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JAMES R. DRIVER, contractor for the Louisville & Nashville Railroad and one of the largest land owners of Jefferson County, was born near Lebanon, Wilson County, Tenn., February 21, 1831, being the son of John and Mary (Campbell) Driver. The family is descended from Peter Driver, who in 1720 emigrated to the United States from Lynne, England. John Driver was born in North Carolina in 1809, and was reared upon his father's farm, receiving a fair education in the subscription schools. He served in the Florida War, and at the close of the conflict resumed farming in Tennessee, continuing thus engaged until the spring of 1841. At that time, accompanied by his family, John Driver came to Illinois and settled in Shiloh Township, Jefferson County, where he bought eighty acres on a land warrant from the United States and forty acres from the Illinois Central Railroad. Upon that place he conducted a general farming business until his demise, in 1853. His wife, who was a native of Virginia, was of Scotch-Irish descent. Her maternal grandfather was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, and her father served under General Jackson. The marriage of John Driver and Mary Campbell occurred about 1829, and resulted in the birth of ten children. Of that number only three are now living: James R., of this sketch; Martha R. and Lydia E. The elder daughter was three times married, first to John Monroe, of Quebec, Canada, afterward to William Chamness, of Marion. Williamson County, ILL., and lastly to Jasper Crain; she now lives in Crainville, Williamson County, ILL, Lydia E. married Benjamin Tillman, a farmer residing in Springdale, Ark. At the age of ten years James R. Driver accompanied his parents to Illinois, after which he worked on his father's farm and attended school as opportunity allowed until the age of twentytwo. After his marriage he entered eighty acres of land, paying for the tract from the proceeds of the sale of a pair of mules, which he had bought with his earnings when working for $8 per month. Subsequently he purchased an adjoining eightyacre tract. In 1853 he engaged as a partner with his father and two uncles in a sawmill, and continued in the milling business for twenty-seven years. During the period between eighteen and twenty-two years of age, Mr. Driver served as Constable and Deputy Sheriff. Not being of a legal age to hold these offices, he avoided the legality of his official actions being questioned by working on the public roads. In 1869 he established and operated a sawmill at his present location. The railroad company for which he does business thought so highly of him that they complimented him by calling in his honor the station known as Drivers. In ordinarily good times he gives employment to a large force of men. He has recently erected an elegant and commodious residence near the railroad station, and here makes his home. In addition to this property he owns five hundred and seventy-five acres in Shiloh Township, and twelve hundred and eighty acres in an adjoining township. December 10, 1861, Mr. Driver enlisted in Company C, Sixtieth Illinois Infantry, and was with his regiment at Cairo and Corinth. On account of disability he was discharged from the general hospital at Mound City, ILL., in September, 1862. He has been twice married. August 19, 1852, he was united with Miss Matilda C., daughter of Charles B. Allen, of Spring Garden. Jefferson County, ILL., by whom he had four children. Only one is now living, John M. Driver, D. D., a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, now holding a pastorate at Columbia City, Ind. He spent three years in a theological school in Boston, from' which he was graduated with honors. During these three years he held the pastorate of three churches near Boston. Before leaving that city permanently, he traveled through a number of the New England States on lecturing tours. While he has never been without regular church work, he has visited nearly two-thirds of the states of the Union, and has frequently filled the pulpits of large churches in Chicago, Omaha, and other prominent cities. He possesses a rare combination of faculties, being at once preacher, lecturer, poet and musician, and is in the truest sense of the word a thorough scholar. He is a composer of music and the author of the work entitled "Samson and Shylock;" or, "A Preacher's Plea for the Workingmen." At the age of thirty-seven, he is an eminent divine, a brilliant lecturer, an able musician, poet and author. October 10, 1860, Mr. Driver was united in marriage with Eveline (Roberts) Pate, a daughter of John Roberts, of Rome Township, Jefferson County, 111., and the widow, of Louis Pate, of that county. In politics Mr. Driver is an uncompromising Republican, and was Justice of the Peace for about sixteen years. At the present time he is a Notary Public. He and his wife are members of the Baptist Church.
Source: "Portrait and Biographical Record Clinton, Washington, Marion and Jefferson Counties, Illinois" |
For corrections or additions, please contact me: Sandy Bauer