Ossian Wright Drane was the only son of Herbert Jackson Drane and Mary Wright Drane. He was born at Hillcrest House on Lake Hunter just after midnight on April 15, 1888. He was delighted by the arrival of US Army soldiers camping near his home in 1898, on their way to Cuba during the Spanish-American War.

He attended Lakeland schools before attending the University of Florida, graduating in 1911 with a degree in electrical engineering. He served as senior class president in 1911.

He returned to Lakeland and began working for the Mendenhall engineering firm. He was a member of the Florida National Guard when Lakeland's Company D was sent to the border during the Mexican Expedition of 1916 to 1917. Ossian's company experienced direct combat. He elected to remain in the military after the conflict ended, as he believed the US would soon enter the World War. On 17 July, 1917, Ossian and Irene Helen Conibear applied for a marriage license in Polk County.

Ossian's unit was called up to Camp Wheeler, Georgia, for training in preparation to go overseas. They were in training for close to a year. While the company was in Camp Mills, New York, in preparation to ship out, Ossian came down with "Spanish Flu" and pneumonia. When faced with the choice of being medically discharged, or receive a serious surgical procedure to remain in the military, Ossian chose to have the surgery. He said he would rather die in France than have it said that he, a congressman's son, did not go at all. By the time Ossian had recovered from the operation, the Armistice had been signed ending the war. He returned to Florida and was discharged in early 1919. His health was never the same after this event.

Upon return to Lakeland, he joined his father's insurance company, being known then as H.J. Drane and Son Insurance. In 1922, there was a multi-day city-wide celebration for Armistice Day. Ossian was determined to participate in the veterans ceremony, but his health failed him and he was unable to do so. He was taken back to Hillcrest House where he passed away on December 29, at 4:40 AM. His funeral rites were held at the All Saints Episcopal Church in Lakeland. He was buried with full military honors.