Christopher Prince Drew was born in Kingston, Massachusetts on June 27, 1815, the son of the blacksmith Deacon Seth Drew and Mary Washburn. He died on February 14, 1907.

Several of Christopher's siblings were notable individuals within the town of Kingston including: Clement Drew (the marine artist), Seth Drew (a tool maker), and Thomas Bradford Drew (the genealogist and historian).

In Emily Drew's notes on "water privileges*" there is a handwritten manuscript giving an early history of C. Drew & Co., which Christopher P. Drew founded, and although the author is not named, it is clear that it was written by Christopher P., himself:

"Began to learn trade in 1831 when 16 yrs. Finished [apprenticeship] June 1836. Worked for Uncle N [Nahum Bailey] till 1837. Great panic, no business, nothing doing. My father said 'put up little shop'. Did so. Called it mine, but father did it. Got going 1838. Went to work very soon. Mr. T. Bailey who was thrown out work the same time, came in with me 1838.

"The way we worked, Father found stock & shop; we did labor. Continued till 1854 when shop was burned. . . . We then built this shop. . . .

"Began. I make screw augers, nothing else. . . Some of caulkers wanted tools. From that got to make other tools, marlin spikes, box chisels . . ."

Another manuscript, also in Emily Drew's notes is clearly by one of Christopher Drew's two daughters (either Jennie F. McLauthlin, librarian of the Frederic C. Adams Public Library, or Miss Mary W. Drew); the following details are provided:

"My father began in the trade in 1831 when 16 yrs old. Was apprenticed to Mr. Nahum Bailey; was out of his time in June 1836, but continued to work for Mr. Bailey until 1837. At that time there was a panic in the business world and all business stopped, there was nothing doing at all, so he and, also, Mr. Thos. Bailey, nephew of Nahum, were thrown out of work.

"His father advised him to put up a little shop for himself. He called it his though it really belonged to his father; this was finished in 1838. His father finding shop, privilege, & [stock?], and he and Mr. Thos. Bailey as partners providing labor, continued so until death. Went on so until 1854 when the shop burned September 1854, meanwhile his father had died the Jan. previous."

Emily Drew quotes her father Charles H. Drew as saying: "My Uncle Christopher had a natural faculty for making and shaping any article of iron or steel that was wanted if it was within the limits of his facilities. Give him a sample, or an outline sketch with dimensions, and he would find a way to produce what was desired."

Later in life, Christopher found it more and more difficult to keep up with changes in technology as can be inferred from the following quotation from Emily Drew's 1937 paper titled A Century of C. Drew & Company: "As time went on, methods changed. New steel requires new manufacturing processes. One day Uncle Christopher came to my father and said, 'It's no use, Charlie, I've got to give in. I learned how to handle tool steel when I was a boy. I've learned how to use it all over twice since that time. Now they have sent us a new kind all over again. I give up and let you forge the new steel. I'll keep up with the old kind as long as I can. ' "

Although Christopher sold out his interest in the business to his nephew Charles H. Drew and to his niece's husband Lemuel Ford in the late 1870s, he remained at the C. Drew & Co. factory for several years longer. An unsigned and undated memorandum that appears to have been writen by Charles H. Drew states: "C.P Drew hurt & retired from shop Fall of 1891."

Christopher P. Drew's obituary from the February 9(?), 1907 issue of the Old Colony Memorial is published here: http://www.numismalink.com/article3.html

Christopher Prince Drew's funeral announcement, published in the February 23, 1907 edition of the Old Colony Memorial: "The funeral of the late Christopher Prince Drew was held at his late residence, Summer Street, Stony Brook, on Sunday afternoon, and was very largely attended by relatives, neighbors, and friends. The services were conducted by the Rev. Courtland Y. DeNormandie. minister, at the First Parish (Unitarian) church, which church Mr. Drew had attended for a great many years. The remains were taken to the receiving tomb, Kingston Evergreen Cemetery. Nephews of the deceased acted as bearers."

*Emily Drew's notebook on "water privileges" can be found in the Local History Room at the Kingston Public Library, Kingston, Massachusetts.