Horace Drake, another emigrant of 1847, a resident of Centerville at
the present time, is a native of Hartford, Trumbull county, Ohio, where
he was born April 19, 1826. His father's name was Daniel Drake, and his
mother's, before her marriage, Patience Perkins. They were hardworking
people, the father a farmer, and the mother a spinner and weaver. They
soon won a competence by their industry, but as Horace had to help earn
a livelihood for the family, he was not favored with very much
schooling.
He was about eight years of age when he moved with his parents to
Illinois.
Having become Latter-day Saints, they joined the exodus of
their people
in May, 1846, and started westward, crossing the Mississippi at Fort
Madison.
They fitted themselves out with two wagons and ox teams and began the
journey
across the plains in June, 1847, as members of Captain Daniel Spencer's
company. Horace by this time was an expert huntsman, and contributed to
the game supplies of the camp along the way. He much enjoyed the trip.
He arrived in Salt Lake valley on the 19th of September, a few days
ahead
of his company.
