DRAPER, Martha

The Wickenburg Sun, Wickenburg, AZ July 9, 1954, p. 1 & 4 Mrs. Martha Draper, Who Lost Two Sons In War, Summoned At Age 88 Mrs Martha Draper, familiarly known to hundreds of residents of this community as “Mother Draper” and a Gold Mother of two World Wars, passed away at Community Hospital here at 8:58 a.m. last Monday. She was past 88 years of age and although she had been under doctor’s care for sometime her condition did not become critical until the previous Saturday morning, when she was removed to the hospital. Her death has due to heart failure. Funeral services were held at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the Wickenburg Chapel, conducted by Rev. Bill Barker of the First Baptist Church, with the members of the American Legion Auxiliary participating. Pallbearers were all members of the Kellis-Draper Legion post, names for Burnice B. Kellis and Mrs Draper’s oldest son, Howard, who was killed in action September 5, 1918 in the battle of Saint Mihiel in France. He was 21 years of age. The pallbearers were Lloyd Britton, Harold Henson, Ernest Roberts, Bert Matchette, William Allen, Garth Mickelson, Brian Harrington and Dawson Cooley. Mrs Velma Henson and Mary Harrington, president and chaplain, respectively of the American Legions Auxiliary, gave the Auxiliary funeral service at the Chapel. Mrs Draper was a charter member of the local Auxiliary, its first chaplain, and served two terms as president, from 1945 to 1947. Burial In Prescott Following the services here, the body was taken to Prescott where burial took place in Mount View Cemetery where Mrs Draper’s husband, the late Albert Draper, the son Howard and the youngest son, Albert Jr., who died of illness contracted while in the service in World War II, are also buried. The local Legion pallbearer also served at the graveside services in Prescott. To Arizona In 1900 “Mother Draper” was a true pioneer of Arizona, to which state she first came in 1900, from Tennessee, where she was born January 16, 1866. She accompanied her husband, who for many years was employed in the Mammoth Mine in the southeastern part of the state. In 1905, she and her husband and three children came to Wickenburg where Mr Draper was employed at the White Mine, some 15 miles east of this town. Mr Draper passed away February 22, 1937. Daughter Survives Mrs Draper’s only surviving close relative is her daughter, Mrs Albert (Ruth) Vannish, near whose home she lived on Constellation road. Following the death of her son Albert, Mrs Draper took into her home here his son, Howard, who is now 10 years of age. The boy and his grandmother were constant companions. Howard’s sister, Gloria, age 9, lives with her mother in Stockton, Calif. Despite her advanced years, Mrs Draper was up until a few weeks ago, an active and energetic woman, an indulgent grandmother and known to just about everybody in this town. She was deeply honored by those who knew of her great sacrifice, the lost of her only sons in war. Invariably, she was the first member of the Legion Auxiliary to be on the streets at the annual Poppy Day sale, and never gave up until she had disposed of the last of the little flowers given to her to sell. Mrs Draper lived a long life and a full one. Her courage was inspiring. She will be missed in this little western town.