Year: 1860

For the Standard.


DEATH OF MAI JOHN H. DRAKE.


Maj. JonN HoDeEs DRAKE died in Auburn, Ala
bama, on Sunday, lth day of December, A. D.,
1859, in the 93d year Of his age.


The deceased retained his health and physical
powers in an uncommon degree till December, 1858,
when, by fall, ne suffered great bodily injury,
which for considerable time powerfully afflicted
him, and rendered him helpless for the residue of
his life. In the long confinement which succeeded
this accident, he was, however occasionally blessed
with prospect of recovery which inspired his
friends with hope that he would live to count his
century of years. and it was not until few weeks
before his end that nature began to yield the strug
gle and then soon the sincwey power which had
stood up against the shocks and wastes of so many
years, lay vanqushed on the couch of DEATH


1t will be gratifying to the numerous friends Of
this venerable man to know that in his long and
protracted illness, he received every comfort and at
tention which the kindness of warm friends and the
affection OF near relatives could administer. To be
assured of this it is only necessary to know the
amlable and gentle daughter, at whose house in Au-
burn he spent the year of his affction Never
there displayed, during every moment of that time,
brighter instance of the untiring devotion of in
tense affection and Of service ever watchful to an
ticipate, and eager to perform.


Sensible in the highest degree to the kindness
lavished on him, his heart was full of gratitude and
love to all around him, and he approached the hour
of dissolution in charity with all mankind. While
his bodily strength was waning his faith Chris
tian Frightening and in the strength of an un-
dismayed hope he came down to the chamber Of
death, composing his person for its habitation
he entered; he placed his hands his breast
and closed his own eyes as the last sand fell from
the measure of his time.


Thus passed away this estimable and venerable
PATRIARCH man whose life and character, if faith
fully written, would furnish much matter of pride
to his descendants and much of interest to illustrate
the customs and manners of an age long gone by,
and now essentially changed in many of its most
striking habits.


Maj. Drake was born in Edgecombe (now Nash)
county, N. c., January 90, l7G7. Although too
young to take part in the war for Independence he
was reared in 1.-The day that tried mems souls"
and with the example before him of father and of
brothers who perled their lives in the cause he i'm
bibcd he grew that ardor of patriotism and love.
of justice which characterized the sentiments and
conduct of his life. His memory constantly revert
ed to those times. The writer has often heard him
recount many stirring incidents of revolutionary
times, which, though local. were full of peril and
interest. The recital of them would animate every
feature; and it was pleasure to look on his noble
countenance lighted up with the patriotic fires of
his youthful days, his young friends would gather
dTOuHu Uul VI uedT ouc luCiucut, cSpc-
cially, of which he was an eye witness, seemed to
warm his whole soul with fire. 1t was the attack
on his fathers house in 1881 by Captain Beard
and his band of tories briefly alluded to in Wheeers
History of North Carolina. The defence was made
by his father, brother and two neighbors, against
force more than treble their number The assal-
ants, after fierce struggle were routed and over
whelmed.


Mai. Drake resided in his native county upwards
&C fcr
was in the discharge of honorable public trust
He was . member of the House of Commons from
1892 to 1896, inclusive. and in the Senate. in the
years 1900 and 1905. For more than thirty years
he was Clerk of the Superior Court, and performed
also the duties of Clerk and Master of the Court of
Equity. He was Justice of the Peace from an
early age and in every employment he discharged
its duties with integrity, frmness and capacity.


Beginning his political career as representative
of the people early 1892, and ending it in 1905,
he was of course coeval with the stormy exciements
of that interesting period of our history and neces
sarily partook of the feelings of the times; but on
whatever side ranged in the mutations Of party tri-
umph he bore always an honest and patriotic heart,
and hand ready to defend the flag of his
try. Like many Of the old school gentlemen, Of
whom he was one in the full sense, he regarded the
suffrage of the citizen as duty never to be neglect
ed and not privilege to be sighted or. bartered
Among his neighbors he was beloved and trusted.
He decided their disputes as an umpire; and BY the
equity Of his awards he queted the rising wrang-
lings of neighbors, and preserved the order and
peace of the citizens around him. Settled on the
great thoroughfare leading from the southwest por
tons of the State towards Petersburg and Norfolk,
then the great routes Of trade he loved to greet the
wayworn traveller with the hospitalities Of good
bed, and table spread with the luxuries Of deli
cious game, which then abounded in his woods and
invited him to the chase. For many years he kept
on the roadside magnificent park of the noblest
deer-a sight now worth seeing indeed.


In social intercourse and the amenities Of life
Major Drake was most agreeable man. Possessed
of much general information and rich fund of an
ecdote, which for the most part connected with
the revolution or revolutionary men, he made every
body desirous to hear him for his subject and put
everybody at ease by the natural simplicity Of his
narrative. No man was fonder Of good society, or
seemed easier in its enjoyment His gracious bear.
ing won the hearts of the young, and he was proud
of being their idol. Never seemed he so happy as
when surrounded with children attentive to his tales
Or when surveying group of young persons engag-
ed in innocent amusements proper to their age and
SEX Phe kind face that beamed over the scene was
contagious and at once converted every listener and
observer into a happy being. 24


For his vigorous health and extended age he was
| indebted no less to the temperance Of his habits
than to robust constitution, But the beauty Of
| the moral man was seen by those who knew him, in
his quiet and cheerful demesqar in the heart that
loved and rejoced with all aronnd him, in the spirit
that f0rpxye NIL nypyt iniuvies and remembered