It started with the 1860 United States Census. There I have John Stout Drake and Lucia Cahoon Drake, married and living under one roof in Amboy, Hillsdale, Michigan. John is 35 and Lucia is 34 and they have 7 children:
James A. 13 years old
Eugene E 12
Anna R 10
Sidney S 8
Mary C 6
Alfred B 4
Allison C 1
Sweet little Alfred B. If he was 4 years old in 1860, then he would've been born around 1856...give or take. But, you see, I'm a skeptic. I see this perfectly fine record, but Allison's middle name was Royce. At least that is what I've always been told. Allison Royce Drake would eventually have a son named Royce Allison. But I"m getting side tracked.
The mystery arises from the 1870 United States Census. In the 10 years that's passed, Lucia has died, John Stout Drake has remarried a gal named Elinor. James A and Eugene have left home, which was probably about right because they would have been 23 and 22 respectfully. But Allison is gone as well, and he would have only been 11. That whole mystery with Allison is for another day. Today we are dealing with Alfred. The 1870 United States Census has six kids still living at home:
Bird A 13 years old
Alfred 11
Ann 20
Mary S 16
Jane 9
Lucy 6
Bird? Who the heck is Bird? And where was he in the 1860 Census? Then I thought that maybe he was Elinor's boy and by 1870 John Stout Drake had decided to adopt him.
Back in 1979, at a Drake/Converse Reunion, I copied a family tree chart that was taped to the wall, the whole wall. I was 8 months pregnant, it was hot and I was miserable. I had a notation that a Jennie Drake married a George Priestly. And I had a note that Bird Drake married a Eugenia Priestly. I thought it was kinda sweet, and not uncommon among farm families.
The 1880 US Census finds Alfred Drake living in the home of George and Jane Priestly.
"United States Census, 1880," Alfred Drake in household of Geo. Priestly, Cambria, Hillsdale, Michigan
« Back to search results| Name: | Alfred Drake | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Residence: | Cambria, Hillsdale, Michigan | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Birthdate: | 1857 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Birthplace: | Michigan, United States | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Relationship to Head: | Son-in-law | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Spouse's Name: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Spouse's Birthplace: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Father's Name: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Father's Birthplace: | New York, United States | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mother's Name: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mother's Birthplace: | New York, United States | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Race or Color (Expanded): | White | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ethnicity (Standardized): | American | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gender: | Male | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Martial Status: | Married | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Age (Expanded): | 23 years | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Occupation: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| NARA Film Number: | T9-0580 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Page: | 57 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Page Character: | B | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Entry Number: | 682 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Film number: | 1254580 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Household | Gender | Age | Birthplace | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| SELF | Geo. Priestly | M | 59 | England | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| WIFE | Jane Priestly | F | 56 | England | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| SON | Edwin Priestly | M | 30 | Michigan, United States | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| DAU | Mattie Drake | F | 24 | Michigan, United States | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| DAU | Katie Priestly | F | 18 | Michigan, United States | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Alfred Drake | M | 23 | Michigan, United States |
Alfred Drake is listed as the Son-in-law. But where is Eugenia? I pulled her birth date off of her death certificate -- 09 May 1855. In 1880 she would have been around 25 years old. There is a Mattie Drake, daughter of George who was 24. Could Mattie be Eugenia? I haven't been able to find anything with the initial M as a middle name.
In the 1900 Federal Census, Bird Drake shows up again. Born in June of 1857. Bird was born in Michigan and it says that both his parents were born in New York. His daddy, John Stout Drake was born in New York, but his mama, Lucia Cahoon Drake was born in Michigan. Again, I don't know who was the one answering the census taker's question. Lucia would have been for almost 20 years by this time. Also, in the "Number of Years Married Column" it says 1. According to my records they were married in 1879. So they would have been married 21 years. Also, poor Eugenia had born a child, but it had not lived.
1905: In the Hillsdale phone book, A. Bird is married to Eugenia. He is working in a saloon at 47 N. Broad, in Hillsdale, Michigan. He is living at 86 E. Sharp.
I have a copy of Eugenia Priestly Drake's Death Certificate. Born 09 May 1855. Married 02 Nov 1879. Died 09 Apr 1908. I know it's the right one because there are a few more clues. Father was George Priestly, born in England. Mother is Jane Hardy, born in England. Eugenia died of La Grippa terminating in heart failure. Spouse: A.B. Drake. She is buried in North Adams, Cemetery.
In 1909 Alfred B Drake marries Ella Conway Ryan. She is a nurse and both of them have been married one time before.
I found a copy of Alfred's death certificate. Albert B. Drake died 13 Feb 1912. Whoever provided the information said he was born 13 Jan 1861 -- which is several years off. The also spell his mother's name -- Lucia Calhoon -- which sounds like it but is wrong. But that I will prove another day.
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