John F. Driggs

For other people of the same name, see John Driggs (disambiguation).
John F. Driggs
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Michigan's 6th district
In office
March 4, 1863  March 3, 1869
Preceded by District created
Succeeded by Randolph Strickland
Member of the Michigan House of Representatives
from the Saginaw County district
In office
January 1, 1859  December 31, 1860
Personal details
Born John Fletcher Driggs
(1813-03-08)March 8, 1813
Kinderhook, New York
Died December 17, 1877(1877-12-17) (aged 64)
East Saginaw, Michigan
Resting place Forest Lawn Cemetery, Saginaw
Political party Republican
Military service
Allegiance  United States of America
Service/branch United States Army
Rank Colonel
Unit 29th Michigan Volunteer Infantry Regiment
Battles/wars Civil War

John Fletcher Driggs (March 8, 1813 – December 17, 1877) was a politician from the U.S. state of Michigan.

Driggs was born in Kinderhook, New York. He completed preparatory studies and moved with his parents to Tarrytown, New York, in 1825. He moved to New York City in 1827, where he was an apprentice, journeyman, and master mechanic in the trade of sash, door, and blind manufacturing, 1829–1856. He was superintendent of the New York penitentiary and public institutions on Blackwells Island in 1844

Driggs moved to Michigan in 1856 and engaged in the real-estate business and salt manufacturing. He was president of the common council of East Saginaw, Michigan, in 1858. He was a member of the Michigan House of Representatives, 1859–1860. He was tendered an appointment as colonel during the Civil War and organized the Twenty-ninth Michigan Infantry, July 29, 1864.

Driggs was elected as a Republican becoming the first person to represent Michigan's 6th congressional district to the 38th, 39th, and 40th Congresses, serving from March 4, 1863 to March 3, 1869. He was one of the committee members appointed to accompany the body of President Abraham Lincoln to Springfield, Illinois, for interment.

Driggs was injured by a fall on the ice in the winter of 1875–1876, as a result of which he died in East Saginaw. He was interred in Brady Hill Cemetery, Saginaw and was re-interred in Forest Lawn Cemetery in Saginaw.

References

United States House of Representatives
Preceded by
None
United States Representative for the 6th Congressional District of Michigan
1863 1869
Succeeded by
Randolph Strickland
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