From "History of La Crosse County, Wisconsin", 1881, p. 750. City of La Crosse LEMUEL DRAKE, contractor and builder, has been in his present business in La Crosse since May, 1857, and a resident of the city since May, 1856. He was born in 1829, in Essex, England, Parish of Great Pullingbury; son of James Drake, who was born and died in the same parish. When 13 years old, young Drake went to London, where he resided till he was 20, then came to America in April, 1849; lived one year in Appleton, Wis., then went to Ohio and lived five years in Cleveland, then one year in Chicago, and came from there to La Crosse in spring of 1856. He learned the carpenter's trade in Appleton and Cleveland. His first wife was Emily Drake, of Essex, Eng., who died in 1865, leaving four children, Isabella, William, George and Lemuel. His second wife was Ketura Viner, also a native of England, by whom he has six children, Eliza, Louisa, Lettie, Henry, Fannie and Katie. [I am not related to this family and have no further information. I'm posting this as a service and hope it helps!]