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HIRAM D. DRAKE,
a prosperous young farmer of Ridgefield township, is a grandson of Hiram
and Sarah (Ruggles) Drake, both of whom were residents of Connecticut,
descended from English ancestry.
Salmon Drake, father of our subject, was born
April 9, 1827, in Plymouth, Luzerne Co., Penn., and came to Ridgefield
township, Huron Co., Ohio, in 1848. On June 17, 1850, he was united in
marriage with Cynthia DIckey, and the following autumn they located
on the Dickey homestead in Ridgefield township. He was a
superior farmer, and devoted the greater part of his life to that vocation;
he also had a practical knowledge of carpentry, which he followed during the
earlier years of his life. In July, 1867, Mr. and Mrs. Drake
and their eldest daughter united at Fairfield, Huron county, with the
congregation of the Christian people known as Disciples. In January,
1868, their membership was transferred to a sister church in Norwalk, where
Mr. Drake was at once chosen elder, and continued to serve in that
office the remainder of his life. He was a zealous Christian man,
taking an active part in every good work tending to the advancement of the
moral or religious growth of the community.
While one day training a young horse he was injured in
the left side, and having contracted a cold in a storm soon afterward, it
resulted in a fatal attack of typhoid pneumonia. He died April 3,
1877, and was followed to the grave by a large number of sympathizing
friends. Since the death of her husband Mrs. Drake has
continued to reside on the home place, where her children were born as
follows: Eliza Jane, July 5, 1852; Hiram D., July 7,
1854; Charles W., May 9, 1856; Imogene, April 29, 1858; J.
Omer, March 6, 1861; Georgiana, November 3, 1862; Sterry A.,
March 19, 1864; and Ira, born October 4, 1865, died January 18, 1872.
Hiram D. Drake received his early education at
the "Webb settlement" school, afterward attending a normal school at Milan,
in Erie county. After the death of his father he began to cultivate a
tract of land for himself, meanwhile boarding at the home of a neighbor.
On March 23, 1887, he was married to Blanche I. Killey, a native of
Marblehead, Ottawa county, Ohio, and a daughter of Robert and Mary Killey.
Since their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Drake have resided on the home
place, in Ridgefield township, Huron county, on which he has made many
improvements. He is a progressive farmer, and for a past few years has
been extensively engaged in small fruit culture. He votes with the
Republican party, but is not an active politician, as he gives his whole
time to conducting his private business. Mrs. and Mrs. Drake
have two little sons, vix.: Lewis Earl, born December 29, 1888, and
Robert Eric, born November 27, 1892. |
THOMAS DUNMORE,
a well-known inventor, and prominent citizen of Norwalk, was born in
Birmingham, England, in 1841, a son of Joseph and Mary (Mason) Dunmore
emigrated to this country in 1861, and immediately after landing entered
the Navy, in New York, remaining in the service four years and three months.
He was in New Orleans just after its capture, and spent some time at Key
West. Mr. Dunmore has traveled considerably, having crossed the
ocean nine times. In his native land he learned the plumber's trade,
and after the war settled in East Boston, whence in 1866 he removed to
Cleveland, Ohio, remaining there until 1881, when he came to Huron county
for the purpose of following his trade of plumber and steam-fitter. He
is the inventor of an improved system of heating and ventilating houses.
He is one of the largest stockholders in the Norwalk Incandescent Light and
Power Company, of which he was one of the chief organizers and builders, and
is one of the most enterprising citizens of his adopted town. His
system of heating and ventilating is covered by patents, and the testimony
of experts from all parts of the country is to the effect that it is of the
highest merit - as often reiterated: "the best in the world." He is
master of his business, and all the important contracts in Norwalk have been
under his successful management.
In social life Mr. is a member of the I. O. O. F. and
K. T., and in politics he is a Republican. At Birmingham, England, he
was united in marriage with Elizabeth Wright, and to them has been
born one son, Walter T. Our subject's grandfather Dunmore
was one of the most extensive farmers in Lincolnshire, England. Mrs.
Dunsmore's father (Philip Wright) was a soldier under
Wellington, and was in the front ranks at the battle of Waterloo; one of his
sons was in the English army in India, and died in hospital.
He had been discharged, and intended upon his return to England to come to
America, but he died a short time after reaching his native country. |
