Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1903-11-21
THE FOURTEENTH GOVERNOR OF
IOWA DIED TO-DAY AT CEN.
TERWLLE.

SIX CHlLDR EN SURVIVE
Four ofSthe Family Were At the Bed
side When the End came-cIose OF
Grand caree1-FuneraI Arrange.
ments Not Yet Completed.
Centerville, Ns,v. -(Special.) y
Beloved by all who knew him and
blessed by thouEiands who, though
they had never seen his face, had
been blessed by his benevolence, Cen
eral Francis Marion Drake, the four
teenth governor of Iowa, passed away
this morning. His death, calm and
peaceful, writinst finis to a career
which for nobility and beauty of pur
pose will ever stand as mark at
which even the most ambitious may
aim, occurred ait IL O'Clock at the
home of his daughter, Mrs. Henry
Goss, in this city. At. the bedside
were four of his six children, those
absent being IDhn Adams Drake of
Chicago, who was in New York on
business, and Mrs. John l.. Sawyers
of Baltimore. Both were notified by
telegraph of ttye death of their father
and are hurryi ng westward in answer
to the summons Mrs T. P. Shonts,
a daughter, ARRIVED in Centerville
from her home in Chicago last night,
Funeral 10 Be Held Monday.
The funeraIl of Ex-Governor F. NJ.
Drake will be held at the Central
Church of Ch rist in this city Monday
afternoon at :2:30 o'clock The inter-
ment will be made in the city ceme-
terry. From 81. 80 o'clock Monday morn
ing until moo the body of the deceas-
ed will lie in state in the church. Gen
Drake was especially interested in
the Central church ard assisted large.
~ in erecting it. 1t is a new struc-
ture costing $4,000 and was dedicat
ed last April.
All c entervilIe Mourns.
The death of General Drake is a Sc
we're shock Ito Centerville and the
whole state. 1t was in Centerville
however, where Mr.. Drake was best
known and where his loss will be most
felt He hild been in poor health fol
some mont IS, suffering from diabetes
but even lis relatives did not realize
that the cid was so near and all are
shocked at what seems his sudden
death.
Was Born in 1880.
Francis Marion Drake was born il
Schuyler county, Illinois December 81
1880 He was the son of John Adams
Drake, nibneer lawyer and jurist. Ii
1887 the. Drake family removed tc
Fort Madison. then in the territory o.
Wisconsin,. The elder Mr.. Drake
held the office of justice of the peace
for several years and was later made
probate fudge in that county, Where
he resided for nine years. He thei
removed to Davis county where ht
establisb ed the town of Drakeville anC
engaged in business The son re
ceived til e ordinary education afforded
in that daly by the schools of Fort Mad
ison and Davis county.
Fought With Indians.
After the discovery of gold iii Cali
fornia l'oung Drake, catching the ma
MIA OF 1.-THE day, organized a train Il
cross tl,e plains to the distant Eidol
ado. The party with Drake at its hea,
crossed the Missouri river at Council
. Bluffs, May 1, 1852 They fought witt
Indians near the Platte river Arriv
ing in California after a series of ad
ventuI 'es Drake engaged in the stocl
businf ISIS after an unsuccessful searcl
for geld in the Yuba diggings.
Until 1854 the young man spen
much of his time in the west with vary
ing success and returned TO Iowa il
1854. He and his brother, john to
gethsr with their father. engaged il
the mercantile business at Drakeville
4 cont nuing the partnership until 1855
whell Francis withdrew to conduct
saw mill. In 1859 he removed to Ur
iony lille. Appanoose county, and agai
ente red into the mercantile and liY
stoc k business. He also became por
pacl ler.
Enlisted in Army.
At the outbreak of the civil war i
1861 Mr.. Drake enlisted in a compan
at QJnlonville as a private and was SOC
aft er chosen by the members an
cor lmissioned by Governor Kirkwoo
to be captain of the organization. H
ser we'd during the critical periods
Mil ;souri and became major in "Colone
Ed wards Independent Iowa regiment
b as it was called. All Of this time b
wa s in the service OF the state of low
without having been mustered into til
government service.
lat the organization of the Thirt.
sixth Iowa Mr.. Drake was made lier
tie, liant colonel and he served with thi
Il. regiment until his gallant defense {
El kins' Ford, in April, 1864, won hil
a promotion and he was then placed !
cdtnmand of his whole brigade.
Receives Serious Wound.
AT the battle of Marks Mills, Arkar
aas, April 25, 1864, General Drake wa
rounded and fell into the hands
The enemy. AS his wound was though
Sp be fatal he was not imprisoned. Be
Apre he could walk without the aid {
Sautches he asas back on the field an
s ahsss soon after breyeted brigade