NJGenWeb ~ Morris County, New Jersey

As a leading citizen of Netcong, Morris county, New Jersey, ranking among the prominent representatives of her industrial, political and social interests, Abram Johnson DRAKE merits especial consideration. The life of such a man is an object lesson of real value to the observing and thoughtful. It affords a proof of the familiar adage that there is no royal road to wealth and distinction in this republic. The achievement depends upon the man. Scrupulously exact and fair in his business dealings, Mr. DRAKE has won a success which is most creditable, as it has come to him as the result of foresight, executive ability and discrimination. His family is an ancient one and traces its descent to Sir Francis DRAKE, the famous discoverer.

Abram Johnson DRAKE, paternal grandfather. was born in 1791, died August 31, 1861. He had brothers - Job, Hampton and James all of whom resided on Schooleys Mountain. He became the owner of several hundred acres of land in Netcong and its vicinity, some of which is still in the DRAKE family. He married Mary APPLEGATE born in 1771, died April 21 1853, she was a daughter of Moses APPLEGATE, a descendant of one, of the oldest families of Morris county, and whose landed interests were among the most important in that section of the State. They had children:

• William, of further mention;
• Moses who removed to Indiana, reared a family and died there;
• Charlotte, married Peter APPLEGATE and died at an advanced age,
• Sarah, married (first) Moses ALLWOOD, (second) Nathan S. SMITH,
• Elizabeth, married Thomas HAGGERTY, a maternal uncle of the Mr. DRAKE of this sketch.

William DRAKE, father of Abram Johnson DRAKE, the second, was born in Morris county, New Jersey, May 2, 1814, died April 24, 1893. He was a farmer by occupation, and displayed much ability in the management of his farm. While he took a great interest in all that concerned the welfare of the community in which he resided. He took no active part in public affairs, contenting himself with casting his vote in favor of the candidates, of the Democratic party. Mr. DRAKE married Sarah M, born April 1, 1826, died February 7 1902, a daughter of Christopher HAGGERTY, of Irish ancestry, and of a family which has been known and honored in Morris county for many years; he owned much landed property, and affiliated with the Whig party. He married (first) -----VAN KIRK, (second) ---- DUSENBURY, of Sussex county. He had children:

• Thomas, married Elizabeth DRAKE, as mentioned above;
• Joseph, went to California and was not again heard from;
• Charles, removed to Illinois;
• John, also went to Illinois, where he died, leaving a son,
  • John;
• George, died at Bloomfield;
• Wright, died in the West;
• Sarah M, who became the mother of Abram J. DRAKE.

Mr. and Mrs. DRAKE had children:

• George, who died unmarried at the age of twenty-seven years;
• Abram Johnson, whose name heads this sketch;
• William, married Malinda WILGUS, and both died in Netcong;
• Augustus A., who lives in Netcong, married (first) Mary McGRATH, (second) Maggie E., born in Sussex county, daughter of George DRAKE;
• Charlotte, married James DRAKE, now a retired merchant of Phillipsburg, New Jersey, and has two sons:
  • Francis J., who is a physician in Phillipsburg, New Jersey, and married Julia HAGARD, of Easton, Pennsylvania, have one son,
    • Francis T. Jr., and
  • Fred who is a mechanic, employed in the Standard Silk Mills at Phillipsburg, New Jersey, lives there also, married Agnes DULL daughter of C. J. DULL, have one son, Paul;
• Henrietta married William T. HILTS, and lives in Netcong,
• Bernice M. married John THORP, and has one daughter,
  • Edna M., all of Netcong;
• Ida, married James DELL, a contractor, and ex- mayor of Netcong, son,
  • Charles M., and
  • daughter Lillian, married Philip HOPLER.

