BRIGGS, E. W.

BRIGGS, PECK, PITTS, TEALE, RHODE

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 1/20/2014 at 07:14:09

History of Decatur County Iowa and Its People
Illustrated, Volumne II.
Prof. J. M. Howell and Heman C. Smith, Supervising Editors
The S.J. Clarke Publishing Company. pp. 293-94. Chicago. 1915.

E. W. BRIGGS

E. W. BRIGGS, who is operating a farm of two hundred and eighty acres on section 3, Garden Grove township, is meeting with gratifying success as a stock-raiser. He was born in Bristol county, Massachusetts, in June, 1846, a son of Andrew and Betsy (Peck) Briggs. The father died in the Bay state when our subject was but an infant and there the mother subsequently married J. A. Pitts. In 1852 they located in Illinois on what is now the present site of McLean, McLean county, that state, where both lived until called to their last rest. They left two sons, one a resident of Bloomington, Illinois, and the other of California.

E. W. Briggs accompanied his mother and stepfather to Illinois when six years of age and continued to reside in the Prairie state until the spring of 1874, when he removed to Decatur county, Iowa, and bought one hundred and twenty acres of land. For a number of years he was associated with his brother, William T. Briggs, who, however, passed away in April, 1900. Mr. Briggs of this review has added to the original one hundred and twenty acres and now owns two hundred and eighty acres of fine land which is well improved. He erected a modern residence and barns and outbuildings and has taken much pride in developing his farm. He raises a large number of cattle, horses and hogs and as his stock is of a good grade and he watches the markets carefully he derives a good profit from his business.

Mr. Briggs is a democrat but has never had the time nor the desire to take an active part in politics. Fraternally he is a member of Garden Grove Lodge, No. 170, A. F. & A. M., and he attends the Presbvterian church of Le Roy, associations which indicate the rules w^hich govern his conduct. He helped to build the new church edifice and contributes to the support of the work of the church. He has not only won a gratifying measure of financial success but has also gained the honor and esteem of all who have come in contact with him as his integrity and probity are unquestioned.

William T. Briggs, whose death occurred in 1900, was also a member of the Masonic fraternity and was highly respected in his community. His widow, who was in her maidenhood Miss Fannie Teale, survives and is a resident of McLean county, Illinois, in which county their two children are also living. Mabel is now Mrs. Abe Rhode and has a son and daughter. Andrew is engaged in agricultural pursuits. He and his mother are members of the Methodist church.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, January of 2014