Near Bienville in Bienville Parish, Louisiana — The American South (West South Central)

Driskill Mountain

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, May 23, 2014

1. Driskill Mountain Marker

Inscription. Facts about the MountainThe mountain was named for James Christopher Driskill. He was born in Hancock County, Georgia, on June 17, 1817. In 1840 he married Eugenia Irwin Walker. In October 1859, Mr. Driskill sold his land in Georgia, and moved his wife, eight sons, and one daughter to Louisiana. In December 1859 he bought approximately 320 acres of land from Nathan P. Smith, which included Driskill Mountain.

Founders of the Church and CemeteryOn June 26, 1883, Mr. Driskill bargained with the Trustees of the Mount Zion congregation and sold for $5 a parcel of land containing two acres. This bargain was to bind the trustees of the Presbyterian Church and their successors to erect a house to be known as Mount Zion Presbyterian Church and Driskill Memorial Cemetery. This was to be a permanent place of worship forever.

DescendantsOn these 320 acres of land, James and Eugenia raised their large family. One son was killed in action at the “Battle of the Wilderness” on May 5, 1864. Another one of his sons, James B. Driskill, disappeared after he had left Louisiana to fight in the Civil War. Many of James Driskill’s descendants still live in this area today.

[trail map captions]
• Map not drawn to scale
• Distance to top approximately 8 tenths of a mile
• Map courtesy of Logan Blackwell, Eagle Scout Project Troop 255, Arcadia, LA

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Religion & Religious Structures • Settlements & Settlers • War, US Civil. A significant historical date for this entry is June 26, 1883.

Location. 32° 24.909′ N, 92° 53.69′ W. Marker is near Bienville, Louisiana, in Bienville Parish. It can be reached from State Highway 507 2.7 miles west of State Highway 147, on the right when traveling west. Marker and Driskill Mountain Trailhead are located

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on the west side of the Mt. Zion Presbyterian Church. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Bienville LA 71008, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in North Louisiana.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

and in the Piney Woods.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

the Louisiana Purchase,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 13 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Driskill Mountain - 535 Feet (within shouting distance of this marker); Sardis Baptist Church (approx. 1½ miles away); Walnut Creek Baptist Church (approx. 10.9 miles away); Sparta (approx. 11.3 miles away); Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow Ambush Site (approx. 11.7 miles away); Clyde Barrow and Bonnie Parker (approx. 11.7 miles away); Louisiana Colored Chautauqua (approx. 12.3 miles away); Liberty Hill Baptist Association

Marker detail: top/text image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, May 23, 2014

2. Marker detail: top/text

(approx. 12.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Bienville.

Also see . . .
1. Driskill Mountain. As Don Holmes states, "Driskill Mountain was named for James Christopher 'Grancer' Driskill (1817-1901), who settled in the farm and timber land surrounding the mountain in the late 1830s after moving from Macon, Georgia. Eventually, Mr. Driskill owned 960 acres in the area." (Submitted on February 2, 2021, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

2. Driskill Mountain (Wikipedia). During the Civil War, Driskill served in the Home Guard. His eldest son, William B. Driskill, was killed in action at the Battle of the Wilderness in Virginia on May 5, 1864. Jimmie Davis and his band played You Are My Sunshine at the Driskill Mountain summit in 1939. Davis became governor of Louisiana just five years after the performance and the song became the state song of Louisiana. (Submitted on February 2, 2021, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Marker detail: bottom/trail map image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, May 23, 2014

3. Marker detail: bottom/trail map

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, May 23, 2014

4. Driskill Mountain Marker

(Driskill Memorial Cemetery in background)

Mt. Zion Presbyterian Church & Driskill Memorial Cemetery image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, May 23, 2014

5. Mt. Zion Presbyterian Church & Driskill Memorial Cemetery

(turn here to access marker and trail)

Driskill Mountain Summit image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, May 23, 2014

6. Driskill Mountain Summit

(About a 1 mile hike, moderately uphill from the marker.)At 535 feet above sea level, Driskill Mountain is the highest point in Louisiana. It is the third lowest state highpoint in the United States, after Florida’s Britton Hill (345 feet) and Delaware’s Ebright Azimuth (448 feet).

Credits. This page was last revised on February 2, 2021. It was originally submitted on February 2, 2021, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 1,462 times since then and 105 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on February 2, 2021, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.