Col. Jeremiah C. Drake and Clara Utley

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Husband Col. Jeremiah C. Drake ^{1 2}

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           Born: 19 Apr 1824 - Salisbury, Herkimer Co, NY 2
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           Died: Abt Jun 1864
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       Marriage: 25 Aug 1852 2

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Wife Clara Utley ²

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Children

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1 M Dr. J. Clinton Merl Drake ^{1 2 3}

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           Born: 24 Jun 1855 - Panama, Chautauqua Co, NY 2
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2 F Jennie Clara Drake ²

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3 M Charles Kessler Drake ²

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General Notes: Husband - Col. Jeremiah C. Drake

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He was a descendant, on the paternal side, of one of the first English, and on the maternal side of one of the earliest Huguenot-Puritan families of New England. His father was a colonel of militia, and his grandfather was a captain in the Revolutionary war. His ancestors were among the first settlers of the Empire State, and were descendants of the renowned Sir Francis Drake, the first circumnavigator of the globe.
At an early age he embraced religion under the Harmony Baptist Association, and throughout his life adhered undeviatingly with his whole heart and soul to his faith. A few years prior to attaining his maturity he engaged in mercantile pursuits in Wisconsin, whither he had gone in 1843, and during this period held several positions of trust, and although he demonstrated a business ability that would have eventuated in more than ordinary success, he relinquished his worldly pursuits and devoted his time to study, with a view to the gospel ministry. In December, 1847, he was licensed to preach, and soon thereafter returned to his native state to pursue, at the Rochester University, a thorough course of study, preparatory to entering upon his ministerial labors. Although entirely without means when he entered upon his collegiate course, he managed by most industrious application to earn the means of subsistence and to pay the cost of his tuition while taking the full course in the regular time, being graduated from the university in 1852. During this period, also, he gathered and organized a church at Churchville, Monroe County, New York, and was ordained its pastor January 22, 1852. After a successful pastorate there of two years he had charge of the Baptist Church at Panama, Chautauqua County, which he left four years later to assume the pastoral care of the Baptist Church in Westfield, removing thither in the fall of 1858. Upon the breaking out of the war he resolved to take up arms in defense of his imperiled country, and in August, 1861, recruited a company, was commissioned its captain, and joined the 49th N. Y. V. I., under the command of Col. D. D. Bidwell. He served with his regiment through the entire campaign of the Peninsula, taking active and honorable part in the battles of Mechanicsville, Garnett's Farm, Savage Station and White Oak Swamp. In the fall of 1862, when the 112th regiment was raised in Chautauqua County, Capt. Drake was unanimously chosen to its command, and was commissioned colonel September 2, 1862. During his subsequent two years of service Col. Drake was distinguished for his courage in action, and during a large portion of this time was in command of the brigade. He was occupying this position at the battle of Cold Harbor, where he received a mortal wound and was taken to the hospital, and there, after having delivered to his comrades his last message to his family, with a request that his body be sent home, he asked to be kept quiet, saying: "You will excuse me from talking, for I have but little time to live, and I wish it all to myself." He passed the night in self-communion, enduring the keenest bodily suffering without a murmur or complaint. Towards morning the chaplain recited the words of the apostle: "Thanks be to God, who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." The dying Christian soldier responded, "Amen, amen!" These were his last words.

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General Notes: Wife - Clara Utley

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from Boonville, Oneida Co, NY

1 —, History of Erie County, Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: Warner, Beers & Co., 1884), Pg 889.

2 —, Nelson's Biographical Dictionary and Historical Reference Book of Erie County, Pennsylvania (Erie, PA: S. B. Nelson, Publisher, 1896), Pg 620.

3 Charles A. Babcock, Venango County, Pennsylvania, Her Pioneers and People (Chicago, IL: J. H. Beers & Co., 1919), Pg 434.