When Did It Go Oh-So Wrong: Allison Royce Drake Part 3

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:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.

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.

When Things Fell Apart: Allison Royce Drake Part 2

Last week a hint showed up for Allison Royce Drake in my online family tree.  I was so excited!  I've never gotten a hint for him before -- like I said -- information on the elusive great grandfather was scarce.

The hint was a death certificate for an AR Drake and actually the "A" looked like a "U".

According to this death certificate, AR Drake was a white male, age 53. His marital status was "widower."  He was born in Michigan and died on 31 Aug 1913 of bronchial asthma.  And he had been living at the "County Farm" in Madison Township, Lenawee, Michigan.

So I sat down with my pencil and paper and tried to analyze what little information was on the death certificate with the very little information I had on Allison Royce Drake.  

• My Allison Royce Drake was born in 1859.  In 1913, Allison would have been 54 years old.  Pretty close.  I mean who knew how old this guy living at the county farm really was?  Obviously there was no record on hand of his birth date.
• He was white and he was a male.  Check and check.
• Has marital status was recorded as "widower."  His wife, Jane Myers Drake, was still alive in kicking.  This doesn't concern me too much as I found him in the 1910 United States Census, living in a boarding house and his was enumerated as "single."  Jan is living and working in another county, and his two youngest sons living in yet another county.  I have found no record of divorce.  In 1910, Jane is "married".
• In the 1910 United States Census, Allison is enumerated in Woodstock, Lenawee County, Michigan.  And in that same census his age is listed as 51 years old.

As brief as the information is, this sounds more like my guy.  A mean drunk who abandoned his family, who no one ever mentioned, dying in poverty with no one knowing or caring who he was.  

And how the hell did that happen?  How do you get from being the son of a well off, well respected farmer (John Stout Drake) who raised a whole passel of good kids, an active member in his church and community to a bum?  John Stout Drake, was a justice of the peace.  Marriage records show that many couples journeyed out to the farm just so JS Drake could marry them.  Many times his younger daughters would witness the unions.  In his obituary, John Stout Drake was called a "loving and indulgent father."  Was an "indulgent" father a community slap at John Stout Drake for overcompensating for his youngest son?  Was John Stout Drake a really loving parent who forgave his boy over and over again?

When Things Fell Apart: Allison Royce Drake Part 1

My great grandfather -- Allison Royce Drake -- has always been a puzzle. No death certificate.  No mention of him at family get- togethers, not even in whispers.  I have a second cousin who is older than me that actually knew his wife -- our shared great grandmother -- and he told me that all he knew was that Allison Royce Drake had been a drunk.  A mean drunk.  Well, Allison wouldn't have been the first Drake to have problems with alcohol.

A couple of years ago i found a newspaper article detailing a wreck of the Big Four Passenger train in Bellefontaine, Ohio.  Allison Drake was an engineer on one of the trains involved.  He was in critical condition and not expected to live.  Engineer Drake was from Lenawee County, Michigan.  That last tidbit of information I had of my great grandfather was a US Census that has him enumerated in the next county over.  It had to be him, right?  Allison was not a common name (although the Drake surname in that neck of the world was).  This had to be my guy.

I couldn't find anything more about Engineer Allison Drake.  Maybe he was shipped home to die?  Or maybe the reason I couldn't find a death certificate was because I was looking in Michigan instead of Ohio.  Or maybe the bodies were being held by the railroad company.  So many things that I didn't have knowledge of how to search for.

I always wondered about that term my cousin used to describe him - "mean drunk".  Could a "mean drunk" pull himself together a little late in life to become an "engine man" for a major railroad?  I don't know.  One just didn't start as an engine man.  Didn't one have to first get hired on and then over years work one's way up.  Wasn't an engineer -- for a big time railroad company kind of like being a Navy fighter pilot?  The bits just didn't fit.

Another Letter from Dennis E Austin

Another Letter from Dennis E Austin:

Jan 1st  11

My Dear Parents

I was intending to answer your letter so you would get it before Christmas.  But I failed to do it + surely thought I would get one to you by Jan 1, + here it is.

We rec'd your pa (sic) ok + do certainly appreciate those presents.

I have been very busy for the last month + once in a while to help fill in my time, I cut a few chunks for two fires.  We have just had a nice warm soaking rain + it does make things look green, I will have some ripe strawberries in two weeks.  I shaved off my beard + moustache last night + will start the new year a new man.  I was to have stared going to church this am but I found my insoles in my new shoes was broken so I will wait until next Sunday.  Min got me a nice new suit of clothes + I have no excuse now.  

I have been looking through my bees this pm + I find I will have as much as 50 pounds of honey to take from some colonies in order to give the Queen room to lay, for it is during Jan + Feg we have to get a hive just lousy with young bees and then you have plenty of workers which give you lots of surplus.  I wish you could see the little fellows when I take the cover off the hive body and pick out one of the 10 housing frames just black with bees on both sides, + they will keep right on with their work as if no one were around.

