Indiana, Illinois & Iowa Railroad Unissued and Signed by F. M. Drake - Autograph Railway Stock Certificate

 

Francis Marion Drake (December 30, 1830 – November 20, 1903) was a prominent American merchant, lawyer, banker, and politician. He served in the American Civil War and subsequently held the position of the 16th Governor of Iowa. Additionally, he is honored as the namesake of Drake University.
Born in Rushville, Illinois, to John Adams Drake and Harriet Jane O'Neal, Drake later relocated to Centerville, Iowa. He received a solid education in business, which paved the way for his career as a merchant. On December 24, 1855, he married Mary Jane Lord, and together they had seven children. During the California Gold Rush, he undertook two significant expeditions from Iowa to California. The first expedition commenced in 1852, during which he and seven other teamsters faced a group of 300 Pawnee in Nebraska. Drake managed to thwart their attack with minimal casualties, reportedly after killing the Pawnee leader with a knife, which led to the disbandment of the remaining warriors. His second expedition in 1854 involved escorting a herd of cattle. Unfortunately, while returning by ship after this journey, he was involved in a shipwreck off Point Aquilla, where 800 passengers lost their lives; however, Drake played a crucial role in rescuing 200 individuals.