Briggs, Dexter M. (1822-1891)

BRIGGS

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 9/16/2019 at 01:59:13

Dexter M. Briggs
Feb 3, 1822 - July 8, 1891

(From the 1891 Biographical History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, p.509)
DEXTER M. BRIGGS, a substantial farmer of Knox Township, is a native of the State of Vermont. His grandfather on the maternal side was in the Revolutionary war, and was at the battle of Plattsburg, New York. Royal BRIGGS, his grandfather on the paternal side, was from an old Puritan family who settled in Boston. There were three brothers of that name who came from England. Royal Briggs was a sea captain, sailing from Boston. His son, also named Royal, the father of our subject, was born in that city, learned the trade of blacksmith, and settled in the town of Hinesburg, Vermont. He was married in Leicester, same State, to Fannie DOW, daughter of Moses and Rebecca DOW, natives of France. The father was born in Germany and later was a Vermont farmer. Mr. and Mrs. Briggs were the parents of ten children who lived to maturity: Murray, Dexter M., Nelson, Byron, Cummings, Royal, Amelia, Leticia, Calfernia and Julia A. The father lived in Vermont nearly all his life, having come from Boston at the age of sixteen years. He was in the war of 1812, and drove a team from Plattsburg to Sackett's Harbor. Both he and his wife were members of the Free-Will Baptist Church. Mr. Briggs held the office of Justice of the Peace, and was one of the Board of Selectmen of his town. He lived to the age of sixty-five years, and was an upright and honorable man.

Dexter M., the subject of this sketch, was born February 3, 1822, in Hinesburg, Vermont, and received a common-school education. He drove a stage sixteen years from Burlington, Vermont, to Montpelier. He was also engaged in the stock business, buying cattle for the Boston market eight years, but in the financial panic of 1857 lost all his property. In 1866 he went to Omaha, Nebraska, and after six months moved to Council Bluffs, where he resided two years. He then came to Avoca, where he was a checkman of the railroad, checking the baggage and passengers across the Missouri River from Council Bluffs to Omaha. In 1871 he bought his present farm, and has also interested himself in pure-bred Scotch collie dogs.

Mr. Briggs was married in Vermont to Emily BROWN, daughter of John and Betsey (GROW) BROWN. The father was an old settler of that State, and participated in the war of 1812. His father, also named John Brown, was a Captain in the Revolutionary war. To Mr. and Mrs. Briggs were born two children: Frank, who married Rebecca Davis, and is now a farmer of Knox Township, and Clotilda, now the wife of Seth HUNT, a merchant of Burlington, Kansas. Mr. Briggs' first wife died in Brattleboro, Vermont, and he was married to Alma TRACY, daughter of Harry and Catherine (REYNOLDS) TRACY. The father was a prominent merchant at Barre, Vermont, and his father was in the Revolutionary war. To Mr. and Mrs. Briggs were born three children, viz.: Emma, Charlie and William. Emma married David GATES, of Council Bluffs, a conductor on the Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad.