My Genealogy Hound

G. L. DRIFOOS, groceryman, of Lebanon, was born August 14, 1849, in Nashville, and is one of twelve children of L. and Eliza (Harsh) Drifoos. The father was born in Switzerland in 1806 and at the age of seventeen years came to the United States and began his life as a pack peddler. He was economical and persevering and in a few’ years had accumulated sufficient means to enable him to establish a dry goods store, which he did in Harrisburg, Penn. After his marriage, in 1838, he removed to Cincinnati, Ohio, and in 1843 came to Lebanon, Tenn., where he has been in the mercantile business nearly ever since. Since 1870 he has lived a retired life. The mother was of German descent, born in Harrisburg, Penn., in 1820. Our subject was educated in Cumberland University and Franklin College, Nashville. When about seventeen years of age he engaged in business with his father but in 1870 began farming on 326 acres of land belonging to his father. In 1883 he purchased his brother Harry’s grocery store, which he manages in connection with his farming. January 19, 1871, he married Laura Smith, born in 1850. They have seven children: Leopold, Frank, Alice, Harry, Mary N., Carrie and Annie Laura. Mr. Drifoos is a Democratic Prohibitionist and is a Good Templar and a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. His wife belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church South.