Levant J. Drake

biography

Drake, Levant J., bridge-builder and Postmaster, Little Cooley, was born in Allegany County, N. Y., March 23, 1823; son of James and Sallie, (Marvin) Drake, natives respectively of Seneca and Otsego Counties, N. Y., and who moved to this county from Genesee County, settling in Athens Township in 1831. They were parents of the following children: Alonzo; Melissa, afterward Mrs. Chapin and now deceased; Levant J.; Dorluskie, now Mrs. Archibald; Loduskie, now Mrs. Minniss; Legrand M.; Jerome; Amanda, now Mrs. Graham; and Philo. Mr. Drake took an active interest in public affairs, fill­ing many of the township offices; he died in February, 1876, his widow following him in October of the same year. They were upright pioneer people and rendered valuable service in the development of Athens Township. Our subject married October 19, 1854, Adelia Fuller, born in 1835, in Lorain County, Ohio, daughter of Josiah E. (deceased), and Mary Fuller. By this union were born Alta, now Mrs. Harter; Alton P.; Amanda E., died Febru­ary, 1882, aged twenty-one; Willie H.; Lyle L., deceased; Jessie, deceased; Birnez, deceased; Inez; and Ethel. Mr. Drake built the first permanent hotel at Little Cooley, opening it in 1857. It has been one of the most popular houses in western Pennsylvania. In 1883 he leased the hotel and retired from business. In 1861 Mr. Drake was appointed Postmaster at Little Cooley, which position he has filled almost ever since. He is a man of strict integrity, upright in his dealings and has filled nearly all the township offices. In politics is a Republican.

History of Crawford County, Pennsylvania: containing a history of the county, its townships, towns, villages, schools, churches, industries, etc., portraits of early settlers and prominent men, biographies, history of Pennsylvania, statistical and miscellaneous matter, Chicago: Warner, Beers & Co., 1885, page 779.