This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Drake, Lee, Gross, Miller, Binkhoelter, Chapman, Riepe, Gove, Soner, Stambach Blanke, Hibein, Moore, Wehmhoner Henkler Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/FMB.2ACE/1392.2.1.1 Message Board Post: Source: Goodspeed’s History of Franklin, Jefferson, Washington, Crawford & Gasconade Counties Missouri Originally Published 1888 My reprint is from 1970 Quote page 685 Gasonade County “Drake is a small village situated near the center of Township 43, Range 5 west. It was named after Senator Charles D. Drake. Greenberry Lee is said to have been the first settler in this vicinity who came in an built a log cabin, 18x20 feet, in 1833. The first frame house was built in 1861 by Dr. H.A. Gross, in 1860; the first blacksmith was Mike Miller, in 1863; and the first shoemaker, Casper Binkhoelter, in 1856; the first grocery keeper was a Mr. Chapman, in 1855. The postmasters have been Green B. Lee, Caspar H. Riepe, H.A. Gross, Louis Gove, Frank Stoner, Fritz Stambach and Gustave Blanke. The present business men are Simon Boeger & Co., Henry Hobein, Henry Moore, Fred. Wehmhoner, Sr., Fred. Wehmhoner, Jr., and Caspar Binkhoelter; H.A. Gross,k physician, and George W. Henkler, teacher. The present population of Drake is fifty-four.” A Henry Moore is also mentioned on page 761, in the Franklin County Biographical Appendix, as being the husband of Kate Hoelscher, the daughter of Capt. Frank H. Hoelscher, of Washington, MO., native of Germany. NOTE: keep in min this was written in 1888.