JOHN JUDSON DRAKE, residing on his fine farm of 145 acres, which is situated in Washington Township, Miami County, Ohio, about two miles southwest of Piqua, was born on this farm, October 30, 1841, and is a son of Jonathan and Frances (Curry) Drake.

The parents of Mr. Drake were born, reared and married in New Jersey. In 1831 they started over the mountains for Ohio, making the long journey by wagon and consuming six weeks on the way. They rested for a short time in Butler County, near Hamilton, and then came on into Miami County. Daniel Drake, a brother of Jonathan, came to this county in 1833 and they bought the land together which is now a part of where John J. Drake now lives. They found but eight acres cleared and pioneer conditions prevailing. Home ties were not forgotten and five years after the Drakes settled they longed to have the dear old mother, Mrs. Eleanor Curry, who had remained in New Jersey. At that time there was no way for her to reach what was then almost the frontier, except by making the same journey over the mountains and recognizing this, Mr. Drake drove the team back to New Jersey and the wagon that had first transported the family, brought Mrs. Curry to her daughter. Four children were born to Jonathan Drake and wife, two sons and two daughters. The two oldest died when aged six years. The only survivor is John Judson. The one sister who grew to maturity, Mary Frances, is now deceased. She was the wife of Joseph Culbertson. Jonathan Drake died August 11, 1866, and his widow, November 8, 1868.

John Judson Drake has passed almost the whole of his life on his present farm. Following his marriage he settled on the farm belonging to his father, adjoining his own, and for two years cultivated his own land and his father's 100 acres. He then purchased that place, after the latter's death, but subsequently sold it. He engages in general farming to some extent, renting out the larger part of his land but reserving enough to make berry raising and trucking profitable, finding a ready market at Piqua.

On November 26, 1861, Mr. Drake married Miss Elma Irvin, who is a daughter of William and Adeline Irvin. She was born in Shelby County, Ohio, and lived there until she was six years old, when her parents moved on the farm in Washington Township, Miami County, which is owned by her brother, John Irvin. Mr. and Drake have had six children, the survivor being: Addie Frances, who is the wife of James W. Curtis; Edgar Judson, residing at Coshocton, Ohio, who married Laura Holly, and has four children: Ernest, Irvin, Forrest and Myrle; and Earl Leroy who is engaged in the farm implement business at Piqua; he married Carrie Rees and they have two children: James Clinton and Robert Judson. The three children deceased were: Chirles Oscar, who died when aged three months; Minnie Leola, who died aged three years; and (Grace Inez, who passed away at the age of twenty-eight years. Mr. Drake and family are members of the Calvary Baptist Church at Piqua, of which he has been a trustee ever since it was organized, in 1871, and a deacon since 1881. He has been a member of the organization devoted to the interests of agriculturists, the Patrons of Husbandry, for a number of years. He is not an active politician but has always been numbered with the best and most reliable citizens of his township.