Frederick P. Drayer Biography


	This biography appears on pages 731-732 in "History of Dakota Territory" 
	by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. IV (1915) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				FREDERICK P. DRAYER. 

	Frederick P. Drayer, proprietor of a general mercantile store at 
Frankfort, is actuated in his business dealings by a spirit of strong 
determination, indefatigable industry and unfaltering enterprise. He 
has conducted the business since 1894. Six years prior to that time he 
arrived in South Dakota, having come from Manteno, Illinois, where he 
was born May 27, 1869, his parents being Peter and Mary (Zepp) Drayer. 
The family is of German descent. The father was a farmer of Manteno and 
in the year 1888 brought his family to South Dakota, settling near 
Doland, where he engaged in farming until his death, which occurred in 
1907, when he was sixty-eight years of age. His wife survived him until 
1909, and was then laid by his side in the cemetery in their old home 
town, Manteno, Illinois. 

	It was in the schools of that place that Frederick P. Drayer 
acquired the greater part of his education, although he attended school 
to a limited extent after removing to Spink county, this state. Through 
vacation periods he assisted his father in the farm work, and in his 
later teens he secured employment in a store, where he acquainted 
himself with commercial methods. When twenty-one years of age he 
attended the Metropolitan Business College at Chicago, spending a year 
as a student in mastering branches of learning which would qualify him 
for life's practical and responsible duties in the business world. He 
then went to Doland, where he was employed as a clerk, and later he 
established a store at Turton, South Dakota, where he carried on 
business for nine months. He then removed his stock to Frankfort and 
has since been actively identified with the commercial interests of 
that place. He remained alone in business until 1911, when he admitted 
John D. Craig to a partnership. The stock of goods is a large one for a 
town the size of Frankfort, and is well selected. The business methods 
employed are those which commend the house to a liberal patronage, for 
Mr. Drayer is ever fair and honorable in his dealings. 

	In November, 1894, at Doland, South Dakota, Mr. Drayer was united 
in marriage to Miss Mamie Woodring, her parents being John and Marie 
(Runkle) Woodring, both of whom survive. The father was a pioneer 
agriculturist of this state. Mr. and Mrs. Drayer have two children, 
namely: Raymond, who is attending college at Brookings, South Dakota; 
and Phyllis, a high-school student. 

	In his political Views Mr. Drayer is a republican, but without 
desire for office. He has taken the degrees of Masonry in the blue 
lodge and in the chapter and is loyal to the teachings of the craft. In 
Frankfort he has erected his store and residence and has thus 
contributed to the material improvement of the town. His life has ever 
been a busy one and his success is the direct reward of his labor. He 
ranks today among the representative merchants of Spink county.