According to Elsie Drake Goepfert in The Henderson County Heritage, Volume 1, “John W. Drake, oldest son, 22 June 1899 – 26 June 1966 attended Pleasant Hill and Hendersonville High School. He was a plaster contractor and builder and interested in outdoor life and training of horses. He operated the Sorrell Riding Stable, Willow Road for a number of years and had some of the finest riding stock to be found in the area. He married 28 October 1926 Spartanburg, South Carolina Minnie Mae Huggins, employee of Southern Bell until her retirement in September 1951. Both were active and charter members of Faith Tabernacle, Kanuga Road, giving their time and talents to the development of Valley Hill Volunteer Fire Department and Auxiliary. John, a member since its inception, served as Chairman of firehouse building program and was President in 1964. Minnie served as Vice President of the Ladies Auxiliary for a number of years. John was exposed to public office during his youth 1912 – 1916 while his father was Sheriff and County Surveyor. His interest increased in the 1930s when he became Chief Deputy Sheriff for the county for eight years. He was to have been inducted in to the Army on 12 November 1918 the day after the Armistice was signed, ending World War 1. During World War II he served in the Army for nine months, stationed at Fort McClelland, Alabama and Lockbourne Air Base, Columbus, Ohio. He was also security officer at Ecusta Paper Corporation and then at Olin Mathison at Pisgah Forest retiring in 1964 after twenty five years in that capacity.”
Back row (left to right) – Minnie Huggins Drake, Gertrude Perry Drake, Mary Lewis Drake, Mary Drake Carland, Elsie Drake Goepfert, and Kattie Jean Drake
Front row (left to right) – Francis Henrie Drake, James Archibald Drake, George Jackson Drake, John W. Drake, and Martin Goepfert
(all buried at Pleasant Hill Cemetery)
Left to right (brothers) – Frances Henrie Drake, James Archibald Drake, John W. Drake, and George Jackson Drake
