Bio: Drake, William Henry "Willie"  (1857 - 1920)

Researchers: Merrylee Celius

Surnames: Drake, Englehart, Wheeler, Nichulz, Taville, Foricler, Farill, Faville, Moody, Davis

----Source: Photo Collection of Merrylee Celius, Wisconsin State Horticultural Society / The Wisconsin horticulturist, Federal and State Census Records

William Henry Drake (19 April, 1857 - 1 November, 1920)

After a residence in Waterloo for nearly three years, W. H. Drake and family left the latter part of the week, and they expect to settle in Neillsville. Mr. Drake and his estimable wife (Carrie A.) will be missed very much, as during their sojourn here they have made hosts of friends who wish them abundant happiness in their new home. He will continue in his work, that of a photographer, in which he shows great skill, his pictures comparing favorably with those take in large galleries in the city. Waterloo Journal, The Clark Republican and Press, 31 May, 1888.

"HENRY C. PETERS, photographer and artist, who has been identified with the interests of Neillsville since 1888, at which time he succeeded W. H. Drake in his profession. This line of work is also ably represented by Miss Mattie Schuster, who has been located in Neillsville for a number of years. She is a competent photographer, and furnishes another example of what woman's wit May accomplish when she turns her attention to any special branch."

----Source: Janesville Daily Gazette November 30, 1901

In the Railway Wreck

Mrs. Mary Drake and son, W. H. Drake, have arrived In this city from New York and are visiting Mr. and Mrs. E. E. Burdick. They were in the fearful railroad wreck on the Wabash road near Seneca, Mich., last Wednesday night, being passengers on train No. 13. This was the train which was so badly demolished and which included the two cars of Italian immigrants who were burned to death. Mrs. Drake and son consider their escape unhurt miraculous.

----Source: Oshkosh Daily Northwestern November 29, 1901

THE ACCIDENT--Seneca, MI Head-On Train Collision, Nov 1901

Two passenger trains on the Wabash railroad, one going west, the other east, met In a frightful collision while going at almost full speed, one mile east of Seneca. Mich., a village eleven miles west of Adrian, shortly after 7 o'clock Wednesday night. Both trains were wrecked in the dreadful impact, entailing a tremendous loss of life, estimated at from eighty to 100.  The list of injured probably will reach 125.

The westbound train was known as No 13, and was a regular which, besides Its regular coaches, had several coaches filled with Italian immigrants going west from New York. The eastbound train was known as No. 4, the Continental limited. It was a vestibuled train, consisting of a baggage car. combination coach and. sleeper.

The cause of the wreck was a misreading of orders by Engineer Strong of the Continental limited. The order, it is claimed, read "Pass at Seneca." but Strong understood it to read Sand Creek. The conductor of the train did not know that the engineer had misunderstood the order and supposed that his train was going on ft siding The two trains crashed together and the cars of the westbound train were coupled up In a heap of ruins.

These ruins took fire and many bodies wore burned. Fourteen bodies were recovered. Sixty-one persons are known to be dead.

A William Drake Negative Folder Drake, Wm. H. - Photographer Active in Waterloo, WI 1886 - 1889 Active in Neillsville, WI 1888 - 1889 Active in Lake Mills, WI 1891 - 1896	A Drake Photo on a Neillsville Mat (Contact us if you can ID this person)
*Click on the photos to enlarge them.

----Source: Wisconsin State Horticultural Society / The Wisconsin horticulturist
Vol. VI, No. 7 (September 1901), pg. 31

THE WISCONSIN HORTICULTURIST.

PREMIUMS AWARDED AT SUMMER MEETING -- FRUIT.

De Soto plum, J. L. Herbst, Sparta; Wm. Toole, Baraboo, 2d.
Wyant plum, Wm. Toole, Baraboo.
Forest Garden plum, W. H. Drake, Lake Mills.
Cheney plum; Wm. Toole, Baraboo..
Weaver plum, R. H. Heatherton, Oshkosh.?
Lombard plum, C. -. Hirschinger, Baraboo.
Green Gage plum, R. H. Heatherton, Oshkosh.
Damson plum, Wm. Toole, Baraboo.
Burbank plum, W. H. Drake, Lake Mills.

The Above ad appeared frequently in the

Racine Daily Journal during1893.

