JOSEPH W. DRISKELL

(From the History of Callaway County Missouri, 1884, page 911.)
Transcribed by Kris Breid, 20 December 2005

JOSEPH W. DRISKELL. Mr. Driskell’s parents, James and Martha (Wallace) Driskell, were among the early settlers in the Upper Auxvasse. They came to Missouri from Woodford county, Kentucky, in the fall of 1825, and after living in St. Charles county a while came on to this county and settled in the Upper Auxvasse, in the spring of 1824. [Transcriber’s note: These dates were copied as printed, even though they make no sense.] The father was a carpenter by trade, and followed that mainly through life. Both parents lived to ripe old ages. The father died in 1879, aged seventy-nine, and the mother died the next year, aged seventy-six. They had a family of eight children: Eliza, now the wife of John T. Daley, of California; Appene, now the wife of John Breckenridge, of Southwest Missouri; Kittie, wife of John Peters; Martha, wife of Carey Davis, of Montgomery county; Mary J., died in maidenhood; Irwin died in 1880, leaving a family who still reside on the old James Driskell place in this county; Joseph W., the subject of this sketch, and Bevely T., died on the Pacific ocean while en route home from California.

Joseph W., the eldest (the above not being stated in the order of their ages), was born in Woodford county, Kentucky, September 25, 1825. He was therefore reared in this county. He learned the carpenter’s trade under his father, and remained with him until 1849, when he joined that innumerable caravan which moved on to the Pactolian coast of the Pacific in quest of the fruits of the newfound Garden of the Hesperides, where the sun sinks into the Western sea. In other words, he went to California. He remained on the Pacific coast, engaged in mining, etc., for two years. After his return in 1851 he was at home, working principally at the carpenter’s trade with his father until 1853, when, March 10, 1853, he was married to Miss Mary C. Shepherd, of this county, daughter of Cyrus Shepherd, formerly of Virginia. He then located on a place near his father, where he lived about sixteen years, but in 1869 he was burned out, soon after which he sold his place and in 1871 came to his present farm. Mr. Driskell is one of the best farmers in this part of the township. He is a very industrious man, full of energy and go-aheadativeness, and is a good manager. His place contains about 400 acres, all but 100 acres of which is in the prairie. Besides a large grain raiser, he is a leading sheep raiser, having about 500 head of the fine merino breed. He is very popular in the township, and has served as constable a number of terms. For some time past his neighbors have been talking of running him for sheriff, as we learn by conversations with them. He would doubtless make a good officer in that position.

Mr. Driskell has but one son, William F., who is grown up and married. One son is deceased, James C., who died at the age of seven. William F. married Miss Alice Burks, and lives near his father. They have two children, Lowell E. and an infant. William has a farm of 200 acres. His parents are both members of the Presbyterian church, and his wife is a Methodist.

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