Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2018 All Rights Reserved USGenNet Data Repository Please read USGenNet Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the USGenNet Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ =========================================================================== Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== Buffalo Evening News Saturday, February 25, 1899 CAPT. JAMES DRAKE DEAD Capt. JAMES DRAKE, one of the oldest captains on the lakes, died at his home, 305 Auburn avenue, yesterday morning. Capt. DRAKE was stricken with apoplexy last summer, and gradually declined. Capt. DRAKE was 73 years old, and had followed the lakes for a number of years. He retired in 1890. He leaves a wife and five children, Mrs. WALTER VOSS, Mrs. J. W. LIEVERS, Miss DRAKE, FRANK M. DRAKE and SPENCER A. DRAKE. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Buffalo Courier Sunday, February 26, 1899 Veteran Lake Captain's Death In the death of Capt. JAMES DRAKE at his home, No. 305 Auburn Avenue, at 6:55 o'clock Friday morning, martime circles lost a valu- able member. He had reached the advanced age of 73 years, fully 50 of which were spent on the lakes. No name was better known in lake ports than his, and none was more universally respected. His life was an active one until about five years ago, when he retired from the bridge of the steamer Wyoming. Last summer he suffered a slight stroke of paralysis from which he never fully recovered. He is survived by a widow and five children, including Mrs. WALTER VOSS, Mrs. J. W. LIEVERS, Miss DRAKE, FRANK M. DRAKE and SPENCER A. DRAKE. Capt. DRAKE was born in Dunfanaghy, County Down, Ireland. His native place being a seaport young DRAKE followed the life of a sailor for several years. In the early '50's he changed from saltwater to fresh and engaged in the navi- gation of the lakes. According to the recollection of his most in- timate associates, he first sprang into notice as mate on the propeller Ohio, Capt. GEORGE GIBSON, plying between Buffalo and Chicago, and Toledo, principally the latter place. Next he was mate on the Mayflower, Capt. RYAN, between Buffalo and Chicago. When the Western Transportation Company was formed Capt. GIBSON was placed in command of the propeller Plymouth and took Mate DRAKE with him. The latter had invested part of his savings in that vessel. For many years following Capt. DRAKE was with the Western Transportation Company. He became master of the propeller Illinois running between this port and Detroit, and served in that capacity for several years. In winter he served as super- intendent of repairs for the Western Transporta- tion Company. He was consecutively, thereafter, master of the Saginaw, running to Cleveland and Sandusky, and of the Oneida, for several years, on the same line. When the New York Central obtained control of the Western Transportation Company and changed it to the Western Transit Company, Capt. DRAKE became master of the propeller Buffalo, which he commanded for several years. The propeller Wyoming was his last boat. All of Capt. DRAKE'S associates on the lakes speak in the warmest terms concerning his character. ========================================================================== If you've reached this file through a SEARCH, you can access more of our growing collection of FREE online information by going to the following URL: http://www.us-data.org/ ==========================================================================