Drake, John Adams
merchant, banker, state legislator, was born in 1804, in Nash county, N. C. He was of English descent, and traced his ancestry back to Sir Francis Drake; and also to the distinguished Adams family. In 1837 he moved from Rushville, Ill., to Fort Madison, Iowa, and subsequently was probate judge of Lee county. In 1846 he moved to Davis county, where he founded Drakeville, and there built up a large mercantile, packing and milling business in connection with his two sons, John Hamilton and Francis Marion. In 1866 he commenced the banking business in Drakeville; and ten years later removed to Centerville; and was president of the Centervine National bank at the time of his death. During 1852-53 he was a member of the Iowa state legislature. He died in May, 1880, in Centerville, Iowa.