20. Martin Bogarte⁴ DRAKE (Warren W.⁵, Piatt D.⁶, Noah⁷, Andrew⁸, Edward⁹, Capt. Andrew¹⁰, Capt. George¹¹, Capt. Francis¹², Thomas¹³, Rev. Edmund¹⁴, John¹⁵) was born in Plum Tree, Huntington Co., Indiana 11 Aug 1889. Martin died 12 Aug 1961 in Normal, McLean Co., Illinois, at 72 years of age. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * OBITUARY OF MARTIN BOGARTE DRAKE

M. B. Drake, 72, State Bank Officer Dies In Hospital

(obituary from Farmer City Journal)

Martin Bogarte Drake was born on August 11, 1889, at Plum Tree, Indiana, the son of the Rev. Warren W. Drake and Abigail Mount Drake, and died on August 12, 1961 at Brokaw Hospital in Normal, Illinois, at the age of 72 years and 1 day. The son of a Methodist minister, most of his early life was spent in the Western part of the state ,where his father held various pastorates. He was gradutated from the high school at Griggsville, Illinois, and then attended the Illinois Wesleyan University at Bloomington. Early in his life he spent several years as a school teacher and later became Editor and Publisher of a weekly newspaper at Bowen, Illinois. In 1914 he entered the banking business at the Bank of Chestnut where he remained until 1920 when he helped organize the State Bank of Cornland. He served as cashier and managing officer of the Cornland bank until 1949 when he moved to Farmer City and became a vice president of the Farmer City State Bank, a position he held until his death. On April 25, 1911 he was married to Alma Leimbach who passed away on November 22, 1913, and from this marriage he is survived by one son, Michael Warren Drake of Chestnut. On February 22, 1920 he was united in marriage with Clara Belle Robinson of Beason, and she survives along with 6 sons, David and Robert of Beason; Donald of Godfrey; Richard of Farmer City; George of Cornland, and Andrew of Decatur. He is also survived by two sisters, Julia A. Drake and Grace Elizabeth Drake, both of whom live in San Angelo, Texas. Also surviving are 22 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren. An active Methodist layman all of his life, Mr. Drake was a member of the Farmer City Methodist Church at the time of his death. He was also a member or Cornland Lodge No. 808 A.F.& A.M., Cornland Chapter No. 559 of the Order of Eastern Star, Farmer City Chapter of Royal Arch Masons, and the Farmer City Kiwanis Club. Throughout his life he was very active in church and community affairs, but in spite of this, he always found time to visit with his family and friends. He was a great lover of music and was especially fond of children. Funeral services were held at 2 p. m. Monday at the Methodist church with the Rev. David Dees officiating. Burial was in Mt. Pulaski Cemetery, Mt. Pulaski, Illinois. Casket bearers were David L. Drake, Michael Warren Drake, Robert E. Drake, Richard K. Drake, George E. Drake, and Andrew V. Drake.

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His body was interred 14 Aug 1961 in Mount Pulaski, Logan Co., Illinois.

He married twice. He married Alma Katherine LEIMBACH in Mount Pulaski, Logan Co., Illinois, 25 Apr 1911. Alma was born in Mt. Pulaski, Logan, Illinois 25 Dec 1885. Alma died 22 Nov 1913 in Illinois, at 27 years of age. Her body was interred 24 Nov 1913 in Mt. Pulaski, Logan Co., Illinois. At 27 years of age Alma became the mother of Michael Warren DRAKE in Jacksonville, Illinois, 29 Oct 1913. He married Clara Belle ROBINSON in Beason, Logan Co., Illinois, 22 Feb 1920. Clara was born in Beason, Logan Co., Illinois 14 Oct 1889. Clara was the daughter of David ROBINSON and Elizabeth MAUCK. Clara died 20 Dec 1969 in FarmerCity, DeWitt Co., Illinois, at 80 years of age. Her body was interred 23 Dec 1969 in Mount Pulaski, Logan Co., Illinois. She was a student in Beason, Logan Co., Illinois, 1899. School: North Bethel School. * * * * * Clara Belle and siblings attended school at North Bethel School, which was a country school at the extreme northwest corner of the northeast quarter of section 23, T20N, R1W, Oran Township, Logan County, Illinois. The school was about 3/4 mile west of their home. From the intersection of the Beason-Atlanta road and Route 10, go east one mile, then two miles north to the intersection of the roads. The school was on the southeast corner of that intersection. This according to the 1893 Logan County platbook.

