RAY CARLTON DRAKE

Ray Carlton Drake gravestone
(Photo by Vernon B. Paddock)

B. March 18, 1895 in Concord, Dodge County, MN
D. October 1979
Find A Grave memorial (click here)

  • Father: Charles Richmond Drake born June 28, 1868 in Freeborn County, MN, son of Frances DeWitt Drake (1833-1920) and Alma Jane (Richmond) Drake (1837-1901); Charles died June 12, 1943 in Carter County, MT; buried in Beaver Lodge Cemetery, Ekalaka, Carter County, MT
  • Mother: Mary Elizabeth (Miller) Drake born 1875 in Minnesota, Mary died 1959; buried in Ekalaka, Carter County, MT
  • Wife 1: Doris Louise (Leslie) Drake born February 11, 1915 in Merton Township, Steele County, MN, daughter of John Henry Leslie (1875-1934) and Gladys O. (Abell) Leslie (1885-1921); married September 28, 1931 in Ekalaka, Carter County, MT
  • Wife 2: Cecelia (Martin) (Myer) Drake born April 16, 1914 in Lake County, IL, daughter of Benjamin Johnson Martin (1883-1930) and Coralyn A. “Cora” (Huson) Martin (1883-1974) (See section pertaining to Coralyn A. “Cora” (Huson) Martin buried in the Fort Hill Cemetery); married (1) John Curtis Myer (1911-1948), son of John Joseph Myer (1868-1957) and Elexia Agnes (Hurst) Myer (1878-1926); married (2) Ray Carlton Drake, son of Charles Richmond Drake (1868-1943) and Mary Elizabeth (Miller) Drake (1875-1959; Cecelia died March 29, 1986 in Las Vegas, Clark County, NV (See section pertaining to Cecelia (Martin) (Myer) Drake buried in the Fort Hill Cemetery)
  • Children of Ray Carlton Drake and Doris Louise (Leslie) Drake:
  1. Harriet Gladys (Drake) Simmons born February 3, 1932 in Carter County, MT (of Macon MS); married Robert Edward Simmons (1921-1986) a World War II Veteran, Corporal U.S. Army; companion of Robert Chester “Bob” Bell (1924-2006), son of Chester McKinley and Beatrice (Farmer) Bell; Robert Edward Simmons is buried in Mashulaville Cemetery, Mashulaville, Noxubee County, MS
  2. Frances Rae (Drake) (Wlaschin) Countryman born June 2, 1934 in Miles City, Carter County, MT married (1) William C. Wlaschin; married (2) Jess Countryman; Frances died February 13, 1999; buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Oak Grove, Jackson County, MO

According to the Examiner (Independence MO) February 15, 1999:

“FRANCES R. COUNTRYMAN
   Frances Rae Countryman, 64, Eldon, Mo., died Saturday, Feb. 13, 1999, at her home.
   Mrs. Countryman was born June 2, 1934, in Ekalaka, Mont.  She had lived in Savannah, Ill., and Buckner before moving to Eldon 14 years ago.
   She had been employed as a nurse’s aide at Oak Grove Health Care Center in the 1980s, and the Good Shepherd Nursing Home, Concordia, Mo., in the early 1990s.  She was a Catholic.  She was preceded in death by her husband, Jess Countryman, in 1989 and a son-in-law, Bud Carroll, in 1998.
   Her survivors include a son, Joe Wlashchin, Albany, N.Y.; three daughters, Brenda Carroll, of Eldon, Sharon Hartman, Subula, Iowa; and Christine McCombie, Lanark, Ill.; two sisters, Harriette Simmons, Macon, Miss.; and Phyllis Hayden, Camdenton, Mo.; 12 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
   Services will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Royer Funeral home, Oak Grove.  Burial will be in Oak Grove Cemetery.  Friends may call from 10 a.m. until service time at the chapel.”

