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NINETY-TWO YEARS OF AGEOfh a va; reI Uni11ESIDEXT OF COUXXV EIGHTY-r (lowEIGHT VKAKS.I theruniledManning Drake's Keiutives, Neigh hors and Friends Celebrateee r rIMvtlicitiy Ann iversavy.1by t and formenLast Saturday was the 9 2nd anni-versarv of the birt.li of Manninga vuhave’Drake, of Fairbanks township, andhis children, gran d ch 11 d ren, great*grandchildren and other relatives,MiteUnitD.formfriends and neighbors to the numberof SO persons gathered at the home ofwerethehis son, James Drake, one mile southof Fairbanks, with whom the venerable gentleman resides, and celebrated the event in a manner most pleasing to him and appropriate to thew h i carraitheoccasion.lecte at H momThe guests came with their baskets packed to the limit with good things to eat and after the old gentleman kad received the congratulations of his numerous visitors an hour or twro was spent in talking about the pioneer history of the country and other interesting topics, Mr. Drake being wonderfully well posted upon the events of the early days as well as lt;upon those of more modern times, and it was an easy matter for him to entertain his guests.Two long tables were set and the tempting viands spread upon them, after which two men picked up the large, easy chair in which Mr. Drakewas seated and carried him to the* - • * *festal board, where he was given the seat of honor. The dinner was thoroughly enjoyed by all and the feasting and merry-making lasted for an hour or more, and after all their appetites had been satisfied there w^^plenty of food left to have served another company fully as large.Manning Drake was born in Butler county, O., June 17, 1813, and when he was but 4 years of age his parents moved to Fairbanks township, Sullivan county, and settled within a mile of where he now lives. Here he grew to manhood and in 1833, when 20 years of age, he was married to Hannah Dix, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Seth Dix. Three daughters were the result of this marriage, and in 1839 Mrs. Drake died.Wlt;UntilHahandChariborho been Viola who rthree that 1temph kept twhened off.Las the ha til 5house,up hisDavis anybo(his sle to the into thwherebusv.*He 1 told hi ble up said In arrang for hincountvfind at the cie: license came iirun bv*men’s ’ to be aIn 1844 Mr. Drake was united in marriage to Margaret Armstrong and to this marriage eight children, five sons and three daughters, were born, six of whom are still living. They are: Mrs. Malinda Gaskins, JamesJ., Ira, Manning E., William Drake, and Mrs. Margaret Ellen Scott. Benjamin and Sarah are the names of the deceased children. Mr. Drake’s second wife died October 22, I860.In 1870 Mr. Drake married his third wife, his bride being Mary Wallace.Notwithstanding Mr. Drake’s 92 years of life, he is enjoying fairly good health. He is rather feeble, it isnrue, but considering his age he is in as good health as could be expected and his hosts of friends are hoping that he may celebrate many other Jbirthday anniversaries before the Grim Reaper calls him to his reward.It does not fall to the lot of many individuals to live for 88 years in one county and township, but that is the record held by Mr. Drake, as lie is now past 9 2 years of age and was but 4 years of age when his parents settled in Fairbanks township. He is a man with a remarkable memory and can relate events with absoluteaccuracy of detail that occurred SOyears or more ago.Mr. Drake was one of the most successful farmers Sullivan county ever produced, and at one time owned 1200 acres of land in Fairbanks, and Curry townships. While he was prosperous from the very beginning of his married life, if was not uni’7 the breaking out of the rebellion that he began to accumulate pronovtw Then every opportunity that presented itself was grasped with a firm Sr.uifi and, being a good financier, he made every dollar count and in a tew years was one of the largest land owners of the county.Several years ago he grew weary of the care of his farms and other property and divided up the greater portion of his landed estate among his children, keeping enough, however, to insure himself against want during the remainder of his life. The property he now owns would be sufficient to make the average citizen! severely feel like a. rich man, but it is a small hostess, portion of what he formerly posessed. ^He has been and is a good citizen and j cancel hit deserves the success he has achieved, j Was vvillijone.Thestart ais one iprosperdailv w %as Suit Call.issa stude Bloomi] vacatioi J. M. taken £Beuttnejust ret. where 1 past [In The S to Carli;a gamewhich rvisiting Dora in town his faiui here.Don i born. 12; Russell.by his pari o’clock..Weil la i liavt'led* * Xthe hiCourt st.deep andwater 1mSeA poet haiiinsr fsince in a a small i Paris. T en years board or
Newspaper Details
Sullivan Democrat
Sullivan, Indiana, US
Thu, Jun 22, 1905
Page 7
Full Page
Clipped by
Suzi C.
NA, 02 Nov 2021
Other Publications Near Sullivan, Indiana
Sullivan Times
Sullivan Evening Times
Sullivan Democrat
Sullivan Daily Times
Sullivan County Union
