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John Drake (1826-1895)
Encyclopedia
John Burroughs Drake was a hotelier who was part owner of the Tremont House
hotel in Chicago, Illinois. He managed the Grand Pacific Hotel
from 1874–1895. His sons, John B. Drake and Tracy C. Drake were the developers and proprietors of the Blackstone Hotel
and Drake Hotel
, which are both located along Michigan Avenue
in Chicago, Illinois. The former is located in the Chicago Landmark
Historic Michigan Boulevard District
and the latter along the Magnificent Mile
. The Blackstone Hotel and Blackstone Theatre were built by his sons on the former site of the mansion of his business partner, Timothy Blackstone
.
, the son of John Burroughs Drake a harness
-maker from Trenton, New Jersey
and Nancy (Harry) Drake from Pennsylvania
. His father died when he was 11 causing him to have to work in a store, while obtaining a “Common school” education. At 16 he took a job at a Lebanon tavern
. In 1845, he embarked to Cincinnati, OH where he worked as a hotel clerk for a pair of hotels.
He married Josephine Corey, daughter of Francis Edward Corey on February 24, 1863. They had three sons and two daughters.
hotel, Tremont House. He was the sole owner within 15 years. However, the Great Chicago Fire
of 1871 burned down the Tremont. At the height of the fire, he made a payment on the Michigan Avenue Hotel at Michigan Avenue
and Congress Street. The fire had been directly across the street from the hotel, but it managed to be the only hotel on the South side to escape the great fire. In 1873, he took over the Grand Pacific Hotel. His hotel became the western headquarters of the Republican Party
. He eventually diversified into Union Stock Yards
, Chicago & Alton Railroad, Illinois Trust & Savings Bank, Chicago Telephone and Chicago Edison Electric. John B. Drake also was a business partner of Jacob Bunn in the establishment of the Chicago Secure Depository Company.
He was known for his annual Thanksgiving Game Dinner, which was a celebrated Chicago tradition. The 30th Anniversary party was held in 1885 at the Grand Pacific Hotel for over 500 guests. These dinners continued for more than 50 years as a Chicago social institution.
Tremont House (Chicago)
Tremont House was a leading hotel in Chicago, United States, that served as the Headquarters for the Illinois Republican Party during the 1860 Republican National Convention held at the nearby Wigwam as they lobbied for Abraham Lincoln's nomination. Both Lincoln and Stephen Douglas started...
hotel in Chicago, Illinois. He managed the Grand Pacific Hotel
Grand Pacific Hotel (Chicago)
The Grand Pacific Hotel was one of the first two prominent hotels built in Chicago, Illinois after the Great Chicago Fire. The hotel, designed by William W...
from 1874–1895. His sons, John B. Drake and Tracy C. Drake were the developers and proprietors of the Blackstone Hotel
Blackstone Hotel
The Renaissance Blackstone Hotel is located on the corner of Michigan Avenue and Balbo Street in the Michigan Boulevard Historic District in the Loop community area of Chicago, Illinois. This 21-story hotel was built from 1908 to 1910 and designed by Marshall and Fox. On May 29, 1998, the...
and Drake Hotel
Drake Hotel (Chicago)
The Drake Hotel, 140 East Walton Place, Chicago, Illinois, is a luxury full-service hotel, located downtown on the lake side of Michigan Avenue two blocks north of the John Hancock Center and a block south of Oak Street Beach at the top of the Magnificent Mile.Overlooking Lake Michigan, it was...
, which are both located along Michigan Avenue
Michigan Avenue (Chicago)
Michigan Avenue is a major north-south street in Chicago which runs at 100 east south of the Chicago River and at 132 East north of the river from 12628 south to 950 north in the Chicago street address system...
in Chicago, Illinois. The former is located in the Chicago Landmark
Chicago Landmark
Chicago Landmark is a designation of the Mayor of Chicago and the Chicago City Council for historic buildings and other sites in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Listed sites are selected after meeting a combination of criteria, including historical, economic, architectural, artistic, cultural,...
