Biography - WILLIAM A. DRIVER

The cultivation of a farm of one hundred and sixty-one acres located on section 20, North Otter township, engages the attention of William A. Driver, who is a native of Greene county, Illinois. His birth occurred in the vicinity of Carrollton on the 13th of May, 1838, his parents being Green and Margaret Grace (Hazelwood) Driver, both natives of Tennessee. Their family numbered six: Angeline, who is deceased; William A., our subject; Pleasant, who is living in Carrollton; Robert Perry, also of Carrollton; and Green, who is living in Greenfield. The second in order of birth dies in infancy.

William A. Driver remained with his parents until he had attained his majority, obtaining a very good common school education. His boyhood and youth were spent in a manner very similar to those of other lads reared on a farm, his attention early being engaged with the tilling of the fields and the care of the stock. Following his marriage he began his career as an agriculturist, coming to Macoupin county in 1864, where he bought forty acres of land. He improved and cultivated his property, later extending its boundaries until his present holdings aggregate one hundred and sixty-one acres. Here he devotes his energies to general farming and stock-raising to good financial ends. All of the improvements upon his place have been erected since he settled here; they are substantially constructed and well kept, the general appearance of his farm being most attractive.

On the 1st of April, 1863, Mr. Driver was united in marriage to Miss Rachel Delia Edwards, a daughter of William and Rachel (Walker) Edwards, who were the parents of six children: Robert; Mary Jane; Delia; who became Mrs. Driver; William; Elizabeth; and Sylvester. To Mr. and Mrs. Driver were born four children: Alvin, who is at home; Alice, also at home; William, who is deceased; and Emma, who died in infancy. Mrs. Driver passed away on the 12th of Tune 1884.

In matters of religion the views of the family coincide with those of the Methodist Episcopal denomination, with which church the mother also affiliated. Mr. Drivei is a republican in politics, and has held the office of school director. Both he and his family are well regarded in the community where they reside and among whose citizens they number many friends.

Extracted 18 Nov 2018 by Norma Hass from History of Macoupin County, Illinois: Biographical and Pictorial, by Charles A. Walker, published in 1911, Volume 2, pages 706-707.