Augustus A. Drake

NJGenWeb ~ Morris County, New Jersey

Augustus A. Drake

While most energetic, enterprising business men usually reach the same goal, that of success, there are different conditions in the lives of all – conditions that call for individual effort and for certain strong traits of character, to meet the many obstacles and difficulties that are sure to come. As the surroundings and conditions of no two individuals are precisely alike, it is impossible to lay down any invariable rule for achieving success, and the result must depend upon the man, his power of adapting himself to circumstances and of overcoming the barriers in his path. Success therefore is a matter of individual effort and merit, and in this particular Augustus A. DRAKE, of Netcong, Morris county, New Jersey, deserves especial credit. He is one of the representatives of a family which traces its descent to Sir Francis DRAKE, the famous discoverer.

Abram Johnson DRAKE, paternal grandfather, was born in 1791, and 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 APLEGATE, born in 1771, died April 21, 1853; she was a daughter of Moses APPLEGATE, a descendent 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 Augustus A. DRAKE, was born in Morris county, New Jersey, May 2, 1814, and 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 descent, 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, who 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, also called John; George, died at Bloomfield; Wright, died in the west; Sarah M., became the mother of Augustus A. DRAKE. Mr. and Mrs. DRAKE had children: George, who died unmarried at the age of twenty-seven years; Abram Johnson, ex-mayor and postmaster of Netcong; William, married Malinda WILGUS, and both died in Netcong; Augustus A., who name heads this sketch; Charlotte, married James DRAKE, now a retired merchant of Phillipsburg, New Jersey, and has a son, Francis, who is a physician in Phillipsburg; Henrietta, married William T. HILTS, and lives in Netcong; Bernice M., married John THORP, and has one daughter, all of Netcong; Ida, married James DILL, a contractor, and ex-mayor of Netcong.

Augustus A. DRAKE was born in Roxbury township, one mile from Netcong, Morris county, New Jersey, July 13, 1866. After completing his education in the public schools, he was engaged in farming on the homestead farm for a period of three years, and then entered the employ of his brother, Abram Johnson DRAKE, in Netcong, as carpenter and builder. At the expiration of two years he accepted a position as engineer on the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad, and filled this twelve years. Having purchased the Imperial Hotel in Netcong, he conducted this for one year, then established himself in the bottling business in Netcong, commencing with a capital of eighty dollars. His diligence, industry and executive ability have brought up this enterprise to a very flourishing condition, and he now owns the store in which his business is conducted, his own residence, and eight building lots, all of high value. During the busy season he has five men constantly at work in his bottling establishment. He is a Republican in politics, and a member of Schosheon Tribe, No. 188, I. O. R. M.; Patriotic Order Sons of America; Order of the Moose of Dover, New Jersey. Mr. DRAKE married (first) Mary McGRAW, (second) Maggie, a daughter of George and Sarah J. DRAKE, the former a conductor on the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad, and they have one child, also named Rena; Charlotte, who married Mr. HELLER, engaged in the dry goods business at Easton, Pennsylvania.

Transcribed by John Cresseveur (1949-2003)