The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1890-05-08
COL. ]. l.. DRISKILL.
Stricken with Paralysis He Quietly Passes
Away Without Struggle.

ouicheh Win Idraiysis ne Quietly faSseS
Away Without a Struggle.
THE STATESMAN announced the
death OF Col. J. L. Driskill yesterday
morning. 1t occurred few minutes
after midnight and after an illness of
only about twenty hours.
Jesse Lincoln Driskill was born No
vember 4, 1924, in White county Ten
nessee, near the romantic little vii
lage OF Sparta. Amid the crags and
towering peaks of the Cumberland
mountains he grew to m anhood, and
his character partook much of their
boldness and rugged grandeur. He
had an indomitable will and fearlessly
embarked in business enterprises that
would have baffled most men.
Reaching mans estate Col. Driskill
left his native mountains and moved
to Barry county, Missouri, where, on
September 5, lS47, he was married to
Miss N. E. j. Day, eldest sister OF Mr..
]. M. Day of this city. He moved to
Texas and settled in Bastrop,
February, 1S49, where he remained
abont year and then
moved to San Antonio where he en-
gagged in merchandising. From San
Antonio he moved to San Marcos, and
from there he went to Bryan. In
1857 he went into the cattle business
and he was among the first OF South
west Texas cattle growers to move his
beeves on trail through a hostile
country to market. 1t was
in the cattle business that his early
impressions were made manifest. As
a ranchman he was fearless, and as a
speculator in stock he was most sue
cessful, and for years he stood at the
very head and front of the cattle in
dustry in the great Southwest. About
nineteen years ago he moved
to Austin and for year or
two engaged in merchandising.
His increasing stock industry. how
ever, forced him to retire from the
business of a merchant, and he turned
his undivided attention to his cattle
interests.
He had profound faith in the future
greatness and grandeur of Austin, and
when the cattle business was at its
zenith he conceived the plan of erect
ing the Driskill hotel in this city, and
today and for all time it will stand
monument to his energy and enter
prise. 1t is also a monument to his
foresight, for he him elf said that it
was being erected and arranged for
guests who would flock here when
Austin became prosperous city and
a favorite resort for people from all
over the continent He showed his
faith, too, in Austin by erecting one
of the most palatial residences in the
State, and no man in the capital lefty
accomplished moro for the city's adj
and prosperity. Col
Driskill was a sagacious business
man, and while adverse fortune came
to him in his declining years, it
was through 40 fault or mistake OF
his. 1t was one of those business
that no human foresight
could discern and no human power
ward off.
In his private life Col. Driskill was
a courteous gentleman, and one Of
the most hospitable of men. In bust
ness circles his sterling honesty was
proverbial, aud in his palmy days his
word was as good as his bond.
In his death Austin has
lost citizen to whom she owed mpch
and her citizens will always hold him
vIvidly in remembrance. His family
has lost a devoted husband and af-
fectionate father and his neighbors. a
generous hearted and sympathetic
friend.
His wife, two sons and four daugh-
tiers survive him. Both sons were on
their cattle ranch in Dakota, and one
daughter, Mrs. Sam French, was in
Denver at the time of ~ cath, and
his funeral will not occur until their
arrival, which will probably be next
Monday.