Obit: Drake, William Henry (1856 - 1920)

----Source: Cemetery Obituaries 1920 - Geneva, NE

DRAKE, WILLIAM HENRY—William Henry Drake was born near Lake Mills, Wis., April 19, 1856. September 28, 1882 at Denver, Col., he was married to Carrie A Wheeler. Until thirty years of age he lived on his father’s farm where he was born. He early joined the Methodist church in Lake Mills, and for many years was superintendent of the Sunday school and leader of the choir. For a few years he engaged in the photographic business, then bought a fruit farm on the outskirts of Lake Mills, where he lived until 1902, when he moved his family to Taylor county, Wisconsin.

In May 1918, he moved to Geneva and has been bookkeeper in the Signal office ever since. He died at Green Gable, Lincoln, at 3:30 p.m. November 1, 1920 (this facility closed in 1932). He was taken there by his wife and Miss Hattie Palmer and Dr. Cheshire, hoping that an operation would prove beneficial. They called his son Henry from the university upon arriving but the father was already unconscious. His death occurred before the operation could be arranged for. The cause of death was ulcers of the stomach.

He leaves his wife and three children, Mrs. Fannie Davis of Junction City, Wis.; Mrs. Marguerite Moody of Minneapolis, Minn., and Henry who attends the state university, and nine grandchildren. A daughter, Leta, died about the age of seven years.

The body was brought back to Geneva Tuesday and taken to the Palmer and Wheeler residence. The funeral will be conducted from the Palmer and Wheeler residence at 3 o’clock this afternoon by Rev R. H. Thompson. Interment will be in the Geneva cemetery.

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Family Records

William H. "Willie" Drake
Born 19 April, 1857 Jefferson County, WI
Married 27 September, 1882 Denver, CO
Died 1 November, 1920 Green Gable Sanitarium, Lincoln, NE
Buried Geneva Cemetery, Geneva, Filmore, NE
Parents: Henry Clay Drake (1828 - 1907)  and Tamaron Taville (1839 - 1924)
Spouse: Carrie A. Wheeler
Born 7 September, 1861 Fond Du Lac, Fond Du Lac, WI
Died 23 July, 1937, Buried in the Geneva Cemetery, Geneva, Filmore, NE

Children
1 F Leta Drake
2 F Margaret Drake
3 F Frances Drake
4 M Henry Wheeler Drake, Born 14 February, 1901 WI, Spouse Frances Arline Soukup, Married 8 May, 1951 Omaha, Douglas, NE, Died 1 May, 1962 Omaha, Douglas, NE

Bio: Wheeler, Mary E. (24 Sep 1838, NY - 23 Feb 1915, Geneva, Fillmore, Nebraska)

WHEELER, MARY E.-- Mary E. Davis (the mother of Carrie A. Drake) was born in the state of New York in 1838. She was married to Rev. L. N. Wheeler at Fon du lac, Wis., in 1857. Rev. and Mrs. Wheeler went as missionaries of the Methodist Episcopal church to China first in the fall of 1865, going by sailing vessel around Cape of Good Hope, taking' six months for the voyage. After three years in South China, she with her husband went to Peking where they founded our first mission in that city. After seven years of service they returned to the home land owing to failing health. Twice after that they went back to the work, making in all twelve years of service in the foreign field. Twice she left loved children in this land to complete their education, this being one of the greatest trials of her life.

The last time out she buried her husband in Shanghai, China, returning alone in the spring of 1893. Also there are three little graves in Peking, China, where she laid to rest two daughters and her only son.

Nine children were born to this union, of whom five survive her: Mrs. Frances W. Verity, who has given thirty-three years of her life to mission work in China, and at present with her husband, Rev. G. W. Verity, is spending her vacation in this country; Mrs. Carrie A. Drake of Withee, Wis.; Agnes M. Wheeler of Geneva, with whom her mother has made her home for the past eight years; Mrs. Lucy Newman of Los Angles, Cal. and L. Maud Wheeler of Tien Tsin, China, where she is engaged in missionary work. There are seven grandchildren and six great grandchildren. Also of her father's family there survive two brothers and one sister. Since the death of her husband in June, 1893, Mrs. Wheeler has devoted her life unsparingly to promoting the cause of foreign missions. Her earnest work has produced large results and her efforts to spread information about this branch of church work and to create enthusiasm for its support will continue to bear fruit for many years to come. Her devotion to the advancement of the cause of religion in all its varied phases was whole-souled and unselfish. She had a wide acquaintance among church workers and all who knew her will mourn the death of this devoted Christian woman. Cemetery Obituaries 1915 - Geneva, NE

Rev. Luicuis Nathan Wheeler

(Father of Carrie A. Drake)

