William J. Driver

This article is about the U.S. Representative from Arkansas. For the American administrator, see William J. Driver (administrator). For the U.S. ship captain who coined the phrase "Old Glory" for the U.S. flag, see William Driver.

William Joshua Driver (March 2, 1873 – October 1, 1948) was an American politician and a U.S. Representative from Arkansas.

William Joshua Driver
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Arkansas's 1st district
In office March 4, 1921 – January 3, 1939
Preceded by	Thaddeus H. Caraway
Succeeded by	Ezekiel C. Gathings
Member of the Arkansas House of Representatives from the Mississippi district
In office January 11, 1897[1] – January 9, 1899[2]
Preceded by	Henry C. Dunavant[3]
Succeeded by	Thomas A. Matthews[4]
In office 1899[Note 1] – January 14, 1901[6]
Preceded by	Thomas A. Matthews[7]
Succeeded by	James K.P. Hale[8]
Personal details
Born	March 2, 1873 (1873-03-02) Osceola, Arkansas, United States
Died	October 1, 1948 (1948-11) (aged 75) Osceola, Arkansas
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Clara Haynes Driver
Profession	Attorney, politician, judge, banker

Biography

Born near Osceola, Arkansas, Driver was the son of John B. and Margaret Ann Bowen Driver and attended the public schools. He studied law at eighteen years of age, in the office of Judge G. W. Thomason; was admitted to the bar in 1894, and commenced practice in Osceola, Arkansas. He married Clara Haynes on June 2, 1897, and they had one child.^[9]

Career

Driver won election to the Arkansas House of Representatives in 1896. He served in the 31st Arkansas General Assembly, which was contained only Democratic members (a common occurrence during the Solid South period). Thomas A. Matthews won the seat the following cycle, but resigned. The governor appointed Driver to fill the vacancy for the 32nd Arkansas General Assembly.

He was judge of the second judicial circuit of Arkansas from 1911 to 1918, and a member of the State constitutional convention in 1918. He served as delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1932.^[10]

Driver was elected as a Democrat to the Sixty-seventh and to the eight succeeding Congresses serving from March 4, 1921, to January 3, 1939.^[11] An unsuccessful candidate for renomination in 1938, he resumed the practice of law and also engaged in the banking business in Osceola, Arkansas, until his death.

Death

Driver died in Osceola, Mississippi County, Arkansas, on October 1, 1948 (age 75 years, 213 days). He is interred at Violet Cemetery, Osceola, Arkansas.^[12]

Notes

1. Appointed when Matthews resigned.^[5]