Benjamin Ashley Drake was born on 25. Oct. 1849 at Monroe, Perry County, Ohio. He was the son of
Reuben Golden Drake and
Matilda Ann Sanders. Benjamin Ashley Drake married
Sarah Eliza Beighley in Apr. 1871 at Vernon County, Wisconsin. Benjamin Ashley Drake was buried in 1915 at Sugar Grove Cemetery, Kickapoo, Vernon County, Wisconsin. He died in 1915 at Vernon County, Wisconsin. Among the papers sent to me by Vera Knowlton is an entry from the Deed Record Book Vol. 25 pg 196:
State of Wisconsin-Vernon County ss:
Be it remembered that on this 18th day of Januar AD 1890 personally came before me the above named grantors Benjamin A. Drake and Sarah E. Drake (his wife). To me known to be the persons who executed the foregoing instrument and acknowledged the same to be their free act and deed for the uses and purposes herein mentioned.
George Spurrier, Justice of the Peace
An abstract of the Quit Claim Deed for the S1/2 of the NE1/4 of Section 12 Township 11, Range 3West can be found in the "notes" for Reuben G. Drake.
Also among these papers is a record of burials at the Sugar Grove Cemetery in Kickapoo, Vernon, Wisconsin. Listed is Drake, B.A. 1849-1915
"Benjamin first came to Vernon County, Wisconsin in 1855 with his father, Reuben.
After his marriage to Sarah, they went to Iowa, and took a homestead in Lyons County. They remained there for one and one half years.
They returned to Kickapoo Town, Vernon Co, Wis and bought land on section 13, town 11 north, range 3 west. In 1881 he bought another tract in the same section.
They are the parents of five children--Blanche, Elmer G., Elpsie E., Jesse O., and Gertie J."
From: History of Vernon County Wisconsin, Union Publishing Co., Springfield, IL, 1884. pg 611-612.