  1. Phyllis (Drake) Hayden (of Camdenton MO)
  • Siblings:
    • Grace Leila (Drake) Robertson born January 13, 1899 in Freeborn County, MN; married (1) Oscar W. Saucke (1897-1965) on August 1, 1919 in Waseca County, MN; Oscar married (2) Gesena Gertinina (Omundson) (Cummings) Saucke in 1952; Grace married (2) unknown Robertson; Grace died November 23, 1984 in Osage Beach, Camden County, MO; buried in Dale Blair Memorial Cemetery, Camdenton, Camden County, MO

According to the Springfield Leader and Press (Springfield MO) Sunday, November 25, 1984, page 16:

Grace Robertson
   CAMDENTON – Services for Grace L. Robertson, 85, Camdenton, will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday in Hedges Chapel with the Rev. Roy Jerrell officiating.  Burial will be in Dale Blair Memorial Cemetery.
   Mrs. Robertson died at 7 a.m. Friday of natural causes in Lake of the Ozarks General Hospital, Osage Beach.
   Survivors include a daughter, Phyllis Hayden, Camdenton; three grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
   The family will be at the funeral home from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Monday.”

    • Marion Dewitt Drake born November 8, 1906 in Crow Wing County, MN; Marion died December 6, 1958; buried in Beaver Lodge Cemetery, Ekalaka, Carter County, MT

According to the U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947:

“Name: Marion Dewitt Drake; Address: Camp Crook, Harding County, South Dak.; Telephone: (blank); Age in Years: 33; Date of  Birth: Nov 8, 1906; Place of Birth: Crow Wing Co., Minn, U.S.A.; Name of Person Who Will Always Know Your Address: Mr. Charles R. Drake; Relationship of That Person: Father; Address of That Person: Camp Crook, Harding County, South Dak.; Employer’s Name: Self; Place of Employment: Carter County, Mont; Race: White; Height: 5′ 9″; Weight: 143#; Eyes: Brown; Hair: Brown: Complexion: Dark; Other obvious physical characteristics that will aid in identification: Scar under left eye; Signed: Oct 16th 1940”

    • Lorna Doon (Drake) Turbiville born July 27, 1910 in Freeborn County, MN; Lorna married Eugene Howard “Gene” Turbiville (1888-1963) on June 3, 1938 in Baker, Fallon County, MT, son of Eugene Winston “Dick” Turbiville (1859-1926) and Edith Priscilla “Eda” (Wickham) Turbiville (1869-1957); Lorna died November 16, 1974 in Ekalaka, Carter County, MT; Lorna and Eugene are buried in Beaver Lodge Cemetery, Ekalaka, Carter County, MT

According to the Billings Gazette (Billings MT) Monday, November 18, 1974, page 6:

Turbiville

   EKALAKA – Lorna Doone Turbiville, 64, Ekalaka, died Saturday at Dahl Memorial Hospital after a long illness.
   She was born July 27, 1910, in Freeborn, Minn., the daughter fo Mr. and Mrs. Charles Drake.  She grew up and attended school in Freeborn and moved to Mill Iron east of Ekalaka in 1929.
   On June 3, 1938, she was married to Eugene H. Turbiville in Baker.  They ranched in Mill Iron until 1959, when they moved to Ekalaka.  Her husband died in 1963.
   Mrs. Turbiville was a member of Ekalaka Congregational Church and  American Legion Auxiliary.
   Survivors include two sons, Loren of Ekalaka and Howard of Dallas, Tex., a daughter, Mrs. Sharon Huber of Billings; a brother, Ray of Round Lake, Ill.; a sister, Mrs. Grace Robertson of Camdenton, Mo., and seven grandchildren.
   Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday in Ekalaka Congregational Church, with the Rev. Roy Obermeier officiating.  Burial will be in Odd Fellows Cemetery.  Putnam Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.”

Additional Information:

According to the 1900 U.S. Census for Freeborn Township, Freeborn County, MN the household members were:

“Charles R. Drake, head, born June 1868, age 31, married for 6 years, born in Minnesota, father born in Pennsylvania, mother born in New York, occupation: farmer; Mary E. Drake, wife, born March 1875, age 25, married for 6 years, 2 children born, 2 children living, born in Minnesota, father born in Minnesota, mother born in Wisconsin; Ray C. Drake, son, born March 1895, age 5, single, born in Minnesota; Grace L. Drake, daughter, born January 1899, age 1, single, born in Minnesota; Earl G. Lockhart, servant, born January 1874, age 21, single, born in Missouri, father born in Iowa, mother born “unknown”, occupation: farm laborer”

