mar 29, 1819 - Edwin Laurentine Drake

Description:

Edwin Drake was born in Greenville, Greene County, New York on March 29, 1819, the son of Lyman and Laura Drake.

He grew up on family farms around New York State and Castleton, Rutland County, Vermont before leaving home at the age of 19.

He spent the early parts of his life working the railways around New Haven, Connecticut as a clerk, express agent and a conductor. During this time, in 1845, he married Philena Adams who died while giving birth to their second child in 1854. Drake remarried three years later to Laura Dowd, sixteen years his junior, in 1857. During this summer, illness prevented Drake from carrying on with his job. He retained the privileges of a train conductor, including free travel on the railroads.

By 1858, the Drake family found themselves living in Titusville, Pennsylvania.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edwin_Drake

Added to timeline:

Date:

Images: