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Below is a family biography included in the book, The History of Scotland County, Missouri published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1887.  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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James C. Drake, a prominent and influential farmer of Scotland County, Mo., was born in Hardin County, Ky., April 27, 1835. He is one of nine children born to William Drake and Mary (Holland) Drake. The former was born in Virginia, the son of William Drake, Sr. He grew to manhood in that State, and a few years after marriage removed to Hardin County, Ky., where he lived upon a farm until the spring of 1854. He then came to Bentonsport, Iowa, and the next fall located in Union (then Greene) Township, Mo. He subsequently lived in Johnson Township, and finally located on the line between Miller and Union Township. He died in 1864. He was twice married, his first wife dying about 1840. He afterward married Mary Paul, by whom he was the father of six children. James C. remained at home in support of the family until he was twenty years of age. In 1856 he purchased eighty acres of land in Union Township, which he afterward exchanged with his brother for unimproved land, which he sold. He then purchased a farm of ninety acres in Miller Township, where he lived until 1878, when he bought the farm of 238 ½ acres, upon which he has since resided, and which he has transformed into one of the neatest farm homes in the county. On December 20, 1860, Mr. Drake was united in marriage with Rebecca Leach, a native of Iowa, and a sister of J. C. Leach, a druggist in Memphis, Mo. To their union have been born Charles E., Alfred H., Vinnie M., Harvey T., and Delia B., the first two of whom are married. Mr. and Mrs. Drake, and all the children are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. He is also a member of the Masonic fraternity. In politics he is a Democrat, and has held the office of road overseer and school director for several years, and is one of the best known and most highly esteemed citizens of the county.

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This family biography is one of 140 biographies included in the Scotland County, Missouri portion of the book,  The History of Lewis, Clark, Knox and Scotland Counties, Missouri published in 1887.  For the complete description, click here: Scotland County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

View additional Scotland County, Missouri family biographies here: Scotland County, Missouri Biographies

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