Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1903-12-04
|DRAKE'S WILL
- IS { PRODUCED.
Ex-Governor Had Left the
Document With High Ma
sonic Order
$4,000 TO DRAKE UNIVERSITY
Remainder of the Large Estate Is
Divided Equally Among His ."
n ChiIdren-WilI Probably Amount to
About One Million.

Des Moines, Nov. 30.-The last VIII
and testament of the late Ex-Governor
Francis Marion Drake, for which dlii'
gent and unavailing search has been
in progress at Centerville since the
time of the generals death, was pro-
duced in Des Moines yesterday by the
Des Moines consistory Of the Scottish
Rite Masons. Today it will be sent
to Centerville by registered mall, 10
be probated.
In this will, made in 1897, Generai
Drake gives $4,000 to Drake unlVer-
sity and divides the remainder OF his
property equally amocs his six chill
.dren.
The will is now in the possession
Of the Des Moines consistory, OF
which the late General Drake, for many
years a prominent Mason, was
member. 1t was written at the time
Of his becoming member IN 1891.
It is one of the briefest wills probably
ever made by a millionaire, and no
executor il named. The text or the
will follows:
"In the Name of God, Amen! /, +.
n. Drake, being of sound mind ana
memory. but knowing the uncertainty
Of human life, do now make and pup
lish this, my last will and testament.
that is to say:
II will all my possessions, real ana
personal to be equally divided be-
tween my six children, Mile u.
Shonts, Jennie Sawyers, Eva D. Goss.
r. E. Drake, John A. Drake and Mary
Lord Sturdevant, except that out OF
my estate shall be paid $4,000 to
Drake University.
IF. M. Drake. (Seal)
"Signed, sealed, ard published. and
declared by the said F. M. Drake. the
testator. IS and for his last will and
tesl ment; and we, at his request and
in his presence, and In the presence
of each other, have hereunto SUBJ
scribed our names as witnesses there
to, this 26th day of January, A. D.,
1897.
II. NJ. J. COleudu.
Geo. Fairburn."
The history of the will is unique
and is characteristic Of the simplicity
with which General Drake was 'acccus-
toned to do things Of moment.
1t is the rule of the consistory that
whenever a member is elected, he
shall make provision for his family.
General Drake became a member,
with six others, ana like the rest, had
his attention called to this rule. Ac-
companied b. George Fairburn, then
commander of the consistory and now
a banker at Fonda. and by R. NJ. J.
Coleman Of Des Moines. secretary OF
the consistory. General Drake went
into the small room provided for this
purpose. He sat down to table and
without hesitation scratched off the
document which will probably dispose
of his property. 1t was witnessed by
Mr.. Coleman and Mr.. Fairburn, and
then placed in the vault of the con
sistory in charge Of the secretary;
Ex-Governor brakes wealth has
been variously estimated, some esti-
mates placing it as high as $4,00O,0O0
and others placing it as low as $780,
900. Probably a proper estimate
would place the figure at $1,O00,O00,
or close in the neighborhood Of that
sum. A few years ago it would prob
ably have been correct to estimate his
To- D,1f -
was a generous giver. His charities
were almost unnumbered. He gave
to colleges all over the United States,
to various charitable institutions, and
helped his friends.
1t is also stated that General Drake
lost heavily in United States steel.
His son. John A. Drake, with John
W., Gates, was closely identified with
the American Steel and Wire COM
pa1y, and :. it was probably through
these influences that the ex-governor
was induced to put his money into
United States steel. -.- .-...
Des Moines, Dec. 3.-Dr. J. L. Saw.
yers, son-in-law Of the late ex-Gover-
nor Francis NJ Drake of Centerville,
arrived in Des Moines yesterday tc
ascertain the facts concerning the re
ported promise of the deceased to Go
nate $4,000 to the departments OF
Drake university. DR.. Sawyers stated
emphatically that there was not the
slightest inclination on the part OF
the heirs to contest the will of Ge1A
eral Drake, which was found in the
keeping Of the Des Moines consistory
of the Scottish Rite Masons Ee had
consulted with three of the heirs and
felt sure of the attitude Of the others,
COMPETITION FELT.