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Below is a family biography included in the book,  Portrait and biographical record of Lehigh, Northampton and Carbon counties, Pennsylvania published in 1894 by Chapman Publishing Company.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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FRED R. DRAKE, a member of the firm of J. Drake’s Sons & Co., of Easton, was born in this city June 12, 1865, being a son of Samuel and Sarah (Arndt) Drake. His ancestors were of the Scotch-Irish class that has proved such a valuable acquisition to American citizenship. The family is a part of the New Jersey branch of the Drakes, and lived at Asbury, where John Drake, our subject’s grandfather, was born in 1803. Leaving Asbury and engaging in business for a few years at Broadway, N. J., he finally settled at Easton, Pa.

In Broadway, Warren County, N. Y., July 16, 1830, Samuel Drake was born. His education was received principally in a private school in Easton, and upon completing his studies he entered into the wholesale grocery business with his father, this being about 1847. In 1857 he became a member of the firm of Drake & Hulick, with which concern he was connected until June 30, 1893. He was Vice-President and a Director of the Thomas Iron Company and the Edison Illuminating Company, of Easton, also a Director in the First National Bank, the Easton Trust Company and the Easton Water Company, and one of the managers of the Insurance Company of Northampton County. Successful in business, he was also progressive in spirit, apd was a leader in many of the industrial reforms of Easton. His political affiliations were with the Whigs until the formation of the Republican party, when he became a supporter of the new organization. In religion he belonged to the Second Presbyterian Church, and socially was identified with the Masonic fraternity. His children, four in number, were Mary Virginia, wife of J. Madison Porter, of Lafayette College; Fred R., Carrie Arndt and Laura Edna.

After completing the studies of the public schools of Easton, the subject of this sketch was fitted for college under a tutor. In 1882 he entered Lafayette College, joining the Zela Psi fraternity, and four years later he was graduated. Going into business in 1886, he became, in 1889, a member of the wholesale grocery firm of J. Drake’s Sons & Co., with which he has been connected up to the present time. This is the largest concern of the kind in Easton, and is well and favorably known in business circles, having been established in 1836.

Though not active in politics, Mr. Drake has represented his party, the Republican, as a delegate to various conventions. He is a Director in the Thomas Iron Company and in the First National Bank of Easton, and is interested in everything pertaining to the welfare of his fellow-citizens. His religious membership is in the Second Presbyterian Church. Socially he is a member of the Zeta Psi Club, the Shakespeare Society of New York, and the Pomfret Club of Easton.

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This family biography is one of the numerous biographies included in the book, Portrait and biographical record of Lehigh, Northampton and Carbon counties, Pennsylvania published in 1894 by Chapman Publishing Company. 

View additional Northampton County, Pennsylvania family biographies here: Northampton County, Pennsylvania Biographies

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