Historic Michigan Boulevard District
Historic Michigan Boulevard District
The Historic Michigan Boulevard District is a historic district in the Loop community area of Chicago in Cook County, Illinois, United States encompassing Michigan Avenue between 11th or Roosevelt Road , depending on the source, and Randolph Streets and named after the nearby Great Lake...
and the latter along the Magnificent Mile
Magnificent Mile
The Magnificent Mile, sometimes referred to as The Mag Mile, is a neighborhood in Chicago, Illinois, that runs along a portion of Michigan Avenue extending from the Chicago River to Oak Street in the Near North Side community area. The district is located adjacent to downtown; it is also one block...
. The Blackstone Hotel and Blackstone Theatre were built by his sons on the former site of the mansion of his business partner, Timothy Blackstone
Timothy Blackstone
Timothy Beach Blackstone was a 19th century railroad executive, businessman, philanthropist, and politician. He is descended from one of the earliest British settlers of New England, William Blaxton. Blackstone worked in the railroad industry for most of his life after dropping out of school...
.
Family and childhood
Drake was born in Lebanon, OhioLebanon, Ohio
The population at the 2010 census was 20,033. As of the census of 2000, there were 16,962 people residing in the city. The population density was 1,440.6 people per square mile . There were 6,218 housing units at an average density of 528.1 per square mile...
, the son of John Burroughs Drake a harness
Safety harness
A safety harness is a form of protective equipment designed to protect a person, animal, or object from injury or damage. The harness is an attachment between a stationary and non-stationary object and is usually fabricated from rope, cable or webbing and locking hardware...
-maker from Trenton, New Jersey
Trenton, New Jersey
Trenton is the capital of the U.S. state of New Jersey and the county seat of Mercer County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Trenton had a population of 84,913...
and Nancy (Harry) Drake from Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. His father died when he was 11 causing him to have to work in a store, while obtaining a “Common school” education. At 16 he took a job at a Lebanon tavern
Tavern
A tavern is a place of business where people gather to drink alcoholic beverages and be served food, and in some cases, where travelers receive lodging....
. In 1845, he embarked to Cincinnati, OH where he worked as a hotel clerk for a pair of hotels.
He married Josephine Corey, daughter of Francis Edward Corey on February 24, 1863. They had three sons and two daughters.
Career
By 1855 Drake had saved enough to purchase a quarter interest in leading ChicagoChicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
hotel, Tremont House. He was the sole owner within 15 years. However, the Great Chicago Fire
Great Chicago Fire
The Great Chicago Fire was a conflagration that burned from Sunday, October 8, to early Tuesday, October 10, 1871, killing hundreds and destroying about in Chicago, Illinois. Though the fire was one of the largest U.S...
of 1871 burned down the Tremont. At the height of the fire, he made a payment on the Michigan Avenue Hotel at Michigan Avenue
Michigan Avenue (Chicago)
Michigan Avenue is a major north-south street in Chicago which runs at 100 east south of the Chicago River and at 132 East north of the river from 12628 south to 950 north in the Chicago street address system...
and Congress Street. The fire had been directly across the street from the hotel, but it managed to be the only hotel on the South side to escape the great fire. In 1873, he took over the Grand Pacific Hotel. His hotel became the western headquarters of the Republican Party
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
. He eventually diversified into Union Stock Yards
Union Stock Yards
The Union Stock Yard & Transit Co., or The Yards, was the meat packing district in Chicago for over a century starting in 1865. The district was operated by a group of railroad companies that acquired swampland, and turned it to a centralized processing area...
, Chicago & Alton Railroad, Illinois Trust & Savings Bank, Chicago Telephone and Chicago Edison Electric. John B. Drake also was a business partner of Jacob Bunn in the establishment of the Chicago Secure Depository Company.
He was known for his annual Thanksgiving Game Dinner, which was a celebrated Chicago tradition. The 30th Anniversary party was held in 1885 at the Grand Pacific Hotel for over 500 guests. These dinners continued for more than 50 years as a Chicago social institution.