Abram Johnson DRAKE was born in Roxbury township, Morris county, New Jersey, November 30 1846. His education was that to be obtained in the common schools of that day, and he has supplemented this by wisely chosen reading and study throughout his life. Until he attained his majority he worked on the farm, then entered the employ of the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad Company, and was located at Dover. He was at one time car inspector under Frank HIMPSON, of Dover. subsequently entering the shops and learning the car building business. He then took up the trade of general carpentering with the firm of Meeker & Hedden, of Newark, with whom he remained five years. In 1871 he removed to Netcong and there established himself in the general contracting and building business. In this he was eminently successful, the reliability and excellence of his work securing extended patronage, and he was identified with it for many years. By far the larger number of the fine buildings in Netcong are the result of his efforts. After having continued in this business for a period of thirty-five years, Mr. DRAKE sold it to Messrs. James DELL and John W. HAYWARD, who had been in his employ many years. Prior to withdrawing from the building industry Mr. DRAKE had been one of the organizers of the Drake-Bostedo Company, and had erected the building in which this business is carried on. This company was incorporated, April 1, 1896, with a capital of $15,000, and is a very important enterprise. It has separate departments for dry goods, groceries, paints, hardware, lumber and coal, Mr. DRAKE is president of this company, the other officials being his son, Dorson S. DRAKE, and his son-in-law, Warren F. BOSTEDO.

Mr. DRAKE is known as the father of Netcong, since at the time he located there, there were but five houses in the town, and he has been the leading spirit in promoting its growth and welfare. He served fourteen years as postmaster of the town, and under big administration it was raised from a post office of the fourth class to one of the third class. He was five times elected to the office of mayor, serving fourteen years altogether in this honorable office. He resigned from the office of postmaster, in July, 1912. Among the other business enterprises with which Mr. DRAKE has been connected is the Citizens National Bank, of which be was one of the organizers and for many years a director. He was also one of the organizers of the Musconetcong Land Company, of the Musconetcong Building and Loan Association, and of the Cemetery Association of Netcong. The present system of water works, which is of such vast benefit to Netcong, is largely due to his personal efforts, and his perseverance in this undertaking is of especial credit to him, as the idea met with bitter opposition for a long time. Since attaining his majority, Mr. DRAKE has given his undeviating allegiance to the Republican party. He is a member of Musconetcong lodge, No. 151, F. and A. M.; Baldwin Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, of Newton, New Jersey, Ododesick Commandery, Knights Templar; has passed all chairs in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows; and was the first regent of Netcong Council, Royal Arcanum.

Mr. DRAKE married (first) October 1, 1868, Nancy E. HAGGERTY, of Andover, New Jersey, who died June 15, 1877. He married (second) May 1, 1879, Martha H. KING, of Stanhope, New Jersey. Children of first marriage:

• Nellie J., born February 14, 1870, in Dover, Morris county, New Jersey; was educated in the public schools; she married Warren E. BOSTEDO, of the Drake-Bostedo Company, and they have had children:
  • Marion, who was graduated from the Hackettstown Seminary in the class of 1913;
  • Meredith, a student at the Hackettstown Seminary a member of the class of 1915;
  • Rutherford Drake;
  • Lois, attending public school.
• Dorson Samuel, born November 18 1871, in Netcong; he was educated in the public schools there, and in the Coleman Business College in Newark, from which institution he was graduated; upon his return to his home he was placed in charge of the lumber yard of the Drake-Bostedo Company, and later became a member of the firm; he is vice-president and director of the Citizens National Bank of Netcong, and one of the directors of the Musconetcong Building and Loan Association, and chairman of the board of water commissioners; his fraternal affiliation is with the Musconetcong Lodge, No. 151, F. and A.M Netcong Council, No. 135, R. A., and with the Junior Order of United American Mechanics; he married Mary Elizabeth SCARLETT, whose ancestral history will be found forward.

By the second marriage of Abram Johnson DRAKE there were children:

• Sarah A., born May 11, 1882.
• Clarence A., born January 29, 1887.

(The SCARLETT Line).

This biography was transcribed by Ida King.

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