Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1903-12-03
BRAKES WILL
IS PRODUCED.
Ex-Governor Had Left the
Document With High Ma
sonic Order.
$4,000 TO DRAKE UNIVERSITY
Remainder Of the Large Estate ls
Divided Equally Among His Six
ChiIdren--WiIl Probably Amount to
About One Million.

Des Moinee, Nov. 30.-The last VIII
and testament of the late Ex-Governor
Francis Marion Drake. for which dill
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 1t will be sent
to Centerville by registered mail, to
be probated.
In this will, made in 1897, General
Drake gives $4,000 to Drake univer-
sity and divides the remainder of his
property equally among 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 prominent Mason, was a
member. 1t was written at the time
of his becoming member in 1897.
1t is one of the briefest wills probably
ever made by millionaire, and no
executor is named. The text Of the
viii follows:
I'm the Name Of God. Amen! ], F.
M. Drake, being of sound mind and
memory. but knowing the uncertainty
of human life, do now make and pub
fish this, my last will and testament,
that is to say:
II will all my possessions, real and
personal to be equally divided be-
tween my six children, Mile ID.
Shonts, Jennie Sawyers, Eva D. Goss,
r. e. Drake, John A. Drake and Mary
Lord Sturdeyant, except that out Of
my estate shall be paid $4,000 to
Drake University.
''F. M. Drake. (Seal.)
Signed, sealed, and published, and
declared by the said F. M. Drake, the
testator, as and for his last will and
tes.-ment; and we, at his request and
In his presence, and in the presence
of ench other, have hereunto sub
scribed our names as witnesses there
to-. this 26th day of January, A. d.,
1897.
"R. M. ]. Coleman.
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, and like the rest, had
his attention called to this rule. Ac-
companied by George Fairburn, then
commander of the consistory and now
a banker at Fonda, and by r. M. ].
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 win probably dispose
of his property. II 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 1t as high as 81, 900 900
and others placing it as low as $780,
900. Probably proper estimate
would place the figure at $1,000.000,
or close in the neighborhood of that
sum. A few years ago II would prob
ably have been correct to estimate his
wealth In millions But the general
was generous giver. His charities
were almost unnumbered. He gave
to colleges all over the United States.
to various charitable institutions, and
helped his friends.
II is also stated that General Drake
lost heavily in United States steel.
His son. John A. Drate. with John
w. Gates, was closely identified with
the American Steel and Wire COM
pany, and 1t was probably through
these influences that the ex-governor
was induced to nut his money into
United States steel.