DRAKE, Eliza T.
Source: Kingman Star Friday, October 2, 1914
ELIZA T. DRAKE, daughter of Henry and Nancy Henley, was born in Randolph Co., N.C., on July 31, 1830. Died in Kingman, Ind., the 26th day of September, 1914, aged 84 years, 1 month and 25 days. She grew to womanhood in her father’s home, sharing in the daily work that obtained in that early period, and for some years was employed in the cotton factory located in the town of Salem—now Randalman—in the county in which she was born. At the age of 23 years she was married to Calvin SANDERS, to which union 5 children were born, 2 daughters and 3 sons viz: Mary M., Joseph C., Lucy J., John Henry, and Alexander, Joseph C. and John Henry surviving her. Owing to the agitation that preceded the Civil war that presaged great trouble, they removed from N. C. to this state in 1859, and stopped for 2 years in Boon county, and then came to this county settling on the north forty now owned by Geo. Hurley, where in the spring of 1862, her husband and oldest child, Mary M., died. In September 1864 she was married to James E. DRAKE.
Three children were born to them: Rebecca Isabel, Melissa Ann and Wm. Edward. Melissa died in 1886. James E. Drake died in 1872 leaving her twice a widow, with the important task of caring for and rearing a family of dependent children. She has lived 52 years continuously since on the land owned by James E. Drake, and died at the home of her son William on a part of the old homestead. She had a birthright membership in the Society of Friends, now the Friends Church, which she lost by the violation of an arbitrary law of the Society, which prohibited the marriage of a member with one who was not. Her life in general was honorable, noble and friendly towards and professing a belief in the doctrines of Christianity, stating to her son Joseph two or three days before passing, that she had made some mistakes and done some wrongs, perhaps, in her life but had sought and found forgiveness and was ready and anxious to go, feeling “she had done what she could, and so passed very peacefully.”
Funeral services were held in the Friends church at 2 o’clock Tuesday afternoon, Rev. Levi Woody officiating. Burial was made in the Fraternal cemetery north of this place.