San Joaquin County
Biographies
JOHN DRISCOL
JOHN DRISCOL, a worthy and
honorable citizen of San Joaquin County, was born in Springfield, Ohio, March
12, 1827, his parents being Jeremiah and Temperance (Alban) Driscol, both
natives of Ohio. When John was about two years old the family moved to Indiana,
settling three miles from La Fayette, where both the parents died. In the family
there were eight children, four sons and four daughters, John being the oldest
in the family. He made his home on his father’s farm till he was about
nineteen, when he went with one of his uncles to Cedar County, Iowa, where he
remained about two years. He then made a short visit to his family in Indiana,
then returned to Iowa, where he made his home up to the time that he started
for the great West. In 1852 Mr. Driscol, with his wife and two children,
started across the plains for California. The journey was made with ox teams,
and occupied just five months to the day. They landed in Placerville, El Dorado
County, in which vicinity Mr. Driscol worked in the mines up to the year 1857,
having the success of the majority of miners, the money coming easy and going
easy. The cost of living was high, and it took a good deal to supply the wants
of a family. In the spring of 1857 Mr. Driscol went East, crossing the plains
with horses, making the journey in about two and a half months. He went to his
home in Cedar County, Iowa, and the next spring moved to Clarke County, where
he purchased 120 acres of land and settled down to farming. There he remained
about four years, during which time he was never satisfied and as soon as he
could he sold his land and again crossed the plains. He arrived in this valley
in September, 1862. All he possessed was a span of mares and a wagon. One of
the animals died a short time after. He had his family to support and it was
necessary that he should find work in order that they might not want. He worked
at anything that he could find to do, and finally in the same year he settled
on the place where he now resides. He pre-empted 160 acres and as soon as the
land came into market he entered it. Since that time he has been engaged in farming.
He has at present 400 acres, all under cultivation, with the exception of
eighty acres used for pasture. He has been a most successful farmer.
He was married in the winter of 1849 to
Sarah Ann Allen, a native of Ohio. She died in 1876, leaving eight children,
all now living, namely: George, resident at Nelson Station, Butte County; Jacob
Allen, El Dorado; William, John, Eliza Jane, wife of Charles Duston; Mary, wife
of M. A. Sparks, residing in Galt, Sacramento County; Rachel, wife of S. D. Holman. Mr. Driscol was married to his
present wife, Lydia King, a widow and a native of Pennsylvania, in 1879.
Politically Mr. Driscol has always been a
Democrat, although he has never taken any active part in political matters.
Transcribed by: Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
An Illustrated History of San Joaquin County,
California, Pages 568-569. Lewis Pub.
Co. Chicago, Illinois 1890.
© 2009 Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
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