BIOGRAPHY: Elijah Stephen Drake, Jordan, Cayuga co., New York transcribed and submitted by: Ann Anderson (ann.g.anderson at gmail.com) ========================================================= Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ny/nyfiles.htm ========================================================= BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW THIS VOLUME CONTAINS BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF THE LEADING CITIZENS OF CAYUGA COUNTY NEW YORK BOSTON BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW PUBLISHING COMPANY 1894 ELIJAH STEPHEN DRAKE, late of Jordan, N.Y., was for upward of half a century closely identified with the farming interests of Cayuga County, his pleasant homestead being situated in the town of Brutus. He was widely known and honored throughout this section of the county; and in his death on July 24, 1892, Brutus, whose interests he had so much advanced by his enterprise, has lost a valuable citizen. His life record was a most praiseworthy one; and his memory will long be cherished by the many who had the pleasure of his friendship for his integrity, sturdy worth, and countless acts of benevolence and charity. Mr. Drake was of New England antecedents; but New York was the State of his nativity, he having been born in Lafayette, Onondaga County, June 13, 1814. His parents, Asa and Experience (Esty) Drake, were both of Massachusetts birth and of English origin, Asa's father being enabled to trace his ancestry back to that distinguished naval hero, Sir Francis Drake, who first rounded Cape Horn and visited points on the Pacific coast in 1579. Asa Drake, who was of the fourth generation from Benjamin, an emigrant of 1680, was among the earliest of the settlers of Onondaga County, emigrating there before the days of railways or even of public highways of any description, following a path marked by blazed trees. He was born near Boston, Mass., December 13, 1765, and made his first trip to this part of New York in 1785. A few paragraphs from the graphic sketch of this pioneer penned by a grand-daughter, Mrs. Martha Sherwood Edwards, will not be out of place in this memoir of his son: "At ten o'clock on the morning of the second day from Utica the young explorer reached the top of the hill which overlooks the Jamesville ravine, then a wild, rocky, densely wooded gorge, dark and dreary; and, deeming it to be impassable for his horse, he tethered him there, and proceeded on foot the remaining four miles to the promised land. His perseverance was well rewarded; for he was highly pleased with the location, timber, and soil. Returning to his Eastern home, he engaged in business there, which he pursued for seven years, acquiring and husbanding the means to establish an early settlement in his future home. Early in 1792 he made his final preparations to occupy his land. He purchased in Boston an ox team, a wagon, farm implements, some mechanical tools, nails, hinges, and other like necessary articles for building, seed for planting, not only of grains but of vegetables and fruits, and a suitable outfit of personal requirements. For several days prior to his leave-taking, the family observed fasting and prayer. . . . "So soon as he had reached his claim, he selected a few acres of pleasant upland, not very heavily wooded, for the location of his buildings. There he camped for several days: and, by keeping a large bonfire constantly ablaze, he and his cattle were rendered measurably safe from the nightly prowlings of wild beasts. A log cabin for himself was soon put together and a log stable for his oxen. The years 1793 and 1794 brought many another settler into his neighborhood, to each of whom he rendered all possible assistance, sometimes lending seed, to be returned at the next harvest. ... His crops were bountiful, especially of wheat; and he made rapid progress in building up a home, so that in a few years he had a roomy log house, a good barn, and suitable enclosures for sheep, cattle, and swine, which were to be corralled every day before sunset. He also planted orchards of apple and cherry trees, with other small fruit, and a large peach orchard. ... In 1806 Mr. Drake built a large framed barn; and in 1811 he erected a commodious brick house (the brick having been burned on his own land), which remains in good repair. There he dispensed his generous hospitality in entertaining friends, relatives, ministers of the gospel, and new settlers, for weeks at a time. His hand was always quick in kind deeds for others, for his heart was true and fraternal. Keenly alive to every interest of Church and State, he assisted largely in building churches and school-houses in his neighborhood. . . . Before leaving his Eastern home, he presented his father a colt which he had 'broken' for riding. In 1806 his father, Nathan Drake, arranged to visit or to 'look up,' as he termed it, Asa in the Far West. The trip of three hundred and fifty miles was made on that colt. When the old gentleman reached Lafayette, he was overcome with wonder and joy in finding his son so prosperous. Broad, beautiful fields-of grain, good buildings, growing stock, abundant and varied fruit, an interesting wife and four thriving children, plenty, peace, and happiness, instead of want and misery, were presented to his view, and banished