DRAKE
Portrait and Biographical Record ~ Page 807
Kindly submitted by: Joyce Wallace
FRED R. DRAKE
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., 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 Illumination 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, and 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 Zeta Psi
fraternity, and four years later he 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 on 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 Republicans, 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.