Son of Benjamin Woodbury Driggs and Olivia Thankful Pratt

Married Olive Russell Harrington, 25 November 1880, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah

Children - Gordon Langton Driggs, Byron Downes Driggs, Leonard Ellsworth Driggs, Milton Verlane Driggs, Melva Pratt Driggs, Ella Marian Driggs, Zoram Urial Driggs, Irving M. Driggs, Olivia Elizabeth Driggs, Ruth Beatrice Driggs, Ronald Wesley Driggs, Fred Glenn Driggs

Published in History of Idaho: The Gem of the Mountains Vol. 2 by James H. Hawley 1920)

Benjamin W. Driggs, engaged in the practice of law in the town of Driggs, Teton county, was born at Pleasant Grove, Utah, January 31, 1858, his parents being Benjamin W. and Olivia (Pratt) Driggs, who were natives of Ohio and of England respectively, the mother's birth having occurred in England while her parents were on a visit in that country. The maternal grandfather, living at Nauvoo, Illinois, made wagons for the pioneer Mormons to use in crossing the plains to Utah.

Benjamin W. Driggs, Sr., made the long trip with ox team and wagon to this state in company with his parents in 1851, the family home being established at Pleasant Grove. After reaching man's estate Benjamin W. Driggs, Sr., took up the business of merchandising and resided at Pleasant Grove throughout his remaining days.

He was, however, in Ogden at the time of his death, which occurred October 1, 1913, when he had reached the venerable age of eighty-six years, his birth having occurred June 12, 1827. The mother, who was born June 1, 1841, died in 1906. In their family were twelve children. Mrs. Driggs was a daughter of Parley P. Pratt, one of the first apostles of the church and a most prominent representative of the Mormon people, being connected through much of his life with the direction of missionary labors.

Benjamin W. Driggs was reared at Pleasant Grove, Utah, and after attending school there continued his education in the. University of Utah at Salt Lake City and in the Brigham Young College at Provo. He then went to Michigan and entered the state university at Ann Arbor for the study of law, being there graduated with the class of 1886. He afterward opened an office and engaged in law practice at Prove for two years, at the end of which time he removed to Salt Lake City, where he continued in the active work of his profession for fifteen years, being there associated with LeGrand Ydting.

In 1888 he arrived in Teton county, then a part of Bingham, county, to look over the country but did not locate permanently until 1891. Here he homesteaded and for some time continued in the practice of law.

Following the death of his wife, however, he returned to Salt Lake City, where he again engaged in law practice until 1907, when he once more established his home at Driggs and resumed his law practice. He is a distinguished and able member of the Idaho bar who prepares his cases with great thoroughness and care and presents his cause in a most clear and cogent manner.

He has been connected with much of the important litigation tried in the courts of this district in recent years and the court records bear evidence of his ability in the many favorable verdicts which he has won. He has served as prosecuting attorney for two years and was the first prosecuting attorney of the Teton valley. He also served as the first village attorney and occupied the position for several years. In addition to his law practice he has farming interests and cultivates three hundred acres of land about four miles from Driggs, where he likewise engages in dairying. He also owns city property, but the major part of his time and attention is given to his law practice, which is now extensive and of an important character. At the present writing he is serving as attorney for the Teton National Bank.

On the 25th of November, 1880, Mr. Driggs was united in marriage to Miss Olive Harrington, a daughter of Bishop Leonard E. Harrington, of American Fork, Utah. They became the parents of four children, as follows: Lois Lenora, who was born October 29, 1881, and is the wife of George E. Steele, of Salt Lake City; Jean H., who was born November 1, 1892, and is a civil engineer of Salt Lake City; Reve, who was born August 20, 1883, and passed away April 26, 1890; Elliott Benjamin, whose birth occurred March 20, 1889, and who died on the 3d of April, 1890.

The wife and mother was called to her final rest on the 5th of February, 1893, and on the 25th of June, 1894, Mr. Driggs was again married, his second union being with Elizabeth Langton. To them have been born twelve children, namely: Gordon L., whose birth occurred January 15, 1896; Byron D., born October 20, 1897; Leonard E., whose natal day was December 12, 1898; Milton V., who was born May 15, 1900, and died the following day; Melvin P., born July 5, 1901; Ella M., born October 24, 1902; Zoram U., born December 14, 1904; Irving M., born August 25, 1906; Olivia E., who was born May 3, 1909, and died July 15, 1910; Ruth B., born November 15, 1911; Ronald W., born August 17, 1913; and Fred G., who was born on the 7th of August, 1915.

Mr. Driggs is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and is one of the Quorum of Seventy. He has held various other offices in the church and he has also been an active factor in political circles as a supporter of the democratic party. On one occasion he was a candidate for the state legislature but was defeated. The offices which he has filled have been largely in the line of his profession, in which he has made a most excellent record.