forever all parental apprehension. This visit was prolonged for six weeks; and, on the morning when he took his leave to return to his own home, and had bidden good-bye to the family, turning to the son he said: 'My son, I am happily disappointed. I expected to find you needy and poor. I brought along three hundred dollars to help you with, but you are so vastly better off than the boys at home I think I must take the money back for them.' The son replied, 'That is right, father; do so by all means.' The money was taken back to the boys at home." Asa Drake and his worthy wife, to whom he was married February 11, 1799, spent their last years in ease and plenty, he dying at the age of about eighty-four, and she when seventy-eight years old. They were people of strict moral and religious principles, and faithful members of the Presbyterian church. Their household circle included eight children, six daughters and two sons. The boyhood and youth of Elijah, the subject of this brief sketch, were spent in his native county; and the rudiments of his substantial education were laid in the schools of Pompey Hill. He afterward attended the old academy at Auburn, and completed his studies at Andover, Mass. He remained a member of the parental homestead until the time of his marriage, which was solemnized June 15, 1837, Mary Wells Badger becoming his bride. Mrs. Drake was born in Jamesville, Onondaga County, February 15, 1816, being a daughter of Luther and Eunice (Wells) Badger, the latter of whom was a native of Hartford, Conn. Luther Badger was a native of the old Bay State, born in Partridgefield, Berkshire County, April 16, 1785. While he was yet a boy, his parents emigrated to Broome County, New York, settling in the valley of the Susquehanna, where he obtained his elementary education. He continued his studies in the Hamilton Academy; and, being a brilliant student, with an inclination for a professional career, he began the study of law in 1807 under the tuition of William Eager, of Manlius, Onondaga County, and five years later he was admitted to the bar, being at that time in the office of Randall & Wattles in New Hartford, Oneida County. Mr. Badger opened his first office in the town of Manlius, where he attended so strictly to the duties of his profession for a number of years that his health became impaired, and he was obliged to retire from active practice. He was an influential citizen of his town, taking a prominent part in local and national affairs. During the War of 1812 he served with distinction, having at first been attached to the staff of Colonel Thaddeus M. Woods, as Sergeant-major, and was afterwards promoted, holding the office of Judge Advocate for the Twenty-seventh Brigade of State Infantry, an office which he filled satisfactorily for eight years, when he retired from military service. In 1824 he was elected to the Nineteenth Congress by the old Republican party, and served his constituents with fidelity. A man of his calibre and standing, with such eminent qualifications for public life, is not often allowed much leisure from official duties; and he filled many government positions, such as Proctor, Solicitor, Counsellor, and Advocate of the United States courts, besides serving as District Attorney of Broome County in 1846. His union with Eunice Wells, a daughter of John Wells, took place in 1811. She died in 1845, leaving one child, Mrs. Drake. He subsequently married Mrs. Betsey (Dimmick) Avery, daughter of the Hon. Davis Dimmick, of Montrose, Pa. Mr. Badger was in sympathy with the religious views of the Presbyterian church; but, his last wife being a devoted member of the Baptist church, he also joined that church. He spent his last days at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Drake, dying in 1869, at the venerable age of eighty-four years. After his marriage Mr. Elijah S. Drake and his wife settled on the farm where she now lives, coming here in October, 1837. The original purchase consisted of forty-one acres of land, on which the improvements were of little value. By steady perseverance, good management, and judicious investments, he improved the major part of the homestead, erecting the buildings, clearing and fencing the land, and buying adjacent property until he had sixty-three acres of highly improved and productive land, his estate comparing favorably with any in the vicinity. For a period of two years Mr. Drake was engaged in mercantile business; but, preferring agriculture, he spent the larger part of his time as a tiller of the soil, an occupation in which he was particularly successful. For some years he filled the office of Superintendent of Section 7, Erie Canal. He was a man of fine personal character, with exemplary habits, and well deserved the confidence and respect accorded him by all with whom he came in contact. In politics he was a loyal Democrat. In religious matters he was a believer in the doc-trines of the Presbyterian church. Of the six children born to Mr. and Mrs. Drake, the oldest, John B., an influential citizen and the leading druggist of Weeds-port, sacrificed his business and personal interests to his country's needs. He helped to organize Company F, One Hundred and Eleventh New York Volunteer Infantry, and was killed at the battle of Gettysburg July 3, 1863, aged twenty six years.