Briggs, Ansel

BRIGGS

Posted By: Ken Wright (email)
Date: 1/18/2008 at 07:43:32

Recollections and Sketches, Edward H. Stiles, 1916

Chapter III.
Early Governors of the State

Ansel Briggs.

The first three Governors of the State of Iowa – Ansel Briggs, Stephen Hempstead and James W. Grimes – were all New Englanders by nativity. Ansel Briggs, the first Governor, was born in Vermont in 1806. Here he was reared, receiving his education at the common schools, supplemented by a course at Norwich Academy. When about twenty-four years of age, in 1830, he removed with the family to Cambridge, Ohio, where he actively engaged in establishing and successfully operating stage lines. In 1836, when he was thirty years of age, he sold out his interest and removed to what is now Iowa, two years before it was organized as a Territory, settling at Andrew, in Jackson County, where he again became engaged in establishing and operating stage lines for the conveyance of passengers between different points, and carrying the mails under contracts with the general Government – sometimes driving the stage himself. In his early life he had affiliated with the Whig Party and was its unsuccessful candidate for Auditor of Guernsey County not long after his coming to Ohio. He later became a Democrat, and always acted with that party after coming to Iowa. In 1842 he was elected and served as Sheriff of Jackson County. In all his relations he made steadfast friends by the simplicity and fidelity of his character, his honesty of purpose, his strong practical common sense, and in doing creditably whatever he undertook.

As to just what the controlling causes were that brought about the nomination of Mr. Briggs for Governor, has been the subject of various surmises. The Democratic Party was in the ascendancy but only by a slight majority, which might be lost to the Whigs by the nomination of a candidate who had personal enemies in its ranks. The liquor question, the license for non-license of its sale, was a perplexing one to handle. It would seem that it continued to be and that non-license was favored by some of the Whig leaders in order to gain party strength, from the following extract from a letter of Thomas H. Benton, Jr., to Governor Briggs, written in April of the year following his election: “In addition to other things the license question had been brought forward and has absorbed everything relative to the election. Indeed, I believe it is a trick on the part of the Whigs to divert the attention of the Democrats. Some of the Whigs have become very temperate all at once, and do not get drunk more than once a week.” But the one question, which absorbed all others in the political campaign which resulted in the nomination and election of Mr. Briggs, was that relating to the establishment of banks – a State bank with branches. Steps to accomplish this were favored by the Whigs and opposed by the Democrats. It was thought that the following toast offered by Mr. Briggs at a banquet shortly before the nominating convention, and which was made a party cry throughout the State, did more to bring about his nomination for Governor than anything else” “No banks but earth ones, and they well tilled.”

To other causes that brought about his nomination may be added the able management of his campaign by Phillip B. Bradley, of Jackson County, a faithful friend and admirer of Mr. Briggs, a lawyer of wide repute, and one of the shrewdest politicians in the State. Mr. Woods (Old Timber) says that Bradley was the right hand man and confidential adviser of Governor Briggs, both before his election and during his administration. In this Phillip Bradley was ably seconded by Dr. H. M. Clark, another of the close friends of the Governor.

