Edwin R. Drake, a prominent farmer of the Fourth District, was born in Southampton County, Va., February 6, 1839. His parents were John and Mary (Doyle) Drake, both natives of Virginia. The father is of English descent, born in 1807. After marriage, and in 1842, they came to Hardeman County. The family consisted of six children, five of whom lived to reach maturity. Mr. Drake has never united with any church, but has always led an honest, upright life. Previous to the war he was a Whig, but has since affiliated with the Republican Party. For nearly eighteen years he served as magistrate — by occupation, a farmer, in which he was most successful. In 1863, he moved to Illinois. He is nearly eighty years of age. His wife, who was born in 1814, departed this life, in 1881. The grandfather Drake was a gallant soldier of the Revolutionary war. Edwin B., our subject, was reared on a farm and received a good, common-school education. He was a kind and devoted son, remaining at home and assisting his parents until his twenty-fourth year, when he engaged in farming. In 1864, he married Miss Frances M. Kinney, born April 17, 1840, in Haywood County. Their union resulted in the birth of two children: George W. and John R. (deceased). In national politics Mr. Drake is a thorough Republican, but in county affairs votes for the man, not the party. He has always been successful in his agricultural pursuits; by hard work, he now owns 314 acres of good land. He is an esteemed and worthy man.
Source: from “The Goodspeed Publishing Co., History of Tennessee, 1886”