52 Ancestors in 2019: #4 -- Charles W. Drake

Charles W. Drake

This week I'm highlighting my three times great grandfather.   I would love to be able to meet and spend some time chatting with him to get his perspective on the many details that have been presented as the stories of his life.   I have so many questions that I would love to hear his answers and fill out the details.

Charles W. Drake was born on March 25, 1843, in Standford, Dutchess, New York.  Based on my research, he was the fourth of six children born to Morris Drake and Sarah Clark.

Some of the first questions I would ask him are:

• Who were his great-grandparents?
• Where are his parents buried?
• What do you know about your family's history?  When did they come to America?
• Was Edmund Drake really his brother and what are the specifics about his brother's life?
• What was his childhood like?
• Was he close with his siblings?
• What were their holiday traditions? Favorite foods?
• What was going to school like?
• Did he keep in touch with his siblings as adults?

Charles Drake married Annagusta West in 1861.   They lived in Duchess County until the 1880-1890s.  They had a family of seven children; six daughters and one son.   When they left Dutchess County moved to Wayne County, New York where Charles' brother John Drake lived.  

Some additional questions I'd ask:

• How did you meet your wife?
• When was your actual wedding?
• Where did you get married?
• What was life like when your kids were little?
• What was your perspective of Anna's family?
• Where were you in 1875 when Anna and your family were living with her brother?
• Why did you not choose to fight in the Civil War?
• Why did you move to Wayne County?  
• What was life like after you moved, how was it different?
• How did you get here?
• Why did your daughter Minnie move to Illinois?
• What can you tell me about each of your children and your wife?
• Tell me about the pictures that were taken of your family -- what are the stories of each, when were they taken and what was the circumstances?
• Who did your daughter, Clara, marry? When and where was the wedding?
• Who were your wife's mother's parents?  Who were the Grahams?
• Where is your wife's mother buried?
• What happened between your daughter Sarah and her husband George, where did he go and why did he leave?
• What is your perspective on the bonfire that accidentally killed Julia?  What happened as result?
• Why did Anna leave in 1896 and when did she come back?
• Why were you living in the city with Agnes for a period of time?
• Did Agnes marry someone before she married Joe Hasselwander?
• What was Anna's involvement in the WCTU?
• Would you have considered yourself a drinker?   I'd want to explore how much he drank as he died from cirrhosis - did it impact the family? 
• What do you know about Anna's siblings?  Why did her brother move to Illinois as a young teen?

What is the story?

Charles died on November 11, 1922, at his home in Marion, NY.   He is buried in the Marion Cemetery.