L. Albert Drake Biography


	This biography is from "Memorial and biographical record; an illustrated
 	compendium of biography, containing a compendium of local biography,
	including biographical sketches of prominent old settlers and 
	representative citizens of South Dakota..." Published by G. A. Ogle & 
	Co., Chicago, 1899. Page 353

	Scan, OCR and editing by Maurice Krueger,mkrueger@iw.net, 1998. 

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L. ALBERT DRAKE, register of deeds of Spink county, and one of the 
pioneer settlers, is well known in his locality, as a gentleman of 
unquestionable character, and a public-spirited citizen who has aided 
in the advance of every movement for the welfare of his community Our 
subject was born in Athens county, Ohio, November 9, 1843, the son of 
Jonathan and Lydia (Morse) Drake, who were residents of New York for 
many years, but moved to Ohio, and later, when our subject was but 
three years of age, they made a home in Boone county, Illinois. 

Our subject grew to manhood in the Illinois home and on August 5, 1862, 
enlisted for his country's cause in Company A, Ninety-fifth Volunteer 
Infantry, being mustered into the United States service September 4, 
1862. He served in the siege of Vicksburg with that company, and about 
a year after entering the service he was changed and promoted to 
orderly sergeant of the Fifty-eighth United States Colored. Within a 
few months he was promoted to first lieutenant, and as such was 
mustered out April 30, 1866. He returned to his home in Boone county, 
and after one year went to Wisconsin, where he was engaged in the 
lumber trade. Following this he purchased the old home farm in Boone 
county, Illinois, from the heirs, and devoted himself to the life of an 
agriculturist. He went to Doland, Spink county, South Dakota, April 17, 
1883, and took land in Capitola township, and now has a well improved 
farm of four hundred and eighty acres, which he has placed in charge of 
his son. He had eight head of Jersey cattle when he went to Dakota, and 
he now has a fine herd of milch and breeding stock, numbering about 
thirty five head, which is acceded to be among the best dairy herds in 
the state. A bountiful supply of excellent water, from a well, and 
pumped by windmill, and a feeding attachment, facilitate the work, and 
the dairy butter is of the best, and is in itself a source of 
considerable income. 

Our subject was married in 1866 to Miss Lydia L. Haskins,. who died in 
1898, leaving one son and one daughter, named as follows: Edna A., now 
Mrs. W. R. Beach, and living on a farm adjoining our subject' and Bion 
H., who married Miss Bertha Osborn, and is also an agriculturist on 
land near his father's farm. 
Mr. Drake is a prominent member of the G. A. R. and the La Dell Lodge, 
No. 132, of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is a Republican, 
prohibitionist and equal suffragist, and is well posted on - all the 
topics of the day and ready to promote any just cause.