I am compelled to demonstrate ever time any one comes.  I can pick up any single beee I have or can pick up a double handful.  + when I go to their hives + stick a finger to the entrance from 3 to a dozen with run out + crawl on my hand, and when I am around the yard working they will light on my face + can not get them away.  I have an idea that I may take it up sometime.  Of course I only have 7 colonies at present + could split them so I would have 35 by next fall if I was running for increase, or I can keep them just as they are + not have any swarming.  I only need to play a little trick on them just before they are ready to swarm.  I have room here for 100 colonies + it don't cost me anything for feed = their houses I make I only buy the frames from A I Roots Medina Ohio Factory costing 30 ¢ for 10 frames.  I sure have the B fever + you must overlook it.  I hope this finds you both well + may the year 1911 bring more joy + health than any before, I am with love and kisses your Dennis

Amos Stout Drake of Hillsdale, Michigan

At the end of last year, I hired a researcher at the Mitchell Research Center in Hillsdale, Michigan to investigate some of the records they have available and that I wouldn't be able to get at for another year.  The thought of not being able to move on my two gals (Lucia Cahoon Drake and her mother-in-law Catherine Whaley Drake) was making me crazy.

What I was looking for:

An obituary for Lucia.  She was the first school teacher in Hillsdale and is mentioned in the Hillsdale consortium published by the county.  she had some pretty well respected and prominent children.  Surely someone would say something about her somewhere.

I also wanted the obits for John Stout Drake, Amos Stout Drake, Catherine Whaley Drake and Allison Royce Drake.

To back track:  Lucia died in 1871.  She is buried next to John Stout Drake and has one side of his 4 sided tombstone.  She is identified as the wife of John Stout Drake.  Buried with her is their son, Johnie C Drake, who died a few months earlier.  There is the official death record that states she died in Hillsdale County and that she was married.

But Lucia is no where to be found in the 1870 United States Federal Census.  John Stout Drake is listed and a woman named Elenor who is listed under John Stout Drake, along with the children.  On that 4 sided tombstone previously mention, Elenor is on one side of it.

Anyways, there was no obituary for Lucia Cahoon Drake.

Amos Daniels

Today on Ancestry i found "a page from Amos Daniels probate file naming heirs."  I love it when someone includes a photocopied page with the original writing.  I hate it when I can't print a copy out for my files.  Now I'm sure there's away, but I just haven't figured it out yet.  But I HAD to have it! So I copied it off the screen longhand and I'm putting my transcription here.  I was unable to read every word and have left blanks.

At the very top of the document in the left hand corner it says:

State of New York
Wayne County
next to County is that letter that almost looks like an "f" with an s which leads me to think it's a double s and then another figure that could possibly be a badly done bracket.

Anson Daniels of the town of Arcadia
in the said county being duly sworn, deposes
and says, that Amos Daniels, died a natural
death, at the town and county aforesaid, which
was the place of his residence of the time of
his death, on or about the 11th of March
last _ _ _ _.(4 letters)   that the said deceased left a
widow, formerly Mrs. Rogers. who lived with
the deceased for about a year when they sepa-
rated, that the said widow resides in the
town of Arcadia aforesaid to the best of the
information and belief of the deponent.  That
the said deceased was aged seventy five
years.  that the said deceased left a last
will and testament, which  _ _ _ _ _ _ _ (7 letters) exclusive-
ly to personal property, bearing dates the 11th
day of March 1839, that no person is named
executrix or executor in said will.  That Amos
Daniels Junior, of the town of Cambridge in
the county of Lenawee and State of Michigan,
John Daniels, of the town of Nankin
in the county of Wayne and State last
aforesaid, Timothy Daniels of the town of
Phelps in the County of Ontario and State
of New York, Elihu Ridley, of the town and County
last aforesaid, Oliver Bailey, of the town and County
last aforesaid, and Lydia Wait, the
wife of Philander Wait, of the County of Geauga
and State of Ohio, are the heirs and next of
kin to the said deceased and respectfully
of the age of twenty one and _ _ _ _ _ _ _ (7 letters)
and further the deponent says not.

Anson Daniels

Subscribed + sworn this 3d
day of June, 1839 before me  (and something that looks like another bracket)
RW Ashley _ _ (2 letters)  _ _ _ _ (4 letters) of
Deeds + C. of said County

Amos Stout Drake and Catherine Whaley Drake

I hate dead ends.  Some folks who study genealogy call them "Brick Walls."  But that seems a little too optimistic.  The phrase implies that one can smash through the brick wall or get a ladder a scale the wall or find a stile or something.  Maybe "dead end" isn't the exact perfect word to describe where I've come with Catherine Whaley.  More like a cul-de-sac.  I keep going round and round and round.  Never gleaning any new information.  I keep slogging over everything I know, hoping that I'll come across something that I missed that can send me off in a new direction.  Then checking and double checking anything I can think of hoping that maybe possibly someone has put up some new data that might help me.  I can't be the only person in the universe who is stumped with Catherine Whaley Drake, wife of Amos Stout Drake.

