John R. Drake (New York politician)

John Reuben Drake (November 28, 1782 in Pleasant Valley, Dutchess County, New York – March 21, 1857 in Owego, Tioga County, New York) was a U.S. Representative from New York.

John R. Drake
New York State Assembly
In office 1834
First Judge of the Tioga County Court
In office 1833–1838
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 15th district
In office March 4, 1817 – March 3, 1819
Preceded by	James Birdsall Jabez D. Hammond
Succeeded by	Joseph S. Lyman Robert Monell
First Judge of the Broome County Court
In office 1815–1823
Personal details
Born	(1782-11-28)November 28, 1782 Pleasant Valley, New York
Died	March 21, 1857(1857-03-21) (aged 74) Owego, New York
Resting place	Evergreen Cemetery
Political party	Democratic-Republican
Spouse	Jerusha Roberts
Children	Delphine

Life

He was the son of Rev. Reuben Drake (a Baptist minister from a line of wealthy landowners) and Phoebe Sherwood. Drake completed preparatory studies and engaged in mercantile and agricultural pursuits, such as projecting the New York & Erie Railroad. He married Jerusha Roberts, with whom he had a daughter, Delphine Drake.

He was Supervisor of the Town of Owego in 1813 and First Judge of the Broome County Court from 1815 to 1823. In 1823, he was one of three commissioners overseeing construction of the historic Tioga County Courthouse. Drake was a member of the Free Masons' lodge of Owego.

Drake was elected as a Democratic-Republican to the 15th United States Congress, holding office from March 4, 1817, to March 3, 1819. There he served on the Committee on Expenditures on the Public Buildings.

He was First Judge of the Tioga County Court from 1833 to 1838, a member of the New York State Assembly in 1834, and President of the Village of Owego from 1841 to 1845.

He is interred in Evergreen Cemetery.

References

• United States Congress. "John R. Drake (id: D000485)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• Judge Drake at the Schenectady Digital History Archive
• Journal of the House (on-line transcribed version)
• The New York Civil List compiled by Franklin Benjamin Hough (pages 70, 216, 271, 358 and 365; Weed, Parsons and Co., 1858)

U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by James Birdsall, Jabez D. Hammond	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 15th congressional district 1817–1819 with Isaac Williams, Jr.	Succeeded by Joseph S. Lyman, Robert Monell