Anna R Drake: No Home of Her Own

Anna R Drake was the first daughter born to John Stout Drake and Lucia Cahoon Drake.  A copy of her death certificate states that she was born on 31 Jan 1850.  Her death was reported by her brother-in-law George Priestly, but I think that he would know as Anna lived with him and Jennie (Jane) for many years.

The 1850 United States Federal Census has her living with her grandparents Amos and Catherine Drake.  At the time of the census she was about four months old.  There were 14 people living with Amos and Catherine.  I wonder what had happened for Lucia to let her daughter go to the grandparents?  Lucia had been a teacher and maybe she was teaching.  Or maybe she was overwhelmed with having three kids under 3.  I don't know.

In the 1960 Federal Census, Anna R Drake is listed with her parents, John Stout Drake and Lucia Cahoon Drake, along with her two older brothers, James Amos and Eugene Emery.  In the 10 years since the 1850 Census, there had been another 4 children born:  Sidney, Mary, Alfred and Allison.

1870 is still a mystery to me.  Elinor is now the wife of John Stout Drake.  But we'll get into that later.  This entry is about Anna.  In 1870 she is twenty years old and she is "at home" in the John Stout Drake household.  There were still plenty of kids running around.

By the 1880 United States Federal Census the John Stout Drake household had dwindled to just 4.  Himself, his new wife Mary Pease Drake (who was only 13 years older than Anna) and Lucy M. who was sixteen.  Mary was still in school, but it appears as if Anna had started to do housekeeping.  Her job is "housekeeper"  as opposed to "housekeeping" which usually next to the wife's name.

In 1884, John Stout Drake will die.  Since there is no 1890 United States Federal Census, I have no idea where Anna R Drake was living.  Did step mom Mary Pease Drake sell the house?  Did Anna have to get out?

In the 1900 United States Federal Census, I found Anna R Drake living in Springport, Jackson, Michigan.  She is a "servant" for a widow woman named Sarah A Oyer and her son Andy M Johnson.

By the 1910 United States Federal Census, Anna R Drake has gone to live with her little sister, Jennie (Jane) Priestly.  George and Jennie are listed in the census along with two of their children:  Katie and Henry.  Anna is listed as "Drake Ann Priestly."  They are living in Orange, Kalkaska, Michigan.  George is a farmer, but Anna does not have any job listed.

At present I am not able to find Anna R Drake in the 1920 United States Federal Census or the 1930 Census for that matter, but I intend to work on that this weekend.  Correction:  I just enlarged her death certificate and realized the date was 1912, not 1932.  No wonder I couldn't find her in the 1920 or 1930 Census.  However, I do have a copy of her death certificate:  She was living in Orange, Kalkaska, Michigan.  She was a white female and single.  And yet it says her job was "housewife."  Her father was John S Drake and he was born in New York.  Her mother was Lucia Cahone (EGAD -- yet another spelling of that name), and her mother was born in Michigan.  Her date of death was 15 Jun 1912.  She died from chronic nephritis.  The place of burial is either Lodi or Sodi -- but I'm pretty sure it's Lodi.  When I can figure out how to do it, I'll put a copy of her death certificate right here.  And so I did.