The Family of Horace & Lucia (Clement) Draper

Transcribed by Janet

                       Horace & Lucia (Clement) Draper

Horace Draper, a widely known and universally respected citizen of Loyal Township, of which he was a pioneer settler, was born on East Hill, in Granger Township, Alleghany County, N. Y., July 17, 1838. His parents were Amos and Sally Ann (Doane) Draper, and his paternal grandparents Bethuel and Polly Draper, of English descent, and early settlers in Massachusetts, who removed, however, to New York State, where their son, Amos, was born April 5, 1804. There, in course of time, he was united in marriage with Sally Ann Doane, who was born in New York State May 10, 1818, daughter of the pioneers, Joshua D. and Sarah Doane. She was a descendant in the seventh generation from Deacon John Doane, the founder of the American branch of the family, who was born in England about 1590, arrived in Plymouth, Mass., about 1630, and died in Massachusetts in 1665. The line of descent is through Ephraim, Hezekiah (born 1672), Ephraim (born April 1, 1696), Nehemiah (born Oct. 1718), and Joshua D. (born June 4, 1756).

After his marriage, Amos Draper continued his residence in New York State until 1843, when he and his wife, with their two children, Horace and Emily, set out for Ohio in a one-horse vehicle, and on their arrival in that state, settled in Sandusky County, a part of the Western Reserve. There the family circle was enlarged by the birth of three more children: William, Miranda and Harriet. In the meanwhile, Amos, the father, was industriously engaged in farm pursuits. Some time after the birth of the child last mentioned he and his family migrated again, this time to Huron County, Ohio, which lies to the southeast of Sandusky, so that to some extent they were retracing their steps. The call of the West was too strong, however, to be slighted, and in 1874, though now advanced in years, they made their last pilgrimage in the direction of the setting sun, locating in Newville, De Kalb County, Ind., where they spent the remainder of their lives. The wife, Mrs. Sally Ann Draper, was the first to pass away, her death occurring Nov. 12, 1879. Her husband survived her over eleven years, dying at the venerable age of 87 years, April 29, 1891.

Horace Draper, the direct subject of this sketch, grew to man- hood in Huron County, Ohio, and was given a college education. In the fourth year of the Civil War he, became a member of Company 1), 166th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was-assigned to service at Arlington Heights, opposite Washington. He was honorably discharged late in the same year, 1864. About two years later, Oct. 23, 1866, he was united in marriage to Lucia Clement, who was born in Caneadea Township, Alleghany County, N. Y., Dec. 9, 1831, daughter of Cyrus and Polly (Herrick) Clement. Her father, a native of New Hampshire, was of English descent, and followed at different times the occupations of school teacher, carpenter and farmer. He served as a soldier in the War ;f 1812-15, removing to New York State in 1818. His wife, Polly, was from Windsor, Vt. That they were people of some refinement may be inferred from the fact that their daughter, Lucia, had, like her husband, received a college education.

After their marriage, Horace Draper and his wife located in Perrysburg, Ohio, where he taught school at intervals for thirty years. They first came to Wisconsin in 1867, settling in Fond du Lac County, where he engaged in farming and also, for a part of the time, followed his old occupation of school teacher. In the spring of 1872 he came to Clark County to look over the ground, and, being satisfied with what he saw, purchased eighty acres in Section 16, Loyal Township, the present site of Loyal village, and where he now lives. The land was covered with timber, except a space of about five acres, where the village standpipe is now located, and where Mr. Draper's son, Fred, now resides. There were six families then in the neighborhood. As there was no building on his land, Mr. Draper went to work and erected a frame house 14 by 20 feet, and after making some minor improvements, returned to Fond du Lac County. In the fall of the year, while his wife and son Fred were visiting in the East, he came back to Clark County, walking the whole distance and leading a cow. His wife and son later joined him, coming by way of Black River Falls and Humbird to Neillsville, and being driven from Hixton with a horse team. With his hands and the cow, and aided by his wife and son, Mr. Draper set out to build up his fortune in Loyal Township. He obtained an ox team by raising one calf and buying another from Eben Borden, and with this pioneer equipment he made gradual but steady progress.

The good education he had received, and his ability as a school teacher, came in most opportunely, as it enabled him during the winter time to earn a little money. It may be said in this connection that he held the first first-grade school certificate held in Clark County, and taught the first school in Loyal village, helping to build the log schoolhouse, and also built the first frame school in the Shupe district, which he also taught. Many of the well-known men and women now flourishing in Clark County, besides many who have moved elsewhere, were his pupils in those early days. In time, Mr. Draper cleared his original eighty-acre tract and purchased another tract of fifty acres in Loyal Township, becoming the proprietor of a good modern farm on which he still makes his home. In the spring of 1882 he was elected town clerk and served in that office until 1885. In 1900 he became assessor of the village of Loyal. He was one of the founders of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Loyal, served it as trustee and superintendent of the Sunday school. He also belongs to Chas. R. Gill Post, No. 236, G. A. R. For over fifty years he and his wife have traveled life's highway together, sometimes passing over rough and stony places, but ever as their feet got weary the road became smoother, and though now well advanced on their journey, it is with no fear of the future that they still press onward, knowing that their Father's hand will guide them into green pastures and by the side of still waters.