Orange
County
Biographies
LOUIS PHILLIP DRAKE
The late Louis Phillip Drake, who
came to California in 1890, was for many years an active leader in the citrus
industry in Orange County and also figured prominently in civic affairs in
Fullerton. He was born on a farm in
Louisa County, Iowa, May 27, 1863, a son of Theophilus and Louisa (Davis)
Drake. A young man of twenty-six years
when he settled in the Golden state, he resided on his citrus orchard which he
developed on West Commonwealth Avenue in Fullerton to the time of his death,
which occurred on the 9th of March, 1933, when he was sixty-nine
years of age. He rendered valuable
service to his fellow townsmen as a member of the city council, was also a
member of the high school board and was always active on the water board. For a period covering twenty-seven years he
served as a trustee and superintendent of the Sunday-school of the Presbyterian
Church.
On October 31, 1888, Mr. Drake was
united in marriage to Miss Hattie L. Shepard, a daughter of Howard and
Elizabeth (Hezelton) Shepard. To them were born three children, as
follows: Mrs. Helen Clark, who is the
mother of two sons, Louis and LeRoy, and lives in Fullerton, California; Mrs.
Eva Dimond, of Arcadia, California, who has a
daughter Evelyn and a son A. Robert; and A. Lee Drake, residing on his walnut
ranch at Puente, Los Angeles County. The
last named is also married and has two children, a son, Richard L. and a
daughter, Barbara.
The Drake abode is the beautiful
residence at 623 West Commonwealth Avenue, Fullerton, on the fine Valencia
orange grove on which members of the family have resided continuously during
the past forty-two years. Louis P. Drake
was a quiet, unassuming gentleman and a lover of home, finding his greatest
happiness at his own fireside. In his
passing the community sustained the loss of one of its highly respected and
valued citizens, and his wife and children cherish the memory of a devoted and
loving husband and father.
Transcribed by
V. Gerald Iaquinta.
Source: California of the South
Vol. IV, by John Steven McGroarty, Pages 269-270, Clarke Publ.,
Chicago, Los Angeles, Indianapolis. 1933.
© 2012 V. Gerald Iaquinta.
GOLDEN NUGGET'S
ORANGE COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES