Born near Syracuse, N.Y., October 10, 1834, and was there reared to manhood, meanwhile attending the common and high schools of that place. Reared upon a farm, he naturally chose agriculture as his life occupation, and in addition there to engaged in manufacturing salt for a number of years. In 1855, Mr. Draper purchased a tract of land from the Government in Felix Township, Grundy County. The lady who in 1872 became the wife of Mr. Draper was Mary, daughter of Aaron Allen, a native of New York. In politics he is a Republican, and has been elected upon the ticket of that party to numerous official positions of trust. From 1878 until 1880 he served as County Supervisor, and in 1887 he was elected State Representative, serving in that capacity for two years. Socially Mr. Draper affiliates with the Masonic fraternity.