BIO: John N. DRASS, Blair County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Denise Phillips 
 
Copyright 2006.  All rights reserved.
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Donehoo, George P., Editor-in-Chief.  Pennsylvania, A History, 
Vol. 3, Biography.  New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Co., Inc., 
1926, pages 162-163. 
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  JOHN N. DRASS - Starting out in life with a high purpose to succeed, 
putting into all his endeavors an intense earnestness, and a willingness to 
work, these have been the qualities that have opened the way for Mr. Drass 
to reach his present goal, at the head of his own successful business of 
real estate and insurance.  Early in life he learned to cultivate his 
natural abilities, his initiative, his courage, his self-reliance, and his 
judgment, for without these a man remains always the subordinate, whereas 
with them he can carve his way to the highest possible pinnacle of success.  
It is a long road for a man to work his way up from the position of employee 
to that of owner of a concern, and the one who succeeds has without a doubt 
given to his employers far more than was ever asked of him.  His ultimate 
success has been built up upon service given; upon his having learned to 
make decisions, perhaps upon meeting emergencies, all of which gave him 
confidence to make the great step of standing alone, of daring to venture, 
when the opportunity presented itself.  For more than a decade, Mr. Drass 
worked for others, first in the United States Postal Service, then with the 
Pennsylvania Railroad, then at a trade.  Not until 1910 did he dare the 
great adventure, and the crucial step once taken, he daily met his problems 
with courage, until he firmly established his present business, which he has 
carried forward to a splendid and substantial success.  From a small 
beginning he has enlarged his activities until he represents a dozen or more 
of the most important insurance companies of the country; while at the same 
time his activities in the real estate field have grown to fine proportions.  
He writes every kind of insurance that is written, and his agency is one of 
the oldest in the county today.  He is considered an authority on insurance 
and its coverages; on several occasions when the insurance companies were 
experimenting in new lines his agency was picked among the few over the 
country to write such lines which shows the confidence of the insurance 
companies Mr. Drass as an insurance advisor.  Mr. Drass has likewise been 
tremendously interested in many lines of progress, working actively in the 
organizations that stand for advancement in his field, and also in civic, 
political and fraternal affairs.  During the great World War he was active 
in all the organized efforts of the local drives, and did fine service in 
the allied work for the Liberty loans, the Red Cross and Home Service 
Relief, the Home Defense Police and Secret Service, U.S. Public Service and 
Blair County Public Safety Committee.  He has served his town in official 
capacity, and is an all around able and helpful citizen, to county, State 
and Nation.  He has well won his place in the affection and esteem of his 
fellow-townsmen, and he is today one of the prominent citizens of his native 
town and county.
  John N. Drass was born May 25, 1879, in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania, son 
of John B. and Elizabeth (Gill) Drass.  His mother was born in Cambria 
County, Pennsylvania, his father was a native of Hollidaysburg, and was 
engaged as a general contractor.  The son received his education in the 
parochial and public high schools of his native town, and on completing his 
studies obtained a position in the post office, where he remained for two 
years.  He gave efficient service, but his ambition led him to find work 
with the Pennsylvania Railroad System, where he remained for four years.  
Desiring to still further better his condition, and with a view of his 
future in mind, he worked at the carpentry trade for six years, learning 
thoroughly the foundations of the trade that is so closely allied to kindred 
industries.  In 1910 he started in the real estate and insurance lines for 
himself, in Hollidaysburg, and his persistence, combined with his other 
qualities, have carried him to success.  He is established today in offices 
at No. 410 Allegheny Street, near the Court House, where he does a thriving 
business, handling all kinds of insurance, in connection with the dozen or 
more of the best companies in the country, and having today (1925) one of 
the oldest agencies in the county.
  In the real estate field Mr. Drass is looked upon as an expert in judging 
values and is very often engaged as such to give testimony before the courts 
in matters of real estate values.  He holds an enviable position and 
reputation in this field as is self-evident from the many times his services 
are sought by large corporations coming into the community in having him 
purchase sites and homes for them.  While Mr. Drass is not an attorney-at-
law, his knowledge of real estate law is the equal of any one in the land 
and his advice is daily sought by many friendly attorneys who appreciate Mr. 
Drass' deep knowledge of the subject and know that he keeps informed on 
every new act pertaining to real estate titles and can give the desired 
advice correctly and instantly.
  Starting in 1910 with a single desk and chair in a rented room with bare 
floors, at No. 412 Allegheny Street, in the same building he now occupies, 
by honest efforts and square dealing his business mounted by leaps and 
bounds.  He became owner of the site, fitting up his present suite of 
offices at No. 410, renting No. 412, and occupying the balance of the 
building for a home for his family.  He is also owner of the business corner 
diagonally opposite the post office as well as several other valuable 
properties, and just recently acquired the thirty acres immediately 
adjoining Hollidaysburg to the north which he will shortly develop into one 
of the finest high class residence sections.  This section will join the 
fine residential section near Garber and Penn streets which Mr. Drass also 
developed.  Besides his real estate business, he finds time for many civic 
activities.  He is a member of and secretary of the Hollidaysburg Chamber of 
Commerce; charter member of the Blairmont Country Club; the Pennsylvania 
State Federation of Insurance Agents, of which he is a member of the 
Advisory Board; Blair County Federation of Fire and Casualty Agents, of 
which he is a director; the National Federation of Insurance Agents; the 
Hollidaysburg Business Men's Association; the Hollidaysburg Kiwanis Club, of 
which he is a director and chairman of Public Affairs.  Fraternally he is a 
member of the Knights of Columbus, is one of and secretary of the five 
directors that are at present erecting the handsome $150,000 home in 
Altoona, a neighboring city; the Knights of the Maccabees; the Knights of 
St. George, and the Artisans' Order of Mutual Protection.  In his politics, 
he is a Republican, and he has served his town for one term as collector of 
taxes, and has been prominently mentioned and urged to be a candidate for 
various other offices, particularly for prothonotary of Blair County and for 
United States Congress, to all of which Mr. Drass refused to lend an ear, to 
the great disappointment of his many friends.
  During the great World War Mr. Drass gave freely of his time.  He served 
as chairman of the Knights of Columbus Drive for welfare funds; assisted the 
Young Men's Christian Association; the Young Women's Christian Association; 
the Salvation Army and the Liberty Loan drives.  He was the general chairman 
for the United War Work Campaign; and county chairman for Home Service 
Relief for the American Red Cross, through which the thousands of boys at 
the front were advised concerning their loved ones at home when they could 
not get word from them, and informed the ones at home of the whereabouts of 
their boys when they could not hear from the boys, and gave out much 
financial relief to the needy families at home.  In his church connection 
Mr. Drass is a member of the St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church.
  John N. Drass married, in 1903, Clara T. Leap, born in Hollidaysburg, 
Pennsylvania, daughter of Anthony and Agnes (Fox) Leap.  Mr. and Mrs. Drass 
are the parents of eight children: 1. John J., Jr., 2. James L. 3. Robert F. 
4. Clara G. 5. Francis B. 6. Richard A. 7. Albert A. 8. Patricia L.  Mr. and 
Mrs. Drass do not believe in Evolution, neither do they believe in Birth 
Control and the limiting of the family.  Mr. Drass' grandparents on both 
sides of his house came to America from France, being able to trace their 
relationship on his paternal side back to General Lafayette.