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DRAKE

Portrait and Biographical Record ~ Page 807

Kindly submitted by: Joyce Wallace

FRED R. DRAKE

Fred R. Drake, a member of the firm of J. Drake’s Sons & Co; of Easton, was born in this city, June 12, 1865, being a son of Samuel and Sarah (Arndt) Drake. His ancestors were of the Scotch-Irish class that has proved such a valuable acquisition to American citizenship. The family is a part of the New Jersey branch of the Drakes, and lived at Asbury, where John Drake, our subject’s grandfather, was born in 1803. Leaving Asbury and engaging in business for a few years at Broadway, N.J., finally settled at Easton, PA.

In Broadway, Warren County, N.Y., July 16, 1830, Samuel Drake was born. His education was received principally in a private school in Easton, and upon completing his studies he entered into the wholesale grocery business with his father, this being about 1847. In 1857 he became a member of the firm of Drake & Hulick, with which concern he was connected until June 30, 1893. He was Vice President and a Director of the Thomas Iron Company and the Edison Illumination Company of Easton, also a Director in the First National Bank, the Easton Trust Company and the Easton Water Company, and one of the managers of the Insurance Company of Northampton County. Successful in business, he was also progressive in spirit, and was a leader in many of the industrial reforms of Easton. His political affiliations were with the Whigs until the formation of the Republican Party, when he became a supporter of the new organization. In religion he belonged to the Second Presbyterian Church, and socially was identified with the Masonic fraternity. His children, four in number, were Mary Virginia, wife of J. Madison Porter, of Lafayette College; Fred R; Carrie Arndt and Laura Edna.

After completing the studies of the public schools of Easton, the subject of this sketch was fitted for college under a tutor. In 1882 he entered Lafayette College, joining the Zeta Psi fraternity, and four years later he graduated. Going into business in 1886, he became in 1889 a member of the wholesale grocery firm of J. Drake’s Sons & Co; with which he has been connected up to the present time. This is the largest concern of the kind on Easton, and is well and favorably known in business circles, having been established in 1836.

Though not active in politics, Mr. Drake has represented his party, the Republicans, as a delegate to various conventions. He is a Director in the Thomas Iron Company and in the First National Bank of Easton, and is interested in everything pertaining to the welfare of his fellow-citizens. His religious membership is in the Second Presbyterian Church. Socially he is a member of the Zeta Psi Club, the Shakespeare Society of New York, and the Pomfret Club of Easton.

 

 

 
Source: Portrait and Biographical Record of Lehigh, Northampton and Carbon Counties, Pennsylvania. Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens of the Counties, Together with Biographies and Portraits of all the Presidents of the United States. Chicago, Chapman Publishing Co., 1894;
 

 

 

 

Page last updated: February 2, 2022

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