Allison Royce Drake was born April 9, 1859 in Amboy, Hillsdale, Michigan. His father, John Stout Drake, was 34 and his mother, Lucia, was 32. Already in the house were Allison's older siblings: James Amos who was 13, Emery Eugene was 11, sister Anna was 9, brother Sidney was 8, Mary Serenus was 6 and Alfred Bird was just 2 years old. That makes a whopping six kids, not including the new baby, Allison.
Side Note: I'm not sure of what type of house the Drakes lived in in 1859. I haven't been back north yet to see if it's still standing. But, in the late 1970s I did live in an old 1860ish farm house surrounded by the same, so there are a few things I'm pretty sure of:
- John Stout was a successful farmer. In the farm map of 1858, he had 83 acres, right across the fields from his dad's (Amos Stout Drake) larger farm. John was well respected in the community, so I'm betting that his family was well taken care of and did not live in squalor.
- In my experience, most farm houses were 2 stories, with a steep roof, because that helped prohibit snow accumulation The houses were built over Michigan basements. Michigan basements -- the basement was dug out, then stone (about the size of a medium cantaloupe) were pounded into the walls. My farm house had a hard packed dirt floor.
- Most family farms (even today) have a garden out back big enough to feed the family and to put things up for a long Michigan winter. A chicken coop was set up not too far from the house -- people were a little less finicky about farm smells wafting into the house -- the chickens and eggs tended to be the farm wife's domain and a young child's first chore. Farther away from the house was usually a much larger outbuilding, where there was a milk cow or two. The family was not going to starve.
My farm house started out as a two story dwelling with a front porch and three large rooms on the ground floor: a bedroom, a huge kitchen (where the family lived, and worked, and ate), and a living area. Stairs to the second floor went practically straight up and there were 3 large square bedroom, with windows that were lower than today's code. The chimney of the fireplace warmed two of the upstairs bedrooms and the the bedroom downstairs. The woodstove's stove pipe passed through the ceiling of the kitchen, through the 2nd story third bedroom, providing just enough heat so the kids wouldn't freeze.
As the family grew and their skill at farming improved, the residents could afford a few luxuries ie. running water and an indoor toilet. Eventually with a house full of teens, another bedroom was added on behind the house, usually onto the kitchen and was most often on story. I imagine the Drake Farm looked very similar to mine.
As the family grew and their skill at farming improved, the residents could afford a few luxuries ie. running water and an indoor toilet. Eventually with a house full of teens, another bedroom was added on behind the house, usually onto the kitchen and was most often on story. I imagine the Drake Farm looked very similar to mine.
April of 1861 was a big month for the Drakes. First off, on 12 April was the start of the Civil War. I don't think that the shot heard around the world effected them too much. April on a farm is a very busy time. And just 13 days late, Lucia gave birth to child #8 (and daughter #4) Jane Drake. I bet that there were some nights that spring when John Stout Drake was so exhausted he fell asleep over his dinner. Of course James and Eugene were practically men and Sydney was finally of an age where he could contribute a good days work. Anne was 11 and probably working beside her mom, taking care of the family -- laundry, gardening, cleaning, cooking, canning, sewing. Mary Cyrenus at 8 years old was in the beginning years of learning farm wife duties. Maybe she tended to the youngers -- Alfred was now 4 and Allison a toddling 2.
In 1863, another Drake daughter -- Lucy -- was born on November 14, increasing the family children to 9,
July 1st, 1863 John Stout Drake enlisted. He was 38 years old. At this time, I haven't researched John Stout Drake's military record. Maybe he didn't serve. Maybe he was exempted because he had so many kids. Maybe he was growing crops and providing food for the military.
According to the US Non Population Schedule, John Stout Drake had 70 improved acres and 14 unimproved. There were only two other farms in the area that had more improved acres. The cash value of John's farm was $2000 and the machinery and other farm implements were valued at $115. He had 2 horses, 6 milk cows, 3 sheep, 3 swine, and the value of his animals was $452. He had 70 bushels of rye and 350 bushels of indian corn.
