12, 2001
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From the Book
'History of Pittsfield, N. H. in the Rebellion'
by H. L. Robinson, published 1893


JOHN J. DRAKE.

John J. Drake was the only drafted man that went to the war from Pittsfield.
Mr. Drake was a member of Company D, Eleventh New Hampshire volunteers. It
was not from a lack of patriotism that he did not volunteer; all who knew
him were surprised at his being accepted, owing to "his being so very deaf.
Ho could not hear the orders of his commanding officers unless he was very
near them. He therefore was detailed for duty in the hospital at the Pegram
House near Petersburg, Va. Mr. Drake was found dead in his tent on the
morning of November 10, 1864. He was buried in the Ninth corps
burying-ground, near the terminus of City Point railroad.

He was born in Pittstield, February 20, 1829, and was a son of Ebenezer T.
and Abigail (Berry) Drake. He was educated in our public schools and
academy, and always resided in town,--except for a short time when he was at
work in Dorchester, Mass., as a gardener.

His father died when he was a mere lad, and his mother, with that energy
that is characteristic of her sons, took the management of the farm, and
when John had grown to manhood he carried on the farm for his mother.

Owing to some obscure disease when a child, he lost his hearing, which was
always a great affliction to him. He was anxious to enter the army, but knew
it was useless to volunteer, as he would not be accepted. But one night he
was notified that he had been dratted. He ran across the fields and waked
his brother up, saying that now he could serve his country, and he hoped to
be accepted; and so he was, much to the surprise of his townsmen. But army
life did not agree with him. He soon contracted chronic diarrhoea, that
scourge of all armies, and died as above indicated, aged 35 years and 8
months.  He had been in the service hardly five months, as the records show
that he was mustered in June 20, 1864.