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own Celebrates 102nd Year20(Drakesville Home Of Two GovernorsAsBLOOMFIELD. — Few Iowa towns can boast of having been the home of two Iowa governors. Drakesville, in the northwest part of Davis countv, has that distinc* tion, for the early years of Gov Francis M Drake, who held Iowa'shighest office in 1896, were spentin that community, and George W. Clarke, governor for two terms beginning in 1912, came there as a small boy and grew to manhood on a farm a mile east of town, taking an active place in the town's activities.Davis county also points with pride to a third son who was governor of the state for two terms, B. F. Carroll, born in Salt Creek township and a contemporary of Governor Clarke.Drakesville (originally spelled Drakeville), one of the county’s earliest towns, is celebrating its 102 year, and is the scene today and Saturday of the Old Settlers' reunion, an annual event which brings together the county’s oldest residents.Prior to May 1, 1813, whitesettlers were not permitted westof Van Burer county because of stipulations in the treaty made with the Sac and Fox Indians, in the year 1846. John Adams Drake, father of Governor Drake, broughthis family to Davis county and founded the town of Drakesville, Drake, whose ancestors were traced to Sir Franois Drake and members of the New England Adams family, established a general store, later a packing ar.dmilling business, represented Davis county as a VVhig in th*' ‘date legislature of 1852. and became the first banker in the county.Built Brick II ome.As he prospered, Mr Drake built a two-story brick house a block east of the square, standinguntilt bein*only a few years ago, arid iif;e lot a small frame build-for his private bank* Hitir km* methods were unique, r the uBe of checkin* accountsvet been invented, so forI ■ fee, farmers and merchants deposited theiri noismallh rn hismd withdrew their own billsAmnr?- *iFruneeaelt;i Draktthegenera■HMlHurlt;a fidev w5 ST..I Mar!son, ran his fathers•tore until the gold rushrma “ nat 18*attractedlira, a I. hetAorganisedad-inoxramso crossplains Hot hhe returned bv water, and€ ftO'Mythe last1 death 1the Palt;war * a m evo va irehennarrowlya n t *(t-1aaHe 1 ffou#rtbrigadierf $►* t*\ „Me \Appa »*Clunty,er inCaAThe brick home luiilt at Drakesville by 11s founder. John Adam Drake, father of the Iowa governor, fell into disrepair before it was torn down a few years ago.enterprises, building the M I Ac r N R.Ft through Iowa and the Belt Line around Chicago. He made substantial donations of land and money to a college in Des Moines which now bears his name. Drake university. In 1895 he was electedrepublican governor of Iowa.lt; ivll War Da vs.local youth, reinforced by several friends and a justice of the peace.kidnaped a Mormon girl from the ’rain to keep her, willingly, for his wife.Stave coaches, drawn by fourhorserried passengers fromDuri* *theCivil war, Drakesville not only sent many soldier to fight for the I’nion but was also part of the underground movement. Horatio. A Wonn. who came from Ohio in 1853, was an agent of the John Brown under-Bloomfield to Ottumwa, for the earh stave route was bv wav ofggjPrv..' v- *» •Drakesville and Ormanville. Along this road in th*' fall of the year hogs were driven, either to marketon the Mississippi or to the pork-piant established byDrake and Lockrnan on the squareof Drakesville In theirxplarBitrground railway, and his fram house of native timber was a station on that mysterious road. Ne-groes escaping north to freedom w e r e sheltered and protectedtwomeattheandthere and assisted on their wav tothe next placeflsafety, despitenon cured the later hauled the meat and lard to the river towns for market. Farmers also used the road to haul their wheat to the mills atBentonsport on the Desriver.Different I s* Of K**ad.Moinethei piesattemptof severalSBt . ’ ft * %thern1Hto find the Drakesville stall mThe earlv highway runningThe n4Hi for farm wagonto Bloomfield#satt Vs4wasH a family went■fl€* i Ithrough Drakesville waspa tonthei ii v.wesof■Pof thUwild turkeysand pheaaar*of covered wagons cumbersome oxdramatic pioneer hisfather and mother at the front of the box either a board across the top of it,bark-bt t tomedIs.ife community. Flo-0prairie chickens,scattered as trains MAti drawnonor on old hiekors•rjjirgchair-* Hav or straw wasin thbvtea itisthrownBbaek part and the childrentossed in on top of that. This week, when families come from all the countv to the reunion.i overwestward, part of the great floodofUk'ward tpi nceairatWJ■eased forthis tanj h 1. frM)Sr Sstandnqunrrwav, a *reafrForty-ithe establishmentjMfl—Stragglers iert came;r Imsiartnsounde road will r insteadfromoxen.theover theJfc urromthe tide sweat mltheoftcat*it*•*erentwild game bushes atDf dust *ie from thlt;i * q XT fl a HP I ^ ik v* *n itiitmotorIsanidBI Muti| portj 200 ti of c i cable' were Thice o of th mg i the i andI dent!pngtheDaLalt;Co iI BI j ingsI geltiiMethwe 12. partkDrea-theithe*cour.Qfid I *Ehart i ipiHa rdQstluWheaprat% /a ithesiciarhour'japBw,' WW'nAf trarandcanI 1spen* ? iLvcmimhmeiTilpmMltou:r#T 0 1C Ais sptumwceivinder.AA ILm
Newspaper Details
Ottumwa Daily Courier
Ottumwa, Iowa, US
Fri, Sep 03, 1948
Page 3
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
USA 08 Mar 2021
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