John Reuben Drake (1782-1857)
of Oswego; 1st Judge of Broome County & U.S. Congressman from New York
He was born at Pleasant Valley, New York. He was a projector of the New York & Erie Railroad; Supervisor, 1813; first Judge of Broome County, 1815-1823, reappointed that year and served until April 18, 1838. He was a Member of Congress, 1817-1819; Member of Assembly, 1834; President of Owego village, 1841 to 1845; and, in 1823 was one of three commissioners to supervise the construction of the first Tioga county courthouse. He was described as, "a man of great vigor of mind and body, and throughout his life a factor in affairs of the county and that portion of the state where he lived; Master of the Free Masons' lodge of Owego. His father was Rev. Reuben Drake, a Baptist minister, owner of large property, living in a fine, stone house, and married Phoebe Sherwood. His father was William, a large landowner and a man of wealth".
