Person:John Driskell (4)

--GaleB 07:18, 24 February 2008 (EST)

http://www.heritagepursuit.com/Clinton/ClintonBGreene.htm History of Clinton Co., OH, pub. by W.H. Beers and Company Biographical Sketches and Greene township

Pg. 988, Charles C. Driskill, farmer, P.O. New Vienna, born in Highland County, Ohio, April 22, 1830, is a son of John and Phebe Ann (Woodmansee) Driskill, he a native of Maryland and she of New Jersey; both emigrated to Ohio when quite young with their parents, and settled in Highland, where they grew to maturity, were married, and had seven children, four now survive: Charles C., John W., Thomas J. (who now resides in Iowa) and Ivan D. (who resides in Illinois). Mr. D. was a brick mason by trade, and followed that occupation in connection with farming through life. He died Feb 26, 1850, aged forty nine years. He was a very hard-working, industrious man, and sustained and unblemished character, economical in his habits, yet honorable in all his dealings and a very worthy citizen. His widow still survives and resides on the old home place, now aged eighty years. The subject of this sketch grew to manhood brought up to farm labor; was married, in August 1865 to Mary Jane Curran, born in Ireland, June 26, 1851, a daughter of John and Sarah Curran, who lived and died in Ireland, their native land. Mr. Driskill and wife have had seven children six now living---Lorenzo, born Jan 6, 1868; Noah, born December 25, 1869; Sarah A., June 27, 1871; Bertha, September 8, 1873; Stella, August 12, 1878; and Hallie, born June 27, 1881. Mr. Driskill resided in Highland county till March 1875, when he purchased the farm where Alfred Powell now lives in Greene Township, Clinton County, and there resided three years; thence he located on the farm where he now lives and has since resided. This place he bought of Edward Thornburg; it consists of 103 acres of land, all in cultivation but twenty. Mr. Driskill is one of the reliable farmers of Greene Township, a moral, upright man, and an excellent citizen. We should have added above, that Mrs. Phebe Driskill was twice married, first to Dr. Charles Conway, a practicing physician of New Lexington, Highland county, where he died about 1827, By him she had four children: Joseph P., now a practicing physician in Tennessee; Sarah, wife of Isaac Cox; James and George W. who reside in Illinois.

The following is from a different book: Biographical Sketches and Highland County, Ohio, pg. 283-284

Thomas J. Driskill, of Clay township, a prominent citizen and veteran soldier of the Union, is a grandson of John and Catherine Driskill, natives of Maryland, who came to Ohio in 1808, with their children, and bought and cleared two hundred acres of land in Fairfield township, Highland County, living there until eighty years or more of age. Their eight children, most of whom are now deceased, were George, Lewis (living at Vienna, OH), Allen (living in Indiana), William, Henry, John, Nancy, and Sarah. John, father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Maryland in the year 1800, was reared in Ohio from eight years of age, and from eighteen years of age lived at Lexington, Ohio, until his marriage there to Phoebe (Woodmansee) Conway. He was engaged in hotel keeping at Lexington for several years, after which he bought a farm of 112 acres in Fairfield township, Highland county, where he resided until his death at fifty years of age. He was a man of influence and popularity, and was honored by his fellow citizens with a number of local offices. His wife survived him, dying at the age of eighty-five years. Four children they reared: Charles C., who lives at the old homestead; John W., of Vienna; Ivan D., deceased, and Thomas J. The latter whose name begins this sketch, was born Dec 28, 1835 at Lexington, Highland county, and remained at the home of his parents until, in early manhood, he enlisted as a soldier in defense of the Union. He became a member of Company D, forty-eighth regiment Ohio infantry Dec 27, 1861, being mustered in at New Vienna, and in the following spring he had his first experience, in the great battle of Shiloh April 6th and 7th 1862. Afterward he was on duty with the army in Mississippi and Louisiana, fighting under Grant and Sherman at Vicksburg and Jackson, and in March 1864, while taking part in the Red River campaign under General Banks he was one of the unfortunate prisoners taken by the Confederates in the unfortunate battle of Mansfield, La. Being sent to Texas, he was held in prison camp for six months , after which he was exchanged and permitted to rejoin his comrades at Natchez, Miss. After various minor engagements he took part finally in the battle and capture of Blakeley, an outpost of Mobile, in the spring of 1865. Then they were sent to Texas to occupy that state and menace the French in Mexico, and Mr. Driskill was mustered out at Galveston, at the close of over four years of service. He was a faithful and gallant soldier, making a record which will be treasured by his descendants. After his return to the Highland county home he resumed farming and was married to Sarah C. Baker, a native of the same county. They made their first home in Adams county, moved thence to Illinois, and from there to Iowa, where they resided for eleven years. Finally, they came back to Highland county, and Mr. Driskill bought the farm he now occupies. Nine children have been born to them: Ivin D., deceased; John of Princeton, OH; Laura A., at home; Cynthia A., of Salem township; Charles W., at home; Mary E. of Cincinnati; and Rosa, Clara B. and Eva M., at home. Mr Driskill is successful in his enterprises as a farmer and stock raiser, in politics is a Republican, and is highly regarded by his fellow citizens.