November 1882
HISTORY
Marcus Mortier Drake was born in DeRuyter, New York
on September 7, 1835. He was born to a farming family. When
two years old, the family moved near Fredonia in Chautauqua
County, New York.
He lived
the life of most farming boys, working the fields in summer
and attending school in winter. At a later age, he attended
Fredonia Academy, where he graduated from in 1852, at seventeen
years of age.
Drake's lifelong ambition was to be a sailor, and
soon after leaving school he found employment on the vessel
"William Buckley". He was soon promoted and advanced,
until, in 1856, he was given the position of first mate.
In 1861, at twenty-six years of age, he was made
a captain and given command of the "Genesee Chief".
He soon commanded several other steamers belonging to a
line that ran in connection with the Erie Railroad
, including the "Oswego", "New York",
"Tioga", and "Canesteo". All of these
ships were known as screw steamers.
In August 1862 Captain Drake left his employ to become
a Union soldier in the Civil War
He enlisted in Dunkirk, New York and entered as a private
in the 72d Regiment, N.Y. Volunteers. His regiment was always
at the front, participating in the battles of Fredericksburg,
Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, and many minor battles. He
was also in Petersburg during the final Rebel struggle to
resist Union armies.
His term ended in the spring of 1865, and he was
transferred to 120th Regiment, NY Volunteers. Upon his transfer
he was promoted to the rank of 1st Lieutenant and placed
in command of Company H. He remained with this troop until
the end of the war. They were at Appomattox at the time
of the final surrender by General Lee.
After his service was completed, he returned to his
former employment.
He was a vessel master until 1869, when he was employed
by the Union Steamboat Company as superintendent of repairs
at their shipyards in Buffalo
In 1872 he was appointed Superintendent of the Union
Dry Dock Company, upon its organization.
Drake was always an earnest Republican, casting his
first vote after the party was organized.
In the fall of 1878, "without solicitation on
his part, and against his desire or inclination," he
was nominated and elected Alderman for the Eleventh Ward
for the years 1879 - 1880. After this election there was
an even number in the Council of Democrats and Republicans.
Drake always took a prominent position in favor of a compromise.
He was more of an independent Republican, unless
it was a political question, at which time he stood by his
party. He was against corruption
and wrong-doing, regardless of who the perpetrator was.
Captain Drake was re-elected in 1880, serving in
1881 - 1882. He was frequently called a 'kicker' because
he did not always cooperate with his party associates.
Upon the organization of the Council of 1882, Drake
and several other Republicans voted to put a Democratic
President in charge of the Council, when the Republicans
were in control.
When the fall of 1882 arrived, there were few Republicans
who wanted Drake elected for a third term, and another Republican
was nominated. But, upon the request of many electors in
his district, he agreed to be put on the ballot as an independent
candidate
He was elected by 323 votes.
Now he was not bound by political ties and was highly
respected for it.
LIFE AS A MAYOR
Upon the resignation of Grover Cleveland
on November 20, 1882 to take the Governor's seat, the Common
Council
elected Drake to fill the vacancy until a special election could
be held in early January, 1883.
He immediately took up where Cleveland had left off,
vetoing various bills brought before him, including an experiment
to pave Delaware Avenue from Virginia Street to North Street,
and another to allow large signs to protrude over the city
streets.
During his brief term he also became a Police Commissioner.
Mayor Drake
's mayoral career was shortened, though. He did not like
the office of mayor and chose to resign on December 22,
1882, to take effect on December 29, 1882, in order to return
to his newly elected duties as alderman.
PERSONAL LIFE
Drake served on the Common Council
one more term.
In 1889 he resigned his position with the Erie Railroad
He helped organize the Lackawana
Transportation Company that year and was Superintendent.
In 1890 he retired from the Board of Aldermen.
After serving the Lackawana Transportation
Company for
several years, he retired, and led a private life.
In 1895, under Mayor Jewett
, Drake was made Commissioner of Public Works, a position
he held from January 1896 until December 1900.
He was again elected to the Common Council
for another term and retired in the early 1900's.
He spent the next few years attending to his extensive
marine interests and private business.
In 1860 Drake married Persis L. Bennett of Hamlet,
Chautauqua County, who died soon after their marriage. In
1867 he remarried, this time to Mary A. Ludlow, who bore
him six children. She died on November 3, 1880. The last
known residence of Captain Drake was at 346 Lafayette Avenue.
In 1900 he married for a third time, to Lillian Quest.
Captain Drake was not a very sociable person, nor
did he belong to many clubs or other social assemblies.
Aside from attending the Grace Episcopal Church, the Masonic
Fraternity, and the Order of United Workmen, he had virtually
no connection with organized associations. He was a member
of Mason
ic lodges for over 40 years. In addition, he was a commander
of the William Richardson Post of the Grand Army of the
Republic.
Drake was one of the organizers of the Niagara Bank,
and its first vice-president. The bank was later merged
with Manufacturers' and Traders' National Bank.
Additionally, a giant boulder that was placed in
the meadow of Delaware Park
, marking the burial site of 300 unknown soldiers of the
War of 1812
, was one of the public improvements that Captain Drake
was largely responsible for.
For a number of years he was chairman of the committee
on canal and harbor improvements of the Merchants' Exchange,
and a prominent worker in its successor, the Chamber of
Commerce.
For several months in 1907 Drake was ill. Finally,
in September he was admitted to General Hospital
and Dr. Roswell Park performed an operation for abdominal trouble.
It appeared he was recovering, when serious lung complications
set in and he died on September 28, 1907. He is buried in
Forest Lawn Cemetery
At least one group met after his death to draw up
appropriate resolutions. The George A. Ray Manufacturing
Company, of which Drake was a director for many years, did
that on September 30, 1907.
