George Burton Drake
Encyclopedia
George Burton Drake was an American landscape painter and minister.
George Burton Drake was born August 3, 1870 in Eagle, New York
to John (1833-1901) and Emily (Helmer) Drake (1848-1904). Raised as an only child (his 2 year old younger brother William had died in 1872), George was relied upon heavily by his mother to help his father, who had been severely wounded by a Confederate
sniper during the Civil War
and left without the use of his right arm. During his teenage years, Burty, as young George was known by his family, attended Pike Academy in New York. It was there he took up painting as a hobby. During this time he mastered the use of various media, including oils, watercolor, and pencil sketching. Although a prolific, yet to this day a somewhat obscure artist, he seemed to have very gifted artistic abilities since he was also locally recognized as a master carpenter and tinsmith.
Drake attended Ridgeville College in Indiana where he met Ida Hattie Lawrence (b. April 14, 1872). They married on December 24, 1891. During this time he gave up all artistic endeavors to pursue a career in the ministry. Burty's wife Ida died shortly thereafter on March 24, 1893. In 1894 he moved to South Wardsboro, Vermont
where he served as a congregational aide. There he met and married Nellie (Nell) Jennie Rice in early 1895. In 1901 he moved back to western New York to look after his father due to John's failing health. On September 10, 1901, John Drake died in Pike, New York
.
Burty and his wife moved to Kansas and eventually to Western Grove, Illinois where he served as the minister of the Old Orchard Church. It appears that it was around this time that George Burton Drake decided to forgo his artistic talents in order to pursue his ministry full time.
George Burton Drake died in McPherson, Kansas
on September 20, 1942. Burty had one son, George Bryant Drake (Dec 8, 1895-1979), a minister and past President of Doane College
(1942-1947), and a daughter, Ruth Nellie Drake (b. December 16, 1900), a renowned author; two grandsons, Dr. George Drake (former President of Grinnell College
) and his brother, Professor Richard Drake (retired) of Berea College
and a granddaughter, Jane Drake Erickson.
Drake typically signed his works as 'GB Drake', often employing accentuated vertical strokes within the signature. Drake seems to have produced far more watercolors paintings than those of other media, yet, as of 2010, his works in each media can still be found occasionally at auctions and estate sales for a modest sum due to the artist's obscurity in the art world and general lack of following. His style is pastoral and serene, typically including his favorite subjects: large trees, a cottage or farmhouse in the distance, and perhaps an individual walking. A 25"x35" oil painting on canvas entitled "The Upland Pasture" acquired from the Strobridge Lithograph Company (Cincinnati, OH) in 1951 is shown.
Eagle, New York
Eagle is a town in Wyoming County, New York, United States. The population was 1,194 at the 2000 census.The Town of Eagle is on the south border of the county.- History :...
to John (1833-1901) and Emily (Helmer) Drake (1848-1904). Raised as an only child (his 2 year old younger brother William had died in 1872), George was relied upon heavily by his mother to help his father, who had been severely wounded by a Confederate
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
sniper during the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
and left without the use of his right arm. During his teenage years, Burty, as young George was known by his family, attended Pike Academy in New York. It was there he took up painting as a hobby. During this time he mastered the use of various media, including oils, watercolor, and pencil sketching. Although a prolific, yet to this day a somewhat obscure artist, he seemed to have very gifted artistic abilities since he was also locally recognized as a master carpenter and tinsmith.
Drake attended Ridgeville College in Indiana where he met Ida Hattie Lawrence (b. April 14, 1872). They married on December 24, 1891. During this time he gave up all artistic endeavors to pursue a career in the ministry. Burty's wife Ida died shortly thereafter on March 24, 1893. In 1894 he moved to South Wardsboro, Vermont
Wardsboro, Vermont
Wardsboro is a town in Windham County, Vermont, United States. The population was 854 at the 2000 census. The town includes the villages of Wardsboro Center, West Wardsboro and South Wardsboro.-History:...
where he served as a congregational aide. There he met and married Nellie (Nell) Jennie Rice in early 1895. In 1901 he moved back to western New York to look after his father due to John's failing health. On September 10, 1901, John Drake died in Pike, New York
Pike, New York
Pike, New York is the name of two locations in Wyoming County, New York:*Pike , New York*Pike , New York...
.
Burty and his wife moved to Kansas and eventually to Western Grove, Illinois where he served as the minister of the Old Orchard Church. It appears that it was around this time that George Burton Drake decided to forgo his artistic talents in order to pursue his ministry full time.
George Burton Drake died in McPherson, Kansas
McPherson, Kansas
McPherson is a city in and the county seat of McPherson County, Kansas, United States, in the central part of the state. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 13,155. The city is named after Union General James Birdseye McPherson, a Civil War general...
on September 20, 1942. Burty had one son, George Bryant Drake (Dec 8, 1895-1979), a minister and past President of Doane College
Doane College
Doane College is a private liberal arts college in Crete, Nebraska, United States, with additional campuses located in Lincoln and Grand Island.-History:...
(1942-1947), and a daughter, Ruth Nellie Drake (b. December 16, 1900), a renowned author; two grandsons, Dr. George Drake (former President of Grinnell College
Grinnell College
Grinnell College is a private liberal arts college in Grinnell, Iowa, U.S. known for its strong tradition of social activism. It was founded in 1846, when a group of pioneer New England Congregationalists established the Trustees of Iowa College....
) and his brother, Professor Richard Drake (retired) of Berea College
Berea College
Berea College is a liberal arts work college in Berea, Kentucky , founded in 1855. Current full-time enrollment is 1,514 students...
and a granddaughter, Jane Drake Erickson.
Drake typically signed his works as 'GB Drake', often employing accentuated vertical strokes within the signature. Drake seems to have produced far more watercolors paintings than those of other media, yet, as of 2010, his works in each media can still be found occasionally at auctions and estate sales for a modest sum due to the artist's obscurity in the art world and general lack of following. His style is pastoral and serene, typically including his favorite subjects: large trees, a cottage or farmhouse in the distance, and perhaps an individual walking. A 25"x35" oil painting on canvas entitled "The Upland Pasture" acquired from the Strobridge Lithograph Company (Cincinnati, OH) in 1951 is shown.