Thomas Bell Draper

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Thomas Bell Draper was born on 2 January 1838 at Osmaston, Derbyshire.¹ He was the son of Isaac Draper and Elizabeth Bell.¹ Thomas Bell Draper was baptised on Sunday, 4 February 1838 at Osmaston, Derbyshire.¹ He Thomas worked on the railways in Derbyshire and they set up home in Swannington, about two miles north of Coalville. On 16 January 1864 Tom was transferred from Bristol to Coalville in Leicestershire, about 18 miles S.E. of Derby.

Diary entry Sunday 22 May 1864:
'Up at quarter to three and called at Jerry Smith's at quarter to four for him as we was going to Derby together on foot. Left Coalville at 28 minutes past four and walked through Breedon & Melbourne and arrived home (Osmaston) about 8. We had breakfast a tour house and looked round a bit and then went on to Derby together where we parted and I went to Chester Road to see Cowlishaw (fellow railroader) who was on duty. Stayed with him till about 2 o'clock and then went to Osmaston Churche to tea & after to Normanton (about 1 mile w.) with Uncle Charles to see cousin Tom who has took the Publick house there. Stayed at Normanton ti to about 8 & then walked straight home and to bed after supper at about quarter to eleven. Came to Coe by the 7 a.m. train from Derby on Monday morning.'

On the 13 March 1866, the first birthday of Herbert, their first born, Thomas, Eliza and their son arrived at Portland, Maine on the 'S.S. Hibernian' from Liverpool. They had six more children, all born in Iowa.¹

Thomas Bell Draper married Eliza Oaten, daughter of Frederick Oaten and Dinah Bradbeer, at Pip and Jay (St. Phillip and St. Jacob) on Sunday, 29 May 1864 at Bristol. They were 26 and 26 respectively.¹

Thomas died on 20 September 1905 at Dubuque, Iowa, at age 67.¹