According to the 1905 Minnesota, U.S., Territorial and State Censuses, 1849-1905 for Maple Grove Township, Crow Wing County, MN the household members were:

“Chas R Drake, age 37,  born in Minnesota, father born in Pennsylvania, mother born in New York, lived in this district 1 year and 6 months, occupation: laborer; Mary E Drake, age 30, born in Minnesota, father born in (unknown); mother born in Wisconsin, lived in this district 1 year and 5 months; Ray C Drake, age 10, born in Minnesota, lived in this district 1 year and 5 months, occupation: laborer; Grace L Drake, age 6, born in Minnesota, lived in this district 1 year and 5 months”

According to the 1910 U.S. Census for Concord Township, Dodge County, MN the household members were:

“Charles Drake, head, age 41, married once for 15 years, born in Minnesota, father born in New York, mother born in Pennsylvania, occupation: blacksmith – own shop; Mary E. Drake, wife, age 35, married once for 15 years, 3 children born, 3 children living, born in Minnesota, father born in Wisconsin, mother born in New York; Ray C. Drake, son, age 14, single, born in Minnesota; Grace Drake, daughter, age 11, single, born in Minnesota; Marion Drake, son, age 4, single, born in Minnesota”

According to the U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918:

“Name in full: Ray Carlton Drake; Age in yrs: 22; Home address: West Concord, Minn; Date of birth: March 18, 1895; Where were you born?: Concord, Minn.; What is your present trade?: clerk in store; By whom employed? Haugsrud Bros. Co.; Where employed?” Concord, Minn; Dependent on you? no; single; Do you claim exemption from draft?: Lost 1 eye; Tall, medium, or short?: tall; slender, medium, or stout?: medium; Color of eyes? Grey; Color of hair? Brown; Bald? No; Signed: June 5, 1917.”

According to the 1930 U.S. Census for Freeborn Township, Freeborn County, MN the household members were:

“Charles R. Drake, head, age 62, married at age 27, born in Minnesota, father born in Pennsylvania, mother born in New York, occupation: farmer – general farm; Mary E. Drake, wife, age 55, married at age 20, born in Minnesota, parents born in Wisconsin; Ray C. Drake, son, age 32, single, born in Minnesota, occupation: laborer – farm; Marion D. Drake, son, age 24, single, born in Minnesota, occupation: laborer – farm; Lorna Drake, daughter, age 19, single, born in Minnesota”

According to the 1940 U.S. Census for School District 14, Carter County, MT the household members were:

“Ray C. Drake, head, age 44, married, highest grade completed: 8, born in Minnesota, lived in same house in 1935, occupation: ranchers – stock farm; Doris Drake, wife, age 25, married, highest grade completed: 8, born in Minnesota, lived in same house in 1935; Harriet Drake, daughter, age 8, single, highest grade completed: 2, born in Montana; Frances Drake, daughter, age 5, single, age 0, born in Montana”

According to the U.S. World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942:

“Name: Ray Carlton Drake; Place of Residence: Kinsey, Custer County, Mont.; Mailing Address: Same; Age in Years: 47; Date of Birth: Mar 18, 1895; Place of Birth: Concord, Minn; Name and Address of person Who  Will Always Know Your Address: C.R. Drake, Camp Crook, S. Dak.; Employer’s Name and Address: Self; Height: 5-11; Weight: 180; Eyes: Gray; Hair: Gray; Complextion: Ruddy; Other obvious physical characteristics that will aid in identification: right eye gone; signed April 27, 1942”

According to the 1950 U.S. Census for Round Lake Beach Village, Avon Township, Lake County, IL, living on Hawthorne, the household members were:

“Ray C Drake, head, age 55, divorced, born in Minnesota, Occupation: Bar Tender – Tavern, Was he living in this same house a year ago?: No, Was he living on a farm a year ago?: No, Was he living in this same county a year ago?: Yes, What country were his father and mother born in?: US, What is the highest grade of school that he has attended?: S8, did he finish this grade?: Yes, Last year, in how many weeks did this person do any work at all:? 52 weeks, Last year (1949) how much money did he earn working as an employee for wages or salary?: $2,000, Did he ever serve in the U.S. Armed Forces during: WWII?: No, WWI?: No, Any other time including present service?: No”