The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-05-26

do but little of themselves. IL is the duty of
Congress TO pass general law, and then all
VIII submit. w. A.P.
For the National Era.
DR. DANIEL D2AKE-A SKETCH OF HIS LIFE
AND CHARACTER
In the excitement of this busting age and
amid the restless pursuit of wealth, fame, and
pleasure, there is danger that the deeds of the
worthy men who led the way in the settle
mcnt OF these Western States may be for
gotten, and their achievements, especially if
they were in the peaceful pursuits Of science
education, or philanthropy, pass from the
minds OF the generation now on the stage of
action. 1t is duo to their fame that the Young
men now rising to take their part in the worlds
affairs should at least be reminded of the deeds
OF those to whom we owe so much of the civil
liberty and social privileges We enjoy The
lives OF many OF the pioneers Of the Northwest
1t ID true, present no startling or even rcmarka-
BILE incidents TO embellish the page of history
Having pursued the even tenor of their way
III the ordinary avocationi of life, they have
left to their children the inheritance of a good
example of honest and persevering industry.
and the blessings of higher civilization than
when they first entsr'd the land, the domain
OF the Indian and the wild beast
others there were, who were men Of mark
ed character--men of energetic mind and rcso
lutte will-who marked out path for them
selves, and devoted their powers perseyeringly
to the advancement of the physical or moral
interests OF society-men fitted by native tai
ent or education 10 take leading part in the
great enterprises which mould the princinles
and habits OF the age. Such were some of the
Jealous pioneers of Methodism, who in DESPITE
of every obstacle, and amid all kinds of perl
carried resolutely aud successfully the banner
of the Cross to the very outposts of civilization
Such, in another sphere, was the late Judge
Burnet--a man who needed only the opportu-
nifty, wherever his lot might have been cast, TO
develop the fine traits OF his naturally strong
intellect. Such in yet different field, to some
degree, was Daniel Drake Gifted by nature
above ordinary men, enriching his mind by
constant reading and close observation in al
most every department of science, he devoted
all his energies to the advancement of the
highest interests of society. To do good, was
the leading principle of his nature to live for
bis friends, Tor his country, and for mankind
his daily practice.
DIR. Drake was born at Plainiield, New Jer-
sey October 20, 1885. His parents removed to
the West when he was less than three wears
Old and settled in Mason county Kentucky.
His early education was made up by two or
three quarters schooling in Dilworth's Spelling
Book, and the acquisition Of a knowledge Of
Arithmetic to the Double Rule of Three"
At fifteen years of age, he left his fathers
farm near Maysvillc, and came to this city to
study medicine with Dr.. GOforth This was
in December 1900. At that time few log
cabins, protected from the incursions of the In.
dians by the garrison at Fort Washington,
(which was in tho town. marked the site of
tho present Queen City of the West There
was then but one log house between Columbia
and what is now the eastern limits of Cincin-
natl, IA distance of six miles J all the south.
eastern part of the city was then frog pond
and the valley of Deer Creek dark ravine
covered with forest trees
AS an evidence Of the high spirit which ami
mated the future professor, it may be stated that
he attended the medical lectures of the Uniyer.
sty of Pennsylvania in early manhood, reach
ing Philadelphia, nearly thousand miles dis
tant, Ia great undertaking then,) through On
| almost uninhabited wilderness, with nearly
exhausted finances. There he attended the
lectures of the celebrated DR.. Rush, and wa,
the first medical graduate from the Mississippi
valley. At the closo of the session, young
Drake asked to be examined for his degree y
The reply was, students must attend two
| courses of lectures before they can be examined
| for tho degree of M. d.; such is tho invariable
rule" He rejoined, stating the poverty of
Western pioneers, the immense distance OF his
home, and the ruggedness and uncviizcd char
scter OF the country between Cincinnati and
Philadelphia said he asked no favors; let a
rigid examination take place, and if he was
not qualified in full, he would be content to 90
back without his diploma. His spirit conquer
cd and he gained his degree with high honors.
Naturally'of an active, energetic and san
guine temperament he early became imbued
with the ambition of becoming public bene
factor in the walks Of science, literature, and
bcncvolence. While young man, he became
one Of the active founders OF several societies,
whose objects were the cultivation of science
and the public good. Before these he often
delivered essays or lectures on topics in Natur-
al History, Medicine, or Social Action One
Of these was publishedin the form of " Sketches
Of Cincinnati" in 1910. This soon after became
the foundation of more eloquent work, en-.
titled Picture of Cincinnati, including a Ma
tural and Statistical View of the Miami Coun.
try" published in 1915 This made him known
both in Europe and America and was one of
the first things which drew the attention of the
public to this town and section Of country. SO
accurate and full of research was this View
Of the Miami Country and of the localities of
Cincinnati that nothing substantial ha, been
added to the account since. IL was copied by
many writers both at home and abroad, and
has been the standard authority in reference
TO the natural features of this section of the
West ever since.
Dr. Drake was eminent as @ writer. and al
ways OF works of "A practical character, looking
to the improvement Of the city, and the devel-
opment OF the great natural resources and Ca
liabilities of the West. The subjects which
employed his pen-Bo.any, Geology, Mineral
ogy, Medicine, Education, Temperance Slave
~, and Religion. For a number Of years lie
was editor and proprietor of the "Western
Journal of the Medical and Physical Sciences,
magazine for which he himself furnished
large amount of original matter. But his
greatest work, and one which employed much
OF his time for six or eight years before his
death, was treatise on the Diseases and China
to!ogy of the mississippi Valley. One volume
OF this, occupying nearly a thousand pages,
has been published, and it is not too much to
say that it stands no far the greatest work on
American science; it is 30 appreciated abroad,
and will be at home II was the only remain.
ing ambition Of his life to finish this work; and
in tho attempt involving an immense amount
OF bodily and mental labor he died The work |
is left unfinished, but will remain proud and |
enduring monument of the auther's compre- |
h6nsive mind, his philanthropy, his ardaous
labors, his energy, and untring perseverance,
The Medical College of Ohio is another
monument to his labors. He was one of its
most active originators and founders, and it
was on his Own personal application that the
charter of that institution was passed by the
Legislature, in January, 1919. For many years
he was one Of its Professors, and,
though separated from it several times, held
the chair Of Theory and Practice In its Faculty