Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-11-20
GENERAL DRAKE BD[AD
Former Governor of Iowa Sue
cumbs to Diabetes at His
Home In Centerville
HE WAS I'LL BUT a SHORT TIME
Had Been in Poor Health For Several
Years, But Fatal Termination Was
Not Expected at This Time-Leavss
Half Million Dollars to Drake Uni
versity.
special to Times-Republican.

$ Centerville, NOV. 2U.-FOrlnef Gov
ernor F. NJ. Drake died at his home
here shortly before II o'clock this
morning. His death was caused from
diabetes and return Of the trouble
with his old army wound His last ILL
ness has been of short duration and It
was not until yesterday that his condi-
ton became alarming. His son FRANK
and daughters, Mrs. T. A. Shonts, OF
Chicago. Mrs. Henry Goss and Mrs.
George Sturdivant were at his bedside
when the end came. His daughter and
son John A.. of New York, had been
summoned. but did not arrive in tina
was up town as late as Tuesday ar
ranging for a gift of $4,000 to Drake
ststance against the disease which took
him off. but his age. which was Il
rally, and last night 1t was practically
certain the end was near at hand.
General Drake was one of the wealth.
est men in Iowa and 1t is understood
that his will divides his s3.000000 es-
tate equally among his five children
and Drake University. The school.
therefore, will receive in the neighbor-
hood of half a million dollars. The
time OF the funeral has not been fixed,
pending the arrival Of the relatives.
General Francis Marion Drake was
born In Rushville. H.. December 80.
1890. His parents had come from
North Carolina and later moved to
Iowa. Young Drake received common
school education. and early went into
business for himself. When the gold
excitenent started men toward Cali
fornia, Drake was among the irst to
go overland. He made the journey
twice with OK teams. On his first jour-
ney he was In command of twenty res
olute men and as they were In the wes-
tern part OF Nebraska at a crossing of
the Platte. they were attacked by 800
Pawnee Indians. A sharp engagement
followed and the Indians were repulsed.
On the Pacific Drake had an adventure,
being shipwrecked and left desolate for
Ave days. the Yankee BladeH having
been completely lost.
He was engaged in business near the
Missouri line when the war broke out
in 1861, and he was among the first
to enlist in a company afterwards
known us an Independent Iowa regi-
ment. which served in northern Mis-
souri, repulsing attacks OF bands of
rebels. He had the command OF a COM
pany holding st. Joseph, Mo. for a
time and repulsed an attack there. The
Thirty-sixth Iowa volunteer infantry
was organized in 1862, and Drake was
made lieutenant colonel. He served
with General Banks in Louisiana and
at Elkins Ford, on the Little Missouri.
with 500 men held back General Mar
maduke with 5000. He was soon after
placed in command Of his brigade. April
25. 1864. commanding 1900 men against
General Kirby Smiths cavalry he was
wounded In the t.igh. The wound was
regarded as mortal and he was not
made prisoner. After six months he
Joined his regiment and was soon after
recommended for promotion for special
gallantry and hard and efficient serv-
ice.
On returning home Colonel Drake
practiced law, then engaged in bank
ing and railroad building, and In the
latter was highly successful. His most
profitable connection was with the Illi-
nois, Indiana & Iowa and the Keokuk
& Western. He founded Drake Uni
versity and contributed large sums to
its support. He presented to his home
town a Christian church edince. His
benefactions have been many. He was
governor OF Iowa In 1895 and de-
clined denomination. He was married
in 1855 to Mary ]. Lord and they had
two sons and four daughters. General
Drake lived nearly all his life at Cen
tervllle except for time in Des
Moines and then in Chicago.