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1860 Federal Census, Milford, Jefferson, Wisconsin, United States, pg. 135

William Drake, Male
Age: 4
Race: White
Race (Original): [Blank]
Birth Year (Estimated): 1856
Birthplace: Wisconsin

Household Members
Acy Farill M 58 New York
Eliza Farill F 35 New York
Tamson Farill F 32 (1828) New York
Henry Drake M 31 (1829) New York
William Drake M 4 Wisconsin
Helen Schmidt F 23 New York
August Wolline M 23 Prussia
John Smith M 84 New York

1860 Federal Census, Byron, Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin, United States, pg. 139

Mary Wheeler
Gender: Female
Age: 21
Race: White
Birthplace: New York

Household Members
Lucius Wheeler M 21 (1839) Wisconsin
Mary Wheeler F 21 (1839) New York
Frances Wheeler F 0 Wisconsin
Byron Wheeler M 18 Wisconsin

1880 Federal Census, Milford, Jefferson, Wisconsin, United States

Willie H Drake
Gender: Male
Age: 24
Marital Status: Single
Race: White
Race (Original): W
Occupation: At Home
Relationship to Head of Household: Son
Birth Year (Estimated): 1856
Birthplace: Wisconsin, United States
Father's Birthplace: New York, United States
Mother's Birthplace: New York, United States

Household Members
H. C. Drake Self M 51 (1829) New York, United States
Tama Drake Wife F 49 New York, United States
Willie H Drake Son M 24 Wisconsin, United States
Carrie Drake Daughter F 8 Wisconsin, United States
Fred Englehart Other M 19 Wisconsin, United States
Bart D Other M --- Poland
Augusta Kuhen Other F 17 Poland

1880 Federal Census, Fond Du Lac, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, United States

Luchius Wheeler
Gender: Male
Age: 41
Marital Status: Married
Race: White
Race (Original): W
Occupation: Methodist Minister
Birth Year (Estimated): 1839
Father's Birthplace: New York, United States
Mother's Birthplace: Vermont, United States
 

Household Members
Luchius Wheeler Self M 41 W
Mary Wheeler Wife F 41 New York, United States
Francis Wheeler Daughter F 20 Wisconsin, United States
Carrie Wheeler Daughter F 18 Wisconsin, United States
Lucy Wheeler Daughter F 8 China
Maud Wheeler Daughter F 6 Wisconsin, United States
Aggie Wheeler Daughter F 15 Wisconsin, United States

1900 Federal Census, Lake Mills town (excl. Lake Mills Village), Jefferson, Wisconsin, United States

William H Drake
Gender: Male
Age: 44
Marital Status: Married
Race: White
Race (Original): W
Years Married: 18
Birth Date: Apr 1856
Birthplace: Wisconsin
Marriage Year (Estimated): 1882
Father's Birthplace: New York
Mother's Birthplace: New York
 

Household Members
William H Drake Head M 44 (1856) Wisconsin
Carrie A. Drake Wife F 39 (1861) Wisconsin
Frances Drake Daughter F 16 (1884) Wisconsin
Margarete Drake Daughter F 11 (1888) Wisconsin

1905 Wisconsin State Census, Maplehurst, Taylor, Wisconsin, Page: 119

Wm H Drake, 49 yrs.
Birth Year (Estimated): Abt 1856
Birthplace: Wisconsin
Race: White
Gender: Male
Marital Status: Married
Parent 1 Birthplace: New York
Parent 2 Birthplace: New York

Household Members
Wm H Drake Head M 49y Wisconsin
Carrie A Drake Wife F 43y Wisconsin
Francis L Drake Daughter F 20y Wisconsin
Maragrite A Drake Daughter F 17y Wisconsin
Henry Drake Son M 4y Wisconsin
Wm B Nichulz Head M 34y Wisconsin
Katie Nichulz Wife F 33y Wisconsin
Harold Nichulz Son M 11y Wisconsin
Ethel Nichulz Daughter F 5y Wisconsin
Ervin Nichulz Son M 3y Wisconsin

1910 Federal Census, Maplehurst, Taylor, Wisconsin, United States

William H Drake, Retail Merchant
Gender: Male
Age: 54
Marital Status: Married
Race: White
Race (Original): White
Relationship to Head of Household: Head
Relationship to Head of Household (Original): Head
Birth Year (Estimated): 1856
Birthplace: Wisconsin
Father's Birthplace: New York
Mother's Birthplace: New York
 

