Allison Royce Drake: The Married Years

Allison Royce Drake marries Jane Myers in June 1882 in Hillsdale.  On His marriage license he lists himself as a farmer.

             ***NOTE*** What's the difference between a "farmer" and a "farm laborer"? To me, "farmer" implies you own a farm.  "Farm Laborer" implies you do farm work on a farm that you don't own.

Allison was living in Camden, Hillsdale, Michigan when he applied for a marriage license.

Jane and Allison's first child was Lucia -- named after Allison's mom -- born 24 Nov 1883.  The date proves that no shotgun was involved in their marriage.  Lucia was born in Amboy, Michigan.

John Stout Drake died 29 June 1884 in Amboy, Hillsdale, Michigan.  His second wife Mary Pease was still in the house as was Allison's little sister, Lucy .  I can't find any records that show Lucy Drake living anywhere else.  So Mary Pease was left taking care of her step daughter.  Well, Lucy was 19 years old when her dad died, so how much taking care of did she need?  With that being said, Lucy died of consumption in 1886.  Maybe she was already sick by then?

Allison and Jane's second daughter -- Hattie Gavena was born 01 Mar 1886 in Amboy.  Very sadly, Lucy died a few months later, 06 May, 1886 in Amboy.

I have muddled through the probate records and in my humble conclusion, John Stout Drake died intestate -- without a will.  I was a little surprised at that as John Stout was kind of a big deal farmer with quite a bit of property AND a second wife.  Surely he would want to make sure she was taken care of.

Whatever the lapse of foresight, Mary Pease Drake, the second wife was appointed executrix.

I won't take the time here to list all of John Stout's asssets and debts but there was one page in the probate records that caught my eye.  This was written on 16 Feb 1887 -- approximately 2 years and 8 months after John Stout Drake died:

"... that all of said heirs and said widow have sold and assigned and quit claimed all their right, title and interests in and to said estate both real and personal to Allison R. Drake one of said heirs it is therefore ordere, adjudged and decreed that all of the extate of said deceased both real and personal be and the same is hereby assigned to said Allison R Drake and upon exhibiting in this court proper receipts the said Administratrix with her bond will be discharged from her trust."

Somebody please let me know if I'm misinterpreting this, but it sounds like Allsion Royce's brothers and sisters turned over their shares of the farm to Allison. Was this a generous move by the family towards the littlest brother, or were things such a mess that none of them wanted to deal with the estate and the step mom?