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At 31 years of age Clara became the mother of David Luther DRAKE in Cornland, Logan, Illinois, 19 May 1921. At 32 years of age Clara became the mother of Donald Louis DRAKE in Cornland, Logan, Illinois, 22 Aug 1922. At 33 years of age Clara became the mother of Robert Eugene DRAKE in Cornland, Logan, Illinois, 8 Oct 1923. At 35 years of age Clara became the mother of Richard Kenneth DRAKE in Cornland, Logan, Illinois, 17 Jan 1925. At 37 years of age Clara became the mother of George Edward DRAKE in Cornland, Logan Co., Illinois, 1 Nov 1926. At 38 years of age Clara became the mother of Andrew Vincent DRAKE in Cornland, Logan, Illinois, 12 Jan 1928.

At 24 years of age Martin became the father of Michael Warren DRAKE in Jacksonville, Illinois, 29 Oct 1913. At 31 years of age Martin became the father of David Luther DRAKE in Cornland, Logan, Illinois, 19 May 1921. At 33 years of age Martin became the father of Donald Louis DRAKE in Cornland, Logan, Illinois, 22 Aug 1922. At 34 years of age Martin became the father of Robert Eugene DRAKE in Cornland, Logan, Illinois, 8 Oct 1923. At 35 years of age Martin became the father of Richard Kenneth DRAKE in Cornland, Logan, Illinois, 17 Jan 1925. At 37 years of age Martin became the father of George Edward DRAKE in Cornland, Logan Co., Illinois, 1 Nov 1926. At 38 years of age Martin became the father of Andrew Vincent DRAKE in Cornland, Logan, Illinois, 12 Jan 1928. Martin was honored in Farmer City, Dewitt Co., Illinois, 23 Sep 1949. Martin Bogarte Drake was appointed to the board directors of Farmer City State Bank on September 23, 1949, at the same time as his son George E. Drake.

He emigrated, 1950. Point of origin: Cornland, Logan Co., Illinoi. He resided in Farmer City, Dewitt Co., Illinois 11 Aug 1961. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * M. B. DRAKE

(from an article published in the Farmer City, Illinois History of 1837-1987)

Martin Bogarte Drake was born in Plum Tree, Indiana, August 11, 1889. He was the first child of Warren and Abigail Mount Drake from Mason and Tazewell Counties, Illinois. M.B. and sisters, Julia Angeline (1892-1970) and Grace Elizabeth (1906) residing at Evenglow Lodge, Pontiac, attended several schools as their father served the following Methodist churches in Illinois: Little Indian, Literberry, Chandlerville, Manchester, Kinderhook, Perry, Griggsville, Maroa, Bowen, Hunboldt, Neoga and Owaneco. M. B. graduated from Griggsville High School and attended Illinois Wesleyan University two years. M.B. taught Fair Haven School southeast of Chestnut for one year, 1907-08. April 25, 1911, he and Miss Alma Leimbach of Chestnut were married in Mt. Pulaski and departed for Bowen, Illinois, where he was publishing a weekly newspaper, The Bowen Chronicle. Their son Michael Warren was born October 29, 1913. Alma died November 22, 1913. M.B. sold his business in Bowen and moved to Chestnut, January, 1914, where he and his son made their home with Mr. and Mrs. Michael Leimbach, the child's grandparents. He worked in the Bank of Chestnut six years. February 22, 1920 he and Miss Clara Belle Robinson of Beason, who had taught Popcorn School northeast of Chestnut, were married. They went to Cornland where the new State Bank of Cornland opened for business March 2, 1920. He served as cashier 29 years. During the time they lived in Cornland the family was active in the Methodist Church, school, music, Masonic ard community affairs. After the 1927 tornado struck Cornland killing two people, M. B. ran home. Finding his family safe, he hurried back to help those less fortunate. Their children were: David Luther, May 19, 1921; Donald Louis, August 22, 1922; Robert Eugene, October 8, 1923; Richard Kenneth, January 17, 1925; George Edward, November 1, 1926; and Andrew Vincent, January 12, 1928. The boys attended school at Cornland. David, Robert and Richard graduated from Lincoln Community High School after two years high school at Cornland. Michael, George and Andrew graduated from Mount Pulaski Township High School. David, Robert, Richard and George served in the Armed Forces during WW II. After the war, they and Andrew graduated from the University of Illinois. M.B. and Belle moved to Farmer City in 1950 where he had joined the staff of the Farmer City State Bank. He died August 12, 1961. Belle remained in Farmer City until her death, December 20, 1969. At her death there were 12 grandsons and 12 granddaughters. Michael, who was president of Bank of Chestnut, died January 18, 1983. David and Robert farm near Beason. Donald died August 9, 1979. Richard resides at Farmer City. George succeeded his father at State Bank of Cornland in 1949 and remained there until 1964 when he moved to El Paso, where he is president of Woodford County Bank. Andrew lives at Morton and is an accountant with Caterpillar at its world headquarters in Peoria.

Submitted by Richard K. Drake

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The following appears in the Winter edition of the January, 1998 issue of The Mirror, which is published by the Farmer City, Illinois Historic Society.

