The History of the Yakima Valley, Washington, Comprising Yakima, Kittitas and
Benton Counties, The S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1919, Volume II, page 471

EDWIN DRAKE.

The development of Yakima county into a rich agricultural and horticultural
district is due to the efforts of such men as Edwin Drake, who for some years
has been a prominent factor in farming interests in this state. He was born in
Polk county, Iowa, August 12, 1883, a son of Whitfield and Minnetta (Elliott)
Drake. The father was born in New Jersey and the mother in Indiana. She removed
westward to Iowa in 1853 in company with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Abraham
Elliott, who cast in their lot among the pioneer settlers of that state. It was
in 1866 that Whitfield Drake established his home in Iowa and there he formed
the acquaintance of Minnetta Elliott, whose hand he sought and won in marriage.
They were married in the Hawkeye state, where Mr. Drake passed away, since which
time his widow has come to Yakima, where she is now living.

Edwin Drake acquired a public school education in Iowa, his youthful days being
spent in the usual manner of the farm-bred boy. He early became familiar with
the work of the fields and continued active along that line in Iowa until 1908,
when attracted by the opportunities of the growing northwest, he made his way
to this section of the country and purchased land in Yakima county, taking up
his abode in the Selah valley. He afterward sold that property and next bought
land in connection with W. R. Duffield in the year 1909. This is situated on the
Moxee and together they began the development of the place. Mr. Drake took up
his abode upon the farm in 1909 and Mr. Duffield joined him the next year.
However, he lived in Yakima in 1908 and also a part of 1909.

On the 5th of March, 1907, Mr. Drake was married to Miss Millicent Duffield, a
sister of W. R. Duffield. She came to the United States in 1902 and they were
married in Iowa. To Mr. and Mrs. Drake was born but one child, who died in
infancy. 

Fraternally Mr. Drake is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and
also with the Grange. His political endorsement is given to the republican party
where national questions are involved and at local elections he votes
independently. He has served as overseer but is not ambitious to hold office,
preferring to concentrate his efforts and attention upon his business affairs,
which are wisely directed. He has been continuously associated with Mr. Duffield
and they are in partnership in the ownership and conduct of an excellent farm
property of fifty acres. Their interests are wisely and carefully directed and
the results achieved have placed them among the leading farmers of their part of
the state.

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Submitted to the Washington Bios Project in December 2007 by Jeffrey L. Elmer.
Submitter has no additional information about the subject of this article.