Keziah Champion Drake was born on 18-December-1816 in Rutherford County, North Carolina and died during 26-August-1887 in Henderson County, North Carolina. Keziah Champion married James Drake in the mid-1830s. James Drake was born on 15-March-1810 and died in January 1870. James and Keziah had 11 children (Martha Selenia Drake, John H. “Kimsey” Drake, William “Bill” Drake, Sarah Anne Drake, Richard T. Drake, Allison Fidelia Drake, Mary Jane Drake, James Buchanan “Buck” Drake, Leander “Lee” Drake, Nathan “Teet” Drake, and one child that died as an infant.
Both Keziah and James Drake and many of their descendants are buried at Pleasant Hill Cemetery.
Several of Keziah Drake’s son’s were served during the Civil War and her son William died while in the service in Cumberland Gap, Tennessee. After the war she filed a claim with the Southern Claims Commission. In February 15, 1878 she submitted a petition as Administratrix for the estate of her husband. The claim was for $219 for 1 large mule valued at $200, 1 saddle valued at $9 and for bacon, flour, and beef valued at $10. The Commissions of Claims approved her claim on March 3, 1879 in the amount of $160 for items taken by the United States government during the war.
