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Cemeteries of Madison County, Vol. III, page 174
John Drake Cemetery
JOHN DRAKE CEMETERY
Location: Section 17-4-1E. SE SW SW. This tiny family cemetery is located on the Jones Farm in what is now called “Jones Valley,” formerly Drake Cove, and is skirted by Garth Road and Carl T. Jones Drive.
Captain John Drake was the patriarch of all Drakes in Madison County, Al. There is no record of him being here before 1811. He was born in Hopewell, Hunterdon County, New Jersey in 1748, removed to Botetourt Co., Va about 1769 and was married at that time to Jane Neely. He acquired 215 acres of land on the Catawba Creek and the Looney Fork Creek out from Fincastle, Va. He fought in the Revolutionary War as a private, in a home guard under Lt. Col. Dabney.
John Drake came to Madison County at an early period but all of his children were born in Botetourt Co., Va. John died in his home near the James Drake homestead [now called the Jones farm] in 1839 at age 90 years and is buried in this cemetery.
Among Madison County's first settlers were James Drake, his brother William Drake, and their brother-inlaw James Neely. James and William Drake were sons of Capt. John Drake. In May of 1808 these three men came down the Tennessee River from Virginia and settled in what became known as Drake Cove. They built a log cabin and filed for this land Sept. 10, 1808.
Two years later, William Drake sold his interest to James and moved to the Russellville area of Franklin County where some of his descendants still live. James's homestead was built in 1828, is still standing, and is known as the Carl T. Jones farm home. This plantation, under the Drakes, grew to over 5,000 acres, five springs, two cemeteries, three plantations and over 100 slaves. Some of the land was owned in part by Drake descendants up to 1983.
A Baptist Church called the “Meridian Line Baptist Church” was in Drake Cove and is thought to be one of
the early Baptist Churches
In Memory of
James Drake
who was born in
Botetourt County,
Virginia,
April 30, 1780,
died in
Madison County,
Alabama
March 19, 1843
Note:Box tomb rebuilt. Son of John Drake
Sacred to the Memory of
John Drake
who was born
September 5, 1748 and
died February 7, 1839.
The crown that my Savior bestows, Yon permanent sun will outshine, My joy everlasting flow, my God, my Redeemer, is mine.
Note: Box tomb rebuilt. His only wife d. in Va. A new marble stone has also been placed at this location with the same information on it as is given above.
in Alabama according
In Memory of our mother, Mary A., wife of Manson Jones who died February 18, 1862.
He giveth his beloved sleep. Note: Marble stone. She was nee Shannon.
Agnes B. Drake
Wife of John R. Drake and Daughter of David & Sarah Shannon
Born October 21, 1824
Died February 25, 1858.
She was a devoted wife and affectionate mother, a kind mistress and a faithful Christian. She died in peace and rests in Heaven.
Her life extinguished, oh how soon. She bloomed at Morn and died at Noon. That life at dawning shown so bright, yet sunk at noon in death's cold night.
But stay impulsive, sighing,
to some Drake descendants.
weeping. She is not dead,
she's
only sleeping. When God's
last
trumpet shakes earth and skies, she with the saints, shall wake and rise.
Census, Nov. 18, 1850:
Drake, John R. 38 Al
Agnes E. 26 Al
Presley N. 7 Al
James 5 Al
David S. 3 Al
Rodah 2 Al
Jack C. 4/12 Al
Note: John R. Drake married Agnes Shannon 27 Jan.
7847.
L. Drake
Note: This was a broken footstone with only the initials carved thereon. The headstone was gone. It may have been the marker of Lucinda Girder who married
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