One of the things that makes me crazy is that many people don't attempt to validate or invalidate information that they find in other peoples family trees.  Sometimes it makes me doubt my own research and I feel I have to go over my own facts again and confirm what I'm pretty sure is the "truth."  I followed some of the "shaking leaf" hints on Ancestry and found about 10 other trees that have my Catherine's death date wrong.  Sometimes errors occur when the people who reported the death are not "family" -- maybe a neighbor, who doesn't really know much about the deceased.

So here I state for my own tree: Catherine Whaley Drake died on 27 Feb 1880.  That's probably why she didn't show up in the 1880 United States Census.  At FamilySearch.org, I found found the death record for Catherine Drake.  You can find it too by looking in "Michigan, Deaths, 1867-1897."  GS Film Number: 2363668, Digital Folder Number:  004207951, Image Number:  00541.

Here is the info I gleaned:  Catharine Drake died 27 Feb 1880 in Amboy, Hillsdale, Michigan.  She was a female, 81 years old.  Widowed and she did housework.  At the time of her death, she was 81 years, 5 months and 6 days old.  That should give me her actual birthdate.  Whoever did the reporting, did not know the name of her parents.  Whoever did the reporting, stated that she was from New Jersey.  Sigh.

In 1850, John Stout Drake was 25 years old and a farmer.  His wife, Lucia -- another gal who is making me crazy -- was 23.  They lived next door to John Stout's parents, Amos Stout Drake and Catherine Drake.  On the day the 1850 United States Census was taken Anna R Drake is enumerated at Amos and Catherine's house.  She is 4 months old.

Could the census taker have made a mistake and drawn the line in the wrong place?

At John and Lucia's house are the other children:  James A Drake who is three years old, and Emery E Drake who is 2 years old.  So the info gleaned from that very simple census, James A was born in 1847 and Emery was born in 1848.  I think this changes in the next census...  Maybe Anna was really staying next door at the Grandparents.  Maybe Lucia was being overwhelmed or she was sick or???

Regardless, In 1850 Amos and Catherine have a full house.  Besides Anna, there are:  William Drake (age 22), Cyrena (age 12), Catherine (age 7) and a whole bunch of Bakers:  Charles (44), Juliette (41), James (18), Ester (16), John (13) Cynthia (7), George (4), Charles (3).  I still don't know how we connect with the Bakers.  We share a cemetery with them, and those Bakers above are living not only in the same place, but on the same land and house.  I also have a very old bible that has Mary Baker on the front page and down in the corner is written "for Duane."  That is what they used to call my dad.  And there has  been no other Duanes in the family.

In that 1850 United States Census, Amos is listed as a farmer and that he was born in New Jersey.  Catherine was born in New York.  William and Cyrena were also born in New York, while the littlest Catherine was born in Michigan.

On the same page as Amos and Catherine and John and Lucia, and the Bakers are the farming families Clark and King.

10 years later, in the 1860 United States Census, the Amos and Catherine household has declined.  The only other person in the house is Catherine, grown up, and at 18 she is a school teacher.  Amos is 59 and still farming.  He says his farm is worth $2000, with a personal estate worth $793.  What's interesting is that Catherine as a personal estate of $32 -- and she's the only woman on the page that has any personal property.

Farms owned by others in the area, enumerated on the same page as Amos and Catherine are valued as follows:  $500 (James Garrison), $600 (George Salmon), $1000 (Horace Wright), $1000 (Alden Nash), $1600 (James Smith), $700 (Thomas Sawyer).

I need to find out what a "personal estate" actually is.

James Smith, the man who's farm is valued almost as much as Amos'?  Black family.  It's hard to fathom that the there were free blacks farming in Hillsdale County, Michigan in 1860.

That 1860 Census states that Amos was born in New Jersey, Catherine (the mom) was born in New York and daughter Catherine was born in Michigan.

In the 1870 United States Census, the Kings and the Clarks show up again as neighbors of Amos and Cate Drake.  Where were they in 1860?  Did Amos and Cate move to another part of Hillsdale County, then return?  How can I find out where they all were physically located in 1860?

In 1870. John Stout Drake has a new woman in the house -- an Elinor Drake.  Also in the house are Bird A and Alfred B -- and I've pondered over this before.  Even tho the enumerator lists them as Bird 13 years old and Alfred as 11, I propose that they are the same child.  Other children are Ann, Mary Serenus, Jane and Lucy.

Living next door are Amos J Drake.  and his wife, Mary.  Their children are Hiram A (2) and Carrie E (6/12).  Amos J happens to be James Amos, first born of John Stout and Lucia.  This custom of naming children after grandparents, then calling them by the middle name until said grandparent dies.

Skip a farm down and there we find Amos Stout Drake, now 69 and his wife, Cate, 70.  Amos' farm is valued at $3500 with a personal estate of $2000.  Here, Amos' birth state is listed as New York -- which has always been New Jersey up to this point and Catherine's birth state is still New York.  Living with Amos and Cate is Catherine who has married a man named Woods.  He isn't enumerated, but son Frederick Woods is there and he's three years old, making him born in 1867.