Household Members
William H Drake Head M 54 Wisconsin
Carrie Drake Wife F 48 Wisconsin
Henry W Drake Son M 9 (1901) Wisconsin
Alma Herrick Boarder F 21 Wisconsin, public school teacher

1920 Federal Census, Geneva Ward 2, Fillmore, Nebraska, United States, Adam St.

William H Drake, Bookkeeper for Newspaper
Gender: Male
Age: 63
Marital Status: Married
Race: White
Race (Original): White
Can Read: Yes
Can Write: Yes
Own or Rent: Own
Birth Year (Estimated): 1857
Birthplace: Wisconsin
Father's Birthplace: New York
Mother's Birthplace: New York
 

Household Members
William H Drake Head M 63 Wisconsin
Carrie A Drake Wife F 58 Wisconsin
Henry W Drake Son M 18 (Wisconsin

1930 Federal Census, Geneva City, Fillmore, Nebraska, United States

Henry W Drake, Civil Engineer for the County
Age: 29, Single Male
Race: White
Race (Original): White
Birth Year: 1901
Birthplace: Wisconsin
Father's Birthplace: Wisconsin
Mother's Birthplace: Wisconsin

Household Members
Henry W Drake Head M 29 Wisconsin
Carrie A Drake Mother F 68 Wisconsin

Wisconsin Birth Records

Bio: Drake, Frances (Birth - 1884)

Daughter: Drake (Frances)
Other information in the record of Drake
from Wisconsin, Births and Christenings
Name: Drake
Gender: Female
Birth Date: 08 Jun 1884
Birthplace: Lake Mills, Jefferson, Wisconsin
Race: White
Father's Name: Willie H. Drake
Mother's Name: Carrie Wheeler

Bio: Drake, Leta, (Birth - 1886)

Daughter: Drake
Other information in the record of Drake
from Wisconsin, Births and Christenings
Name: Drake
Gender: Female
Birth Date: 05 Mar 1886
Birthplace: Waterloo, Jefferson, Wisconsin
Race: White
Father's Name: W. H. Drake
Father's Birthplace: Milford, Wis.
Mother's Name: Carrie A. Wheeler
Mother's Birthplace: Fondulac, Wis.

Bio: Drake, Margarete (Birth - 1888)

Name: William H. Drake
Birthplace: Milford Township
Gender: Male
Wife: Carrie A. Wheeler
Daughter: Drake
Name: Drake, Female
Birth Date: 06 Jan 1888
Birthplace: Waterloo, Jefferson, Wisconsin
Race: White
Father's Name: William H. Drake
Father's Birthplace: Milford Township
Mother's Name: Carrie A. Wheeler
Mother's Birthplace: Fond-Du-Lac

Bio: Drake, Henry Wheeler (1901)

Henry Wheeler Drake
Gender: Male
Birth Date: 14 Feb 1901
Birthplace: Lake Mills, Jefferson, Wisconsin
Race: White
Father's Name: W. H. Drake
Father's Birthplace: Jefferson County, Wis.
Mother's Name: Carrie Wheeler

Colorado Marriage Records

BioM: Drake, Carrie A. (1882)

William H Drake
Event Type: Marriage
Event Date: 27 Sep 1882
Event Place: Denver, Denver, Colorado, United States
Spouse's Name: Carrie A Wheeler
Page: 1150

Wisconsin Marriage Records

BioM: Drake, Carrie (1891)

Gilbert E. Roe
Spouse's Name: Carrie M. Drake (sister of W. H. Drake)
Event Date: 25 Jun 1891
Event Place: Jefferson, Wisconsin
Father's Name: John
Mother's Name: Jane Mckerby
Spouse's Father's Name: Henry Drake
Spouse's Mother's Name: Tanison Foricler

Wisconsin Death Records

Obit: Dake, Henry C. (1829 - 1907)

Henry C Drake
Event Type: Death
Event Date: 1907
Event Place: Dane, Wisconsin
Gender: Male
Age: 78
Birth Year 1829
Father's Name: J C Drake

Obit: Drake, Carrie (1886 - 1893)

William H. Drake
Gender: Male
Wife: Carrie Drake
Daughter: Leta Drake, female
Death, 1893 at Lake Mills, Jefferson, Wisconsin
Age: 7
Race: W
Birth Year:  1886
Father's Name: William H. Drake
Mother's Name: Carrie Drake

Obit: Drake, Tamaron (1828 - 1905)

Tamazare Drake
Event Type: Death
Event Date: 08 Jan 1905
Event Place: Dane, Wisconsin
Page: 0417