James Christopher Driskill, the person for whom Driskill Mountain was named, was born in Henry County, Georgia, on June 27, 1817. In 1840, he married the former Eugenia Irwin Walker. In October 1859, Driskill sold his land in Troup County, Georgia, and moved his family, which by then consisted of his wife, eight boys, and one girl, to Louisiana. By December 1859, Driskill had purchased in Louisiana 324 acres (1.31 km2), which included Driskill Mountain. During the American 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. Another one of his sons, James B. Driskill, disappeared after he had left Louisiana to fight in the Civil War. Except for one son and daughter, Driskill's family remained in Bienville Parish, and his descendants still live in the area.[3] Among his most notable descendants is Col. Joe G. Driskill - recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross by President Jimmy Carter in 1970. Driskill also played number 45 for the 1960-1961 St. Louis Cardinals. His son, Mike Driskill, maintains the land today and welcomes hikers for their visits. Dakota Driskill, granddaughter of Col. Joe G. Driskill, is an accomplished writer and solo performance artist sharing stories of girlhood, belonging, loss and friendship, and the agrarian way of life she learned on the mountain through her collection of poetry titled, “The Tall Tales of Driskill Mountain.”
Jimmie Davis and his band played You Are My Sunshine at the summit. Davis became governor of Louisiana just five years after the performance and the song became the state song of Louisiana.[4]
