Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1880-11-17
DEATH OF COLONEL DRAKE
A SKETCH OF THE PIONEER OF THE
PENNsYLVANIA oil REGIONS.

Gel. Edwin l.. Drake, who sank tho
first oil well in this State at Titusvillc
died at his home in South Bethlehem
on Monday evening, Nov. s, aged six
ty ono years. The narration of the
discovery Of the merits Of petroleum
AS an Illuminating fluid, aud of the
measures concerted for its introduction
into thousands Of homes in both cont
nents, forms an interesting chapter in
the history of Pennsylvania, ColoneI
Drake was born in Green county, New
York, and spent his early days on biz
fathers farm, at Rutland, Vermont
AT eighteen years, single handed, he
entered upon the struggles Of the world
lIo was successively captain on the
Erie Canal, clerk on a steamer plying
between Buffalo and Detroit, superin
tendent of a Tocumseh, Michigan, oil
cloth factory, salesman in q New
Haven clothing store, drummer for q
New York mercantile house, express
messenger between Albany and Boston
and from 1919 TO 1857 he was con
ductor on the New York and New
Haven Railroad, Ill health compelled
him TO resign this latter position and
he accepted an offer from Townsend
Picrpont, Ives d Bowdtoh, of Now
Haven, who had come into possession
of tract of land at Titusville, Penn
sylvauia, TO visit the purchased site
and investigate a defect in the title tc
the property. The land owed its value
to a spring, from which was taken
with u blanket oil used in the manu-,
iacture OF liniment to which was at
tributed great curative powers. The
fluid was known as "Seneca OIL, and
had been Analysed by Professor
Silliman, who regarded it as Of small
importance. Colonel Drake saw while
at Titusville the oil in use as lubri
Gator, and after much difficulty sue
ceeded in forming stock company
composed entirely OF New Haven busi
ness men, and went back to Ttusvllt
as salaricd agent of the "Soneca Oh
Company" He was TO be responsible
for all losses and was TO share what
ever profits might arise with the capi
talists.
He determined to bore for the oil
having convinced himself Of the feast
billty of tho plan, but for a time could
hire no men to worl; for him, as be
was deemed lunatic. Finally, after
many discoWagements, he drove TO the
depth OF 69l feet, on Saturday, August
20, 1859, pipe Of soft iron II inches
thick Work was suspended for the
Sabbath, but to bis great Joy Colonel
Drake on tho following day found oil
bubbling over the top Of the pipe. A
pump was rugged and the pipe yielded
twenty-five barrels a day. Shortly
after the derrick, works and engine
were burned out and Colonel Drake
was pennies. Within thirty days the
enterprising pioneer in petroleum had
rebuilt the works. lie sank another
well and the business grow larger daily.
Spectators foclSed IN by the hundred
and mems minds wero unbalanced
through OIL The Seneca Oil Company
sold out, and Colonel Drake operated
individually until 1864, when poverty
and Ill health compelled him to retire.
The last $500 used by him in the work
on the Drake well was borrowed
money
The Stategranted him in 1873 a civil
pension Of $1,000 year, reversible to
bis widow while she remand unmar.
ried. 1t was a small recompenso for
his public labors. The twenty-five.
barrel well of August, 1853, has been
augmented by 10000 other wells, with
an annual capacity of not less than
100000 barrels. Not less than 500.
100000 worth is exported annually,
and from his humble but beautiful
home in South Bethlehem Colonel
Drake could daily see passing over tho
Lehigh Valley and Lehigh aud Sus.
quehanna Railroads long trains of oil
tanks on their way to the tide, supply.
ing the world with one of its greatest
products. ewas an earnest member of
the Protestant Episcopal Church and
leaves family Of wife and three
children, by whom ne was idoilzed