Many thanks to descendant Sheila Sommerfeld for supplying much of thei nformation on Asher Drake and his descendants.
The first 2 children listed belong to Asher's first wife as Asher andM ary did not marry until 1858.
Residents & events:
6/14/1860 Concord Twp, Ross Co, OH. Recorded in that census wereAshe r Drake, 25, Mary, 21, their children Eliza J, 7; Mary, 5; Susan,1, an d Rue A, 2 mo. Asher was a farm hand with $50 in personalproperty.
He served in the Civil War in Co K, 89th Ohio Inf Vol, according tohis g ravestone.
7/13/1870 Broullitts Creek Twp, PO Logan, Edgar Co, IL. Having movedw est before the next census but perhaps was newly settled there asAsher D rake, 35 was a farmer but had only personal property which wasvalued a t $400. He had a large household that included wife Mary M,35' and ch ildren: Mary A, 15, Susan, 11, Rhoda A, 10, Lydia M, 8,Louisa C, 7, A sher Jr, 5, Sarah L, 3, and Leana B, 1.
6/14/1880 Same place. That year the census said: Asher at 46, stillf arming, Mary M, 41, Asher, 15, Sarah, 13, Leah B, 11, Emma C, 4, andEd ward E, 1. Asher was still farming.
6/9/1900 Moores Prairie Twp, Jefferson Co, IL. The census takerrecor ded: farmer Asher, 66, married 40 years to Mary M, 62, who hadbirthed 1 1 children but only 9 still survived. Living at home weresons Edward E , 21, and Clarence, 20, as well as two grandsons, MiltonWilburn, 13, a nd James Drake, 10.
4/18/1910 Dahlgren, Hamilton Co, IL. Why did the family move so fars outh before the next census? The index can't decide what the namereal ly is, listing several possibilities. The original is smearedbut Ashe r Drake can be made out. He was 75 years old, his wife wasof 52 years w as Mary M, 72, who had given birth to 11 children, 9 ofwhom still surv ived. Living with them were son Eli E, 31, grandsonJames, 20, and wid owed daughter Cordia High, 45. Asher was still afarmer on the home fa rm, the boys were farm laborers.
1/10/1920 Unnamed St, Village of Dahlgren, Hamilton Co, IL That yeara t census time Asher Drake was 85 years old, he owned the home freeof m ortgage, and had finally retired. Wife Mary M was 81, daugterCordia H igh, 56, was still at home taking care of the old folks andworking as h ousekeeper for a private family. Also living there wasgrandson Wilber M elton, 32, working as a laborer of odd jobs..
Asher Drake's Death Certificate
Transcribed
Death Certificate
State of Illinois
Place of Death : Hamilton County
Township: Dalhgren
City : Dalhgren
Reg No. 4
Full Name : Asher Drake
Sex : Male Color : White
Marital Statues : Widowed
Date of Birth : May 20 1834
Age 86 yrs 8 months 20 days
Date of Death Feb 10, 1921
Cause : Mental Diease, Pnuemoia , Bronchiitis
Occupation : Farmer
Birthplace : don't know
Name of Father : Efleram Drake (or Ephram)
Birthplace : New Jersey
Maiden Name of Mother (Poor writing- Rutll or Ruth , Rutt , Rutle)
birthplace : don't know
Informant : Asher K Drake ( son )
address: Mattoon , Illinois
Filed :Feb 12, 1921
Burial Richardson Hill Date fo Burial Feb 12, 1921
Undertaker J. H. Allen Dalgren
There are two stones for Asher, a small original one listing only hisC ivil War service and a new larger one with birth and death yearsplus C ivil War info.
