Marcus M. Drake
Encyclopedia
Marcus Mortier Drake was Mayor
of the City of Buffalo, New York
, serving during November - December 1882, after the resignation of Grover Cleveland
. He was born in DeRuyter, New York
on September 7, 1835. When two years old, the family moved near Fredonia, New York
. He graduated from Fredonia Academy
in 1852. In 1861, he was made a captain and given command of the "Genesee Chief" steamer. In August 1862, enlisted in the Union Army at Dunkirk, New York and entered as a private in the 72d Regiment, N.Y. Volunteers. In the spring of 1865, his term ended and he was transferred to 120th Regiment, NY Volunteers. Upon his transfer he was promoted to the rank of 1st Lieutenant and placed in command of Company H, which was present at the surrender at Appomattox
. In 1872, he was appointed Superintendent of the Union Dry Dock Company, upon its organization. In 1860, he married Persis L. Bennett of Hamlet, New York
, who died soon after their marriage. In 1867, he remarried with Mary A. Ludlow; she died in 1880 and he married Lillian Quest in 1900.
In the fall of 1878, he was elected Alderman
for the Eleventh Ward. Upon the resignation of Grover Cleveland as mayor on November 20, 1882 to take the Governor's
seat, the Common Council elected Drake to fill the vacancy until a special election could be held in early January 1883. He resigned on December 22, 1882, to take effect on December 29, 1882, in order to return to his newly elected duties as alderman. He retired from the Board of Aldermen in 1890. In 1895, under Mayor Edgar B. Jewett
, he was made Commissioner of Public Works, a position he held from January 1896 until December 1900. During his commissionership, a giant boulder was placed in the meadow of Delaware Park, marking the burial site of 300 unknown soldiers of the War of 1812
. He died on September 28, 1907, and was buried in Forest Lawn Cemetery
.
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of the City of Buffalo, New York
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
, serving during November - December 1882, after the resignation of Grover Cleveland
Grover Cleveland
Stephen Grover Cleveland was the 22nd and 24th president of the United States. Cleveland is the only president to serve two non-consecutive terms and therefore is the only individual to be counted twice in the numbering of the presidents...
. He was born in DeRuyter, New York
DeRuyter, New York
DeRuyter, New York may refer to either:*DeRuyter , New York, located in Madison County*DeRuyter , New York, located within the Town of DeRuyter...
on September 7, 1835. When two years old, the family moved near Fredonia, New York
Fredonia, New York
Fredonia is a village in Chautauqua County, New York, United States. The population was 11,068 as of 2009.The Village of Fredonia is in the Town of Pomfret south of Lake Erie...
. He graduated from Fredonia Academy
State University of New York at Fredonia
The State University of New York at Fredonia is a four-year liberal arts college located in Fredonia, New York, United States; it is a constituent college of the State University of New York...
in 1852. In 1861, he was made a captain and given command of the "Genesee Chief" steamer. In August 1862, enlisted in the Union Army at Dunkirk, New York and entered as a private in the 72d Regiment, N.Y. Volunteers. In the spring of 1865, his term ended and he was transferred to 120th Regiment, NY Volunteers. Upon his transfer he was promoted to the rank of 1st Lieutenant and placed in command of Company H, which was present at the surrender at Appomattox
Battle of Appomattox Courthouse
The Battle of Appomattox Court House, fought on the morning of April 9, 1865, was the final engagement of Confederate States Army General Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia before it surrendered to the Union Army under Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, and one of the last battles of the American...
. In 1872, he was appointed Superintendent of the Union Dry Dock Company, upon its organization. In 1860, he married Persis L. Bennett of Hamlet, New York
Hamlet, New York
Hamlet, New York is a hamlet located in the Town of Villenova in Chautauqua County, New York, USA. It has a population of approximately 80 and is at an elevation of 1398 ft above sea level....
, who died soon after their marriage. In 1867, he remarried with Mary A. Ludlow; she died in 1880 and he married Lillian Quest in 1900.
In the fall of 1878, he was elected Alderman
Alderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members themselves rather than by popular vote, or a council...
for the Eleventh Ward. Upon the resignation of Grover Cleveland as mayor on November 20, 1882 to take the Governor's
Governor of New York
The Governor of the State of New York is the chief executive of the State of New York. The governor is the head of the executive branch of New York's state government and the commander-in-chief of the state's military and naval forces. The officeholder is afforded the courtesy title of His/Her...
seat, the Common Council elected Drake to fill the vacancy until a special election could be held in early January 1883. He resigned on December 22, 1882, to take effect on December 29, 1882, in order to return to his newly elected duties as alderman. He retired from the Board of Aldermen in 1890. In 1895, under Mayor Edgar B. Jewett
Edgar B. Jewett
Edgar Boardman Jewett was Mayor of the City of Buffalo, New York, serving 1895–1897. He was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan on December 14, 1843. In 1849, the family moved to Buffalo...
, he was made Commissioner of Public Works, a position he held from January 1896 until December 1900. During his commissionership, a giant boulder was placed in the meadow of Delaware Park, marking the burial site of 300 unknown soldiers of the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
. He died on September 28, 1907, and was buried in Forest Lawn Cemetery
Forest Lawn Cemetery, Buffalo
Forest Lawn Cemetery in Buffalo, New York was founded in 1849 by Charles E. Clark. It covers over 250 acres and over 152,000 are buried there. Notable graves include U.S. President Millard Fillmore, singer Rick James, and inventor Lawrence Dale Bell...
.