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Samuel Drake (1822-?)
Pioneer lumber and grocery businessman.

1883 biography. (Added Jan., 2011)

History of Bay County, Michigan - 1883

SAMUEL DRAKE.
_______

S. Drake, of the grocery firm of S. Drake & Co., is one of the early settlers of Bay County. He first came to Lower Saginaw about 1851, and built a mill, in company with his brother Mr. John Drake. He is a native of Scotland and emigrated to Canada in 1834. He remained there until he came to Bay City in 1851. It was soon after Mr. Drake selected a spot for a burial place, which has since been used as a cemetery, on the West Side. His health failing, he was obliged to seek different climate, and he returned to Canada, where he remained until 1864, when he again came to Bay City and went into the grocery business. After remaining in this business a short time he retired from it and went on his farm, near the city. In the Fall of 1882 he again went into the grocery business on Center Street, the firm being S. Drake & Co. Mr. Drake is one of the reliable men of the city.

Page 187.

Oak Ridge Cemtery is one of, if not the oldest burying grounds in the county. In 1851-52 the Drake Bros., built their mill on the west side of the river, and soon after they set apart a tract of about twenty acres for a burial place. The location was admirably adapted to that purpose, the ground being high and beautifully wooded with oak trees. The name Oak Ridge was given to the place by Mr. John Drake. The first person buried there was one of the workmen in the Drake mill. Mr. Drake kept the property until about the year 1866, when he sold it to the township of Bangor.

Additional Notes.

1845 - Ontario Marriages.

• Place: Brock District, Ont.
• Date: Jan. 1, 1845
• Groom: Samuel Drake
• Bride: Elizabeth J. Gustin

  1871 - Michigan Births: Bay Co., Mich.

• Charles C. Drake, born Feb. 7, 1871, son of Samuel and Elizabeth Drake.

  1880 - Census: Wisner, Tuscola Co., Mich.

• Drake, Samuel; - b. 1830 Scotland, farmer
• Elisa Jane, wife - b. 1826 Canada
• Jessie B. - b. 1862 Canada
• Charles C. - b. 1870 Mich.
• Rose V. - b. 1860 Canada
• Ida May -b. 1858 Canada
• Black, Preston - laborer, age 17, b. Michigan
• Klien, Georgia - other, age 11, b. PA

  1880 - Census: Hume, Huron, Mich.

• Drake, Samuel - born 1845 Canada, farmer
• Mary, wife - age 29, b. Canada
• Harmon, son - age 12, b. Canada
• Alice A., dau. - age 8, b. Canada
• Maggie, dau. - age 4, b. Canada
• Drake, Eliza, mother - age 56, b. Canada
  Notes mother is likely Samuel Sr.'s wife.

  1900 - Census: Bay City, Mich. (610 Jefferson St.)

• Drake, Samuel - b. May 1822 Scotland, widow
• Ida J., dau. - Mar. 1854 Canada, single