Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1903-11-26
x-GOVERNOR F. N,
DRAKE IS DEAD
Distinguished Pioneer, Soldier.
Capitalist and PhiIan-
thropist Gone.
WAS loWA's RICHEST MAN
iuch Is Generally Believed, His For
tune Having Been Made in Rail-
roads, Mining, Etc.-Gave For
tunes in Philanthropy.

Centcr,.ille Ia. Nov. 2l.-Trancis Ma
rion Drake. former governor of Iowa
died at his home here today at 1920
OF diabetes. The end came Dainlessl5
following a long comatose period. The
funeral arrangements will be an
nounced when members of the family
arrive.
Francis Marion Drake was one of tho
most notable of Iowa's great men. He
was born pioneer, a great soldier IL
the civil war, q captain of industry
one of the foremost of the men of Ell
ergy and brains and courage who de.
velcped the railroad system of the new
west. He was the greatest philan
thropist Iowa has known, giving, with.
out doubt. more money to CHARITIES ant
education than any other 1owan ever
did. He was founder of Drake univer
sity, Des Moines, to Which he has givel
about S3T5,00e. He was for many ycal
president of the Iowa conference OF TIL,
Church of Christ, and has given inn
Inense amounts to the work of TIL
church. To other charitable, educa
tional and religious objects he has al
ways been an open handed giver. II
is likely that at the time OF his dealt
he was Iowa's richest man.
In 1885 General Drake was nomi
mated by the republicans for governor
of Iowa, and he was elected by large
majority against w. l. Babb, democrat
He served one term, declining renom-
ination on account of his Ill health,
Bullets which he had carried from tho
time of the civil war have caused hin
great suffering for many years, ane
the trouble With these old wounds, to-
gether With diseases dating to the same
period forced him to retire from pub
lie life. He has since lived quietly al
his old home at Centerville.
Sketch of His Life.
General Drake was born at Rush
vile, H., December 80 1890. Ills ia
ther, John Drake. a native of North
Carolina, founded Drakeville, Ia. The
son was educated in the public school.
and at 16 entered mercantile career.
The call of the argonauts found his
adventurous nature ready for quick re-
Spouse. In 1852 he joined the tide thai
was flowing across the plains to Cali
fortuna. He made his first great bust
ness stroke in driving a herd of cattle
across the plains. 1t was desperate
venture, for it meant war with the In
dams and with the whites as we'll. But
he succeeded, and made the first of his
fortune. He was involved in many
stirring incidents of Indian warfare.
and few frontiers,nen had seen more OF
the real life of the new west than he
In 1853 he returned to business il
Iowa, at Unionville. Then came the
war. He entered the service as a sub
ordinate officer. was made lieutenant
colonel of the Thirty sixth Iowa. was
Oft
and in 1865 at the close of the struggle
was brevetted a brigadier general.
General Drake was the unfortunate
leader of one i'll conceived expedition
in Arkansas, in 1864, in which he anG
his entire command, ordered on a mis-
sion which was utterly impossible OF
accomplishment, We're surrounded by q
vastly inferior force and compelled to
surrender. He was prisoner of wal
A Railroad Builder.
After the war he returned to southern
Iowa to business and soon was engaged
In railroad building. He organized an6
built the Iowa and Northern Missouri
road, now the Centerville- keokuk line
of the Burlington. He was one of the
builders of the Abba and Centerville-
and of the Central of Iowa. He was
also builder of the Three T. road
and for many years was its controlling
owner. He was extensively interested
in coal mining, banking, real estate and
many other enterprises.
1t Is said that when he sold his stock
in the Three r road about six Yeas
ago he deposited one draft for $1,T50,00C
in one Illinois bank, and that in addi-
ton to this he received a huge block OF
Santa I'e stock as part consideration
The Santa re was then at the begin
ming of its boom. anS the former gov
ernor is said to have made profits OF
over million from this stock.
General Drake was father of John A
Drake, the famous racing man anG
millionaire on his own account. The
younger Drake is a born Spectator
and in association with John w. Gates
In many large ventures he had the as
sistance and backing of his father
Through these enterprises the eide,
Drake still farther increased his for
tune. In recent years ii has been re-
garded as the largest In Iowa. AL
though he has given away over half /;
million to the university that bears hi:
name and to other causes, it is believeo
he will leave from 100000 to
S5,000,O00.
Big Requests Expected.
1t liz expected that Governor Drake.
viii, when made public, will be a mos,
Interesting document. He has severa
children, who are expected to be left
liberal fortunes; but large share O.
his wealth undoubtedly will go to edu-
cational religious and charitable
causes. 1T has been understood 70,
many years that Drake university will
get very large sum. Dies Moines peo-
pie familiar With his relations to the
institution expect it may reach $5o0,0
His interest in this institution began
through his relations with his wife's
brother. DIR. Carpenter. the first presi-
dent of the school.
1t is not yet known when the flu.
neral will be held, but it will undoubt-
eddy he at the splendid home at Cen
terville. There viii be a notable gath
ering of the prominent men of Iowa
especially of the older generat ion.