William M. Draper
William M. draper, who is numbered among the important business factors of the enterprising inland city of Sullivan, Indiana, and who is engaged in the bottling industry, is a native of Sullivan County, Indiana, born February 8, 1861, in Curry Township, a son of Solomon and Amy Ann (Oakes) Draper. Of his parentage it may be said that the father was a native of Ohio, born near Baden on the 8thof April, 1831, and he died in Sullivan County, Indiana, in 1904. The mother, Amy Ann (Oakes) Draper, was born in Indiana and is still living. They were united in marriage in Sullivan County, and the father of William M. was an industrious agriculturist in Curry Township and followed that for his livelihood until the son was about seven years of age, when the family moved to Sullivan, where the father worked at the blacksmith's trade until he retired from actual hard service. Politically he was a staunch Democrat, and in church relations was connected with the Christian denomination, the wife being of the same faith. The four children born to Solomon Draper and wife were as follows:
Isaac S., a resident of Bloomington, Indiana.
Theodosia, deceased.
Laura, wife of William Timmons, residing in Sullivan.
William M., of this sketch, who has two half sisters, Caroline and Elizabeth, unmarried.
William M. Draper was reared and educated within Sullivan County, Indiana, and at the age of fifteen years began as a messenger boy for the Western ;Union Telegraph Company under F. E. Basler at Sullivan, with whom he worked five years -the first year as messenger boy and the remaining four years at handling freight and baggage. He was then on the Evansville & Terre Haute Railway, at various points along their system as agent, for six months, after which he took the agency of the road at Summerville, Indiana, which position he filled two years, and then served at Hazelton, Indiana, two years. He next moved back to Sullivan, and was agent for the Adams Express Company nine years. He relinquished this position in February, 1896, and engaged in the bottling business at Sullivan. He now possesses a fine, modern planned plant. The building is made of cement blocks, and is located near the Evansville & Terre Haute railway depot. Besides bottling all sorts of soft drinks he acts as the local agent for the Terre Haute Brewing Company.
In his political understanding he agrees with the principles of the Democratic party. Among the local offices he has held may be mentioned that of member of the Town Board. He is associated with the Knights of Pythias fraternity, and is also a member of the Eagles order.
Concerning his domestic relations let it be said that in 1880, he was married to Isabelle Plunkett, born in Sullivan County, Indiana, March 2, 1861, and died August 30, 1901. One son was born of this union, Alexander E., born August 8, 1881, and is now a married man and associated with his father in the bottling business, the firm name being styled The Sullivan Steam Bottling Works and City Artificial Ice Delivery. This concern is the only one in Sullivan handling ice. For his second wife Mr. Draper married Viola R. Sligar, born in Sullivan County in 1880. Both wives were members of the Christian Church.
Source: A History of Sullivan County, Indiana. Closing of the first century’s history of the county and showing the growth of its people, institutions, industries and wealth. Thomas J. Wolfe, Editor. The Lewis Publishing Company, 1909, page 276-277.