Lorenzo D. Driggs

LORENZO D. DRIGGS (deceased), one of the earliest pioneers of Monona County, and who was most prominently identified with its political history, was a native of Alleghany County, Pa., born March 14, 1822, and was the son of Urial and Hannah Driggs. His father, a native of Massachusetts, was born April 22, 1780, and his mother May 17 of the same year.

When our subject was about a year old the family removed to Ohio, where he was reared to manhood's years, receiving in youth such educational advantages as the times and locality afforded. On attaining his majority he went to Illinois, and from there shortly after to Missouri. His father's family came west with the Mormon emigration, in 1845, with the intention of settling in Western Iowa, but the father died near Farmington, this State, while on the way. His family came to Pottawattamie County, where they settled and were joined by the subject of this sketch, who had likewise been united with the Church of the Latter Day Saints. Mrs. Driggs, the mother of the family, died near Council Bluffs, in 1848.

About the year 1852, Lorenzo D. Driggs removed to Harrison County, settling at Little Sioux, before that village was laid out, and resided there for a little over a year. In 1854 he came to Monona County and settled near Silver Lake, northwest of Ashton. In the election of the same year he was chosen Justice of the Peace and Assessor of the township of Ashton, which then embraced the west half and nearly all the population of the county. He remained a resident here until 1860, when he returned to Harrison County. November 5, 1864, he became a member of Company I, Sixteenth Iowa Infantry, and was forwarded to his regiment, one of the famous Iowa Brigade, and remained with them until July 19, 1865, when with the balance of the regiment he was discharged near Louisville, Ky., and came home.

Mr. Driggs was married November 10, 1845, in Illinois to Miss Malinda White, a native of Vermont, born September 5, 1826. They were the parents of seven children — Harvey, Don C, Jeremiah, Lorenzo, Charles A., Caroline and Harrison.

In 1859, Mr. Driggs returned to this county settling in Onawa, whence he removed to Spring Valley and died in Sioux Township, January 27, 1880.

SOURCE: History of Monona County, Iowa, National Publishing Company, Chicago, Illinois, 1890, p. 509