My Genealogy Hound

Truman Driggs, farmer and ginner, Driggs, Ark. Mr. Driggs, who has the reputation of being one of the most thoroughgoing, wide-awake farmers and ginners of Logan County, was born in the Buckeye State, April 8, 1832. His parents, George and Abigail (Conant) Driggs, were both natives of New York State, but at an early age became residents of Athens County, Ohio, where they were married. The fruits of this union were three sons and four daughters: Riley, Jeremiah, Arvilla, Almedia, Catherine, Damris A., and Truman. The mother died in Ohio in 1837, and Mr. Driggs afterward married Miss Catherine Cornwell, who bore him one son. This child died in infancy, and the mother died a few days later. In 1842 Mr. Driggs married Elma Wood, and they became the parents of two children: Robert E. and Ruth Anna. Mrs. Driggs died in 1848, and Mr. Driggs took for his fourth wife the widow of Caleb Martin, her maiden name being Martha Chandler. She died without issue. His fifth marriage was to Miss Lavina Martin. All his marriages occurred in Athens County, Ohio. Mr. Driggs died in 1887, at the age of ninety years. He was a farmer all his life. His fifth wife is still living in Ohio. The paternal grandfather was a physician, and the maternal a successful agriculturist by occupation. Truman Driggs removed from Athens County, Ohio, to Logan County, Ark., in 1879, and brought all his family with him. He bought land, and engaged in tilling the soil. He is now the owner of fifty acres of land, and he also owns a cotton-gin at Driggs. He was married in Ohio in 1853, to Miss Hannah J. Martin, daughter of Caleb Martin, whose widow married the father of our subject, the latter marrying his step-sister. Three children were born of this union—a son and two daughters: Barzilla M., Mary L. and Almedia. Mary died in 1881. She was the wife of Lewis Driggs. Barzilla married Sarah Chandler, in 1874, and Almedia married William Funk. The last named couple have one child, a girl named Mary L. On January 5, 1864, Mr. Driggs enlisted in the United States Army, Company H, Eighteenth Ohio Infantry, and participated in the battles of Nashville and Franklin. He was discharged on October 12, 1865. Mr. Driggs then returned to his family in Ohio, but subsequently removed to Arkansas, and has been a resident of Logan County, and of his present place for eleven years. He and Mrs. Driggs are members of the Universalist Church, in Ohio. Mr. Driggs contributes liberally to all worthy movements, and is a public-spirited citizen. Their son, Barzilla, was married twice. His first wife’s name was Lucy Funk. She lived only a few months. His second wife’s name was Sarah Chandler. Both were natives of Ohio. Caleb Martin, father of Mrs. Truman Driggs, was born in England, but came to Ohio with his father when a small boy. His brother Samuel started with them, but died on the way, and was buried at sea. Caleb settled in Pennsylvania, and married Margaret Baker. To them were born nine children—six sons and three daughters: John, James B., Caleb L., Hiram G., Samuel H., William J., Polly, Rachel and Emily. Their mother died when Emily was small. Sometime afterward he married Martha Chandler for his second wife, and in the year 1840 they moved to Meigs County, Ohio. Of their union were born four children—two sons and two daughters: Margaret A., Hannah J., Joel C. and George B. On March 20, 1850, the father died at the age of eighty-two, and sometime later the widow moved to Athens County, Ohio, where she married George Driggs in 1852, and died March 25, 1854. The children all married. The sons, James and Caleb, became wholesale merchants in St. Louis, Mo.; John and William became machinists, and located in Cincinnati, Ohio; Hiram was a tailor, residing in Harrison County, Ohio; Samuel was a doctor, living in Meigs County, Ohio; Joel is a farmer in Pike County, Ill.; George B. owns a saw and planing-mill in Huntington, W. Va., where he now lives. The last two were born of the second marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Driggs have an adopted daughter, Arlie E. Wood, who married John G. Jones, and has one child, a boy, named August Homer.