Briggs, Stephen

BRIGGS, WARREN, HOLMES, SCARBOROUGH, FINCH

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Date: 4/15/2003 at 18:55:02

Source: "The 1901 Biographical Record of Clinton Co., Iowa, Illustrated" published: Chicago : S. J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1901.

STEPHEN BRIGGS.

Few men are more prominent or more widely known among the enterprising citizens of Lyons than Stephen Briggs, who has been an important factor in her business circles. He is public spirited and thoroughly interested in whatever tends to promote the moral, intellectual and material welfare of the city where he has made his home since the spring of 1861.

Mr. Briggs was born in Nottingham, England, April 2, 1829, a son of William and Sarah (Warren) Briggs. In early life he served an apprenticeship with a large wholesale lace manufacturer of that place, and later was successfully engaged in the business until coming to America in 1861. On landing in this country he came immediately to Lyons, Iowa, and has since been identified with her business and political interests.

For a short period Mr. Briggs was associated in the mercantile business with H. J. Wright, and later was a member of the firm of Allen & Briggs for several years. Subsequently he and Mr. J. P. Gage, banker, purchased the ferry boat plying between Lyons and Fulton, Illinois, and built a new steamboat at a cost of fourteen thousand dollars. At that time as many as five hundred people and from fifty to one hundred teams crossed the river in one day, this being on the direct route for emigrants going west. After running the ferry for several years the bridge was built across the river, and the firm discontinued business. Mr. Briggs was next interested in the Iowa Packing Company, which was a large concern previously run by Messrs. Styles, Goody & McMahon. He was also connected with the Clinton Boiler Works with Edward Owen, whose interest he later purchased and then rented same. At one time the gentleman whose name heads this review was extensively interested in large tracts of timber land at Grovten, Texas, where the company established mills and were extensively engaged in the manufacture of lumber for some years. He has bought and sold a large amount of real estate, and today owns four thousand acres of valuable land in Illinois, Iowa and Nebraska, which he rents, and also has considerable real estate in Lyons and Clinton. He is a director of the First National Bank of Lyons and the Lyons Savings Bank, and the city has no more active, energetic or successful business man than he.

On October 23, 1855, Mr. Briggs was united in marriage with Miss Sarah Holmes, a sister of William Holmes, who is represented elsewhere in this work. She died in California March 5, 1894, at the age of sixty-two years, leaving five children, namely: John William, president of the ----- Bank at ----- and interested in the Archer Bank at Archer, Iowa; Albert married Lottie Scarborough, and is engaged in farming in Illinois; Stephen Harry, a farmer in Illinois, married Hattie Finch, and they have three children,--Florence, Gertrude and Leslie S.; Sarah Helen is at home with her father; and Arthur H. is a young insurance and real-estate dealer of Lyons. He was born in that city October 15, 1871, and after studying law with R. T. Spence and the firm of Walsh & Sutton he for a time was a law student of the Iowa State University. He is a member of Lyons Lodge, F. & A. M., and is a very popular and successful young man.

Mr. Briggs has taken a very active interest in public affairs, and has served as a member of the city council of Lyons for two years and of the school board three years. He is now trustee of the same Congregational church of which his parents for over fifty years were earnest and consistent members. He never withholds his support from any enterprise which he believes will advance the city’s welfare. He has made for himself an honorable record in business, and has not only acquired a handsome competence, but has also gained the good will and respect of his fellow citizens to a marked degree.