Marcus Motier Drake (1835–1907) was Mayor of the City of Buffalo, New York, serving during November - December 1882, after the resignation of Grover Cleveland. He was born in DeRuyter, New York on September 7, 1835. When two years old, the family moved near Fredonia, New York. He graduated from Fredonia Academy in 1852. In 1861, he was made a captain and given command of the "Genesee Chief" steamer. In August 1862, enlisted in the Union Army at Dunkirk, New York and entered as a private in the 72d Regiment, N.Y. Volunteers. In the spring of 1865, his term ended and he was transferred to 120th Regiment, NY Volunteers. Upon his transfer he was promoted to the rank of 1st Lieutenant and placed in command of Company H, which was present at the surrender at Appomattox. In 1872, he was appointed Superintendent of the Union Dry Dock Company, upon its organization. In 1860, he married Persis L. Bennett of Hamlet, New York, who died soon after their marriage. In 1867, he remarried with Mary A. Ludlow; she died in 1880 and he married Lillian Quest in 1900.
