GREENE DRIVER, who is now living a retired life in Greenfield, was for a considerable period actively connected with agricultural interests in Greene county, owning and operating a farm of three hundred acres in Rubicon township. He is a native son of this county, his birth having occurred near Carrollton, February 3, 1847. His father, Greene Driver, Sr., was born in Smith county, Tennessee, in 1808 and his father, William Driver, removed from Tennessee to Illinois, settling in Greene county in 1828. He made his home near White Hall, becoming closely identified with the early pioneer development of the locality. The family shared in all of the hardships and trials incident to frontier life and upon the old family homestead Greene Driver, Sr., was reared, acquiring his education in the primitive schools of the time. He was married near White Hall to Miss Margaret Grace Hazelwood, a native of Kentucky and a daughter of Squire Hazelwood, one of the early settlers that Kentucky furnished to Illinois. In 1838 Greene Driver, Sr., located upon a farm near Carrollton, where he owned a good tract of land, and thereon reared his family. He continued to make his home there until his death, which occurred on the 13th of September, 1902, when he was ninety-three years and ten months of age. He had lost his first wife many years before, her death occurring in 1849, when their son Greene was only two years old. In 1851, he married again. He was a respected farmer, living a busy, useful and honorable life, and was long classed with the leading agriculturists of his community.

Greene Driver of this review was one of a family of six children, five of whom reached years of maturity, while four are now living. He spent his youth upon the homestead farm and was educated in the district schools. He early became familiar with the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist and he continued to assist his father until his marriage, which occurred in January, 1884, the lady of his choice being Miss Mattie Bowman, a native of Cass county, Missouri, whence he returned to this county at the time of the Civil war. In fact the Bowmans were pioneer residents of this part of the state, coming to Illinois from Ohio.

After his marriage Mr. Driver located upon what became his home farm on section 21, Rubicon township. He began there with one hundred and forty acres of land, the improvements were very few and the farm was in a run down condition, but he at once began to develop this and continued the work of cultivation until he had one of the best improved farms of the township. As his financial resources increased he added to the place until he now has three hundred acres, all in one body and the entire farm is under a high state of cultivation with the exception of a tract of about forty acres, much of which is covered with timber and is used for pasturage purposes. Mr. Driver erected a good residence, planted an orchard and added other modern equipments, using the latest improved machinery to facilitate his farm work. In addition to the raising of the cereals best adapted to the soil and climate he also engaged in the raising and feeding of stock and in both branches of his business met with gratifying success. He continued in the active operation of his farm until 1902, when he rented the place and removed to Greenfield, where he purchased residence property. This he remodeled and has made a comfortable home. His time is now devoted to the supervision of his farming interests and he is enjoying a well merited rest from the active and arduous duties of an agricultural life.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Driver have been born four children: Judson E., Clyde C., Walter G., and Gladys G. In his political views Mr. Driver is a stanch Republican and cast his first presidential ballot for General U. S. Grant in 1868, supporting each presidential nominee of the party since that time. He has served for fifteen years as a member of the school board and the cause of education found in him a stalwart friend and he champions every progressive measure for raising the standard of education in his county. His wife is a member of the Baptist church and both are highly esteemed people, enjoying the warm friendship and favorable regard of many friends. Mr. Driver has spent his entire life in Greene county and has therefore been a witness of its development and progress through fifty-seven years. He has watched with pride the work of improvement and has witnessed a wonderful transformation as the years have gone by, the beautiful homes have long since replaced the pioneer cabins, the crude farming implements have given way before the improved machinery of the present day and all of the evidences of an advanced civilization are here found.