The information provided on the Grave Discovery site is based on the burial records provided by the City of Centerville however they should be used for informational purposes only. Please contact Centerville City Hall at (641)437-4339 to confirm a location for official purposes.
Governor Francis M Drake Iowa Governor 1896 - 1898. Buried in the 1st Addition Block 6 Lot 14 Oakland Cemetery
On June 11 1865 - Drake assumed command of the 1st Brigade 2nd Division 7th Army Corps. He was finally mustered out of service in August 1865 as a U S. Army Brigadier General U S. Volunteers; his old 36th Iowa Infantry Regiment - which was now part of his new command - was mustered out of Federal service on August 24 1865 at DeValls Bluff Arkansas transported to Davenport Iowa and discharged from state service.
After the war Drake practiced law for about six years as a criminal lawyer. Then for almost 30 years he worked at banking and building and managing railroads. He was president of the Missouri Iowa and Nebraska Railroad; the Indiana Illinois and Iowa Railroad; and the Albia and Centerville Railroad. He organized the Centerville National Bank of which he was president until his death.
On July 17 1895 he was nominated by the Republican Party for governor of Iowa. He was elected governor by an overwelming majority on November 5 1895 serving 1896 thru 1897.
He founded and endowed Drake University in Des Moines Iowa. It was named after him and he served as president of the board of trustees. He also contributed to other colleges and gave to churches and missionary societies of many creeds. The Centerville library is named after him. ((Drake Library) He died in Centerville in 1903. He and his family are buried in Centerville's Oakland Cemetery.
