One of Dctroits oldest and most prominent
citizens and honored members of the legal fraternity was the late Fredcrick E. Driggs, who was born in New York City, New York, August 20,
1838, and died at his home in Detroit, June 16, 1913, after a continued
residence in this city of over a half a century, during which he was
actively identified with the law, business affairs and religious and philanthropic movements.
Mr. Driggs was descended from an English ancestor who came to
America in 1716, settling in Connecticut, while his parents were S. Beach
and Adelaide (Desnouise) Driggs, natives of New York, to which state
the family had removed from Connecticut. Mr. Driggs received his literary education in private schools in New York, and his legal training
was procured under special preceptors and at the Poughkeq>sic (New
York) Law School, where he received his degree of Hachclor of Law
in 1859. During that same year Mr. Driggs came to Michigan, locating
in Detroit, where he continued the prosecution of his legal studies in the
office of D. C. Holbrook, and in i860 was admitted to the Michigan
bar after an examination before the Supreme Court, and began the
practice of his profession at Detroit. A short time later Mr. Driggs
formed a partnership with E. W. Meddaugh, which firm, known as
that of Meddaugh & Driggs, was for many years one of the leading
legal combinations of Michigan. Subsequently Henrv A. Harmon was
admitted to the firm, which then became Meddaugh, Driggs & Harmon.
As a legist, Mr. Driggs was known to be capable, well read, and a
reliable counselor. In his professional advice he was strictly honorable
and honest, consulting in every possible way the interests of his clients,
and l>cing noted for the care and attention which he gave to every
detail. His connection with cases of an important character brought
him prominently before the people, but he was also widely known in
business and financial circles for many years, being identified with such
well-known financiers as the late U. S. Senator James McMillan. Francis
Palms, Hiram Walker, Allan Sheldon. Governor Baldwin and H. P.
Baldwin. He assisted and took a prominent part in the building of the
Detroit. Mackinac & Marquette Railroad, and for thirty years was
with Francis Palms and Senator McMillan a trustee in the management
of the land grant received by that road. He was also a director in the
Detroit Trust Company and in the Detroit Marine and Fire Insurance
Company, and held various important offices in Detroit corporations.
Mr. Driggs was much interested in church and philanthropic work
and gave freely of his time and means in that direction. For over thirty
years he was a member of the board of trustees and for many years
president of the board of St. Luke's Hospital and Church Home; he
was president of the board of trustees of the Mariners' Church, and a
vestryman of St. Paul's Episcopal Church. Mr. Driggs was a member
of the American Bar Association, the Michigan State Bar Association
and the Detroit Bar Association, and retained his interest and prominence at the bar to the last. He belonged also to the Detroit. Country
and Bankers Clubs. Mr. Driggs' life was sjwnt in such a manner that
he won the respect and honor of all with whom he came in contact,
made and retained a host of warm and sincere friends, and will long
be remembered by the community as a man of strong character and much
legal and financial ability, and as one who bore his full share of labor
in the building up of Detroit and its institutions.
History of Michigan, Volume 3 By Charles Moore 1915