This item is a reprint from the series of 185 profiles published from 1950-1953 in the Farmer City (Illinois) Journal. A directory of the series was in the July 1997, Mirror.

Flowers For The Living OUR CITIZENS

A weekly series published from June, 1950-Dec., 1953

M. B. DRAKE On learning that several stockholders in the Farmer City State Bank were desirous of selling their bank stock, M. B. Drake became interested in the local bank, purchasing their stock in August, 1949, and becoming a member of the board of directors. Although born in Indiana, Mr. Drake has spent most of his life in Illinois, moving to this state with his parents when quite small. He received his early education in various localities in Illinois where his father preached, and following graduation from high school he attended Illinois Wesleyan at Bloomington for two years, after which he entered the teaching profession, teaching in Logan County. He later took up the printing trade and was engaged in that business in Bowen, Ill., until 1914 when he became assistant cashier of the Bank of Chestnut in Chestnut. Ever interested in bank expansion, he participated in the organization of the State Bank of Cornland, being a stockholder and director and serving as cashier of that bank until coming to Farmer City. Mr. Drake was elected vice-president of the Farmer City State Bank in 1949, succeeding Grover W. Watson who resigned upon selling his bank stock. He and his wife moved here shortly thereafter, purchasing from Sim Wilson, Sr., a home on West Market St., where they now reside. Endowed with a friendly disposition, Mr. Drake has enjoyed meeting and making friends with the residents of Farmer City and the neighboring vicinity. He is a member of the Farmer City Boosters' Association; the Royal Arch Masons and the Kiwanis Club, and takes an interest in all activities leading toward the betterment of Farmer City. Both Mr. and Mrs. Drake are members of the Methodist Church. Mrs. Drake's chief interest is in her home, followed by interest in church activities. She is also a member of the Eastern Star and the Farmer City Woman's Club. Mr. Drake's oldest son, Michael, is a farmer at Chestnut and is also president of the Bank of Chestnut. Two other sons, David and Robert, are farmers near Beason. Another son, George, succeeded his father as cashier of the Bank of Cornland, and is a stockholder of the local bank, having served as a director the past two years. Another son, Richard, is cashier of the Sheridan State Bank and the youngest son, Andrew, following graduation from the University of Illinois a year and a half ago, has been interested in the local bank as an assistant cashier, and with his wife has established a home in Farmer City. Mr. Drake has found Farmer City a fine place to call home. He enjoys the people and activities here, finds it above the average as a business center composed of a large number of persons of high business ability and character and is most happy that he can be associated with them.-Farmer City Journal, Nov. 29, 1951. Submitted by Claude Walker.

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The following are from the "Local News" section of the Bowen, Illinois, Chronicle:

"M. B. Drake is spending a few weeks with home folks at the Methodist Parsonage." (from page 5 of a Thursday issue between May and June, 1908)

""M. B. Drake is attending the summer term at the State University, Urbana, Illinois. He will teach in the public schools in Havana this year." (from page 5, 3rd column, of the Thursday, June 25, 1908 issue)

"Bogard Drake, who had been teaching in the public schools at Havana (IL) resigned his position and came home Thursday." (from page 5, center column, of the Thursday, November 26, 1908 issue)

"Bogarte Drake commenced his work as a teacher at the Washington School Monday." (from page 5 of the Thursday, December 10, 1908 issue)

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Martin Bogarte DRAKE and Alma Katherine LEIMBACH had the following child:

21 i. Michael Warren³ DRAKE was born in Jacksonville, Illinois 29 Oct 1913. Michael died 18 Jan 1983 in Springfield, Sangamon, Illinois, at 69 years of age. At 23 years of age Michael became the father of Michael Louis DRAKE in Chestnut, Logan, Illinois, 22 Dec 1936. At 26 years of age Michael became the father of Betty Louise DRAKE in Chestnut, Logan, Illinois, 16 Jan 1940. At 30 years of age Michael became the father of John William DRAKE in Chestnut, Logan, Illinois, 11 Aug 1944. At 33 years of age Michael became the father of Beverly Ann DRAKE in Chestnut, Logan, Illinois, 19 Aug 1947.

Martin Bogarte DRAKE and Clara Belle ROBINSON had the following children:

22 ii. David Luther DRAKE (still alive).

23 iii. Donald Louis DRAKE was born in Cornland, Logan, Illinois 22 Aug 1922. Donald died 9 Aug 1979 in Illinois, at 56 years of age. Donald was retarded and lived his later life in an institution.

24 iv. Robert Eugene DRAKE (still alive).

25 v. Richard Kenneth DRAKE (still alive).

+ 8 vi. George Edward DRAKE (still alive).

26 vii. Andrew Vincent DRAKE (still alive).

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