The nominating convention was held at Iowa City on September 24, 1846. Its functions were to nominate two Congressmen as well as State Officers. The convention was called to order by Frederick D. Mills, the highly distinguished young lawyer of Burlington, who became a Colonel in the Mexican War, and gallantly lost his life in one of its battles. William Thompson (commonly known as Black Bill on account of his complexion), of Henry County, who afterwards represented the State in Congress, was made President of the Convention, and J. T. Fales, of Linn County, Secretary. Among the delegates were many able men, men who afterwards became prominent in public affairs: A. McCleary, of Louisa County; J. E. Goodenow, of Jackson County; J. J. Dyer, of Dubuque County, who afterwards became United States District Judge, the immediate predecessor of the able and beloved Judge James M. Love; Phillip B. Bradley, of Jackson County, afterwards State Senator, and to whom reference has before been made; James Rush Hartsock, of Johnson County, afterwards Grand Master of the Masonic Order in Iowa; Enoch W. Eastman, of Des Moines County, a widely-known lawyer who afterward became Lieutenant-Governor of the State; Shepherd Leffler, of Des Moines County, one of the first Congressmen of the State; Josiah H. Bonney, afterwards Secretary of State; Theodore S. Parvin, who had been the Private Secretary of the first Territorial Governor (Robert Lucas), State Librarian, one of the early and able lawyers of the State, and Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of Masons; A. H. Palmer, then Editor of the Iowa Capitol Reporter; Francis Gehon, of Dubuque County, who had been United States Marshal of the Territory; George Green, of Linn County, afterwards Judge of the Supreme Court of the State; Stephen Hempstead, of Dubuque, afterwards Governor of the State. Mr. Briggs had two rivals for the nomination, Jesse Williams, of Jefferson County, and William Thompson, before alluded to, of Henry County. On the first ballot Briggs received 62 votes, Williams 32, and Thompson 31. On the announcement of the vote, Williams and Thompson both withdrew, and Briggs was nominated by acclamation. S. C. Hastings, of Muscatine, afterwards a Judge of the Supreme Court, and Shepherd Leffler, of Burlington, were nominated for Congress. Elisha Cutler, of Van Buren County, was nominated for Secretary of State; Joseph T. Fales, of Linn County, for Auditor of State, and Morgan Reno, of Johnson County, for State Treasurer.

The opposing Whig candidate of Mr. Briggs was Thomas McKnight, of Dubuque County. The election was held on the 26th of October, 1846. The entire Democratic ticket was elected. The small majorities indicate how closely the parties stood. Ansel Briggs, the term of which was then four years, was a successful and commendable one. He kept in accord with his Party, and committed no act which could justly subject him to censure. It was peaceful, comparatively harmonious, without any startling events save that which grew out of the dispute as to the boundary line between Iowa and Missouri, which created a considerable war spirit, but was afterward peacefully adjusted.

Governor Briggs was twice married; to his first wife soon after he came to Ohio. She died soon after. His second wife, to whom he was married in Ohio, was Nancy M. Dunlap, a daughter of Major Dunlap, who had been a distinguished officer in the War of 1812. From all accounts she was a rare and charming woman, well-educated, refined, graceful and generous: “Endowed by nature with such womanly tact and grace as to enable her to adorn the high estate her husband had attained. She dispensed a bounteous hospitality to the stranger and a generous charity to the poor, in which gracious ministration she was always seconded by her benevolent husband, the Governor.” But sad to relate, the Governor was also bereft of her in the second year of his administration. This affliction was severe and almost overpowering to him. By her he had eight children, all of whom died young except a son, John S. Briggs, who became an editor, removing from Jackson County to Omaha where he resided for several years, and later to Idaho where he became the Editor and Publisher of the Idaho Herald. I do not know whether he is now living or not, but was in 1894, and he and his wife, Mary E. Briggs, joined in a letter to the Pioneer Law Makers’ Association, which will be found in the proceedings of the Reunion of that year, and in the proceedings of the Reunion of 1886 and 1890, page 63, will be found a fine poem written by Mary E. Briggs, entitled “Every Year,” and dedicated by her to the Association.

At the close of his administration Governor Briggs continued to reside for many years in Jackson County where he had on every hand a host of ardent personal friends – friends that never forsook him. In 1860 he made a trip to Colorado during the mining excitement. Returning home, he went to Montana in 1863 with his son, John, and remained there until 1865, when he returned. In 1870 he removed to Council Bluffs. He became one of the founders of the town of Florence on the Nebraska side of the Missouri River, a short distance above Council Bluffs, and which for a time was an active business rival of Omaha. During the last years of his life he resided with his son, John, at Omaha, where he died in 1881. I first met Governor Briggs in 1860, and again at Council Bluffs in 1870, and later at Omaha. He was of medium height, with a rugged, but pleasant face; perfectly plain and unpretentious in manner. He was an honest man and a patriot, and usefully served the State. So great was the general respect for Governor Briggs that on the day following his death, Governor John H. Gear issued a proclamation announcing his death, reciting his services to the State, ordering half-hour guns to be fired, and the National Flag on the State Capitol to be placed at half mast during the day of the funeral.

iowagravestones.org
 

Jackson Biographies maintained by Nettie Mae Lucas.
WebBBS 4.33 Genealogy Modification Package by WebJourneymen