Biographical Sketch of

James A. Briggs

Transcribed by Sandra Boudrou for the Marquette Co WI Pages


Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Green Lake, Marquette and Waushara Counties, Wisconsin, 
published 1890 by Acme Publishing Co., Chicago, Pages 818 - 819


James A. Briggs, who resides on section 3, in the town of Douglas, Marquette County, is a native of Madison County, 
Vt., born March 7, 1836, and is of English, Scotch and Welsh descent.  His father, Alexander Ellis Briggs, was the 
first male child born in the town of Hague, N. Y., and was named in honor of Alex Ellis, who had offered 100 acres 
of land to the person whose advent into the world should thus mark the early history of that town.  He received the 
property so offered, thus being the youngest and one of the most extensive landed proprietors of that section.  He 
was an uncle of Hon. Ansel Briggs, ex-Governor of Iowa, who was born July 26, 1800, of Scotch and English parentage.  
At the age of thirteen years, he went to Vermont and on the 27th of October, 1826, wedded Miss Mary Ormsbee, whose 
nephew, Ebenezer J. Ormsbee, was once Governor of Vermont.  Mrs. Briggs was born in the town of Shoreham, Addison Co., 
Vt., May 22, 1799, and died April 4, 1875.  By her marriage she became the mother of seven children, but three died 
in infancy.  In 1850, Mr. Briggs emigrated to Wisconsin, settling near the present site of Briggsville when the country 
was one vast wilderness.  After making some preparations for a home, he was joined the following year by his wife and 
children, their family being one of the first to settle in that section of the county.  Their only neighbor was Jonathan 
Butterfield, whose arrival antedated them only a short time.  In connection with Aaron Town, Mr. Briggs purchased land 
of Mr. Butterfield, taking for his interest of the property the water power.  His improvement of the same resulted in 
the formation of the beautiful sheet of water known as Mason's Lake, the banks of which are dotted with many happy homes, 
constituting the village of Briggsville, which was named in honor of Mr. Briggs.  His first business adventure was in the
manufacture of lumber, but after two years he added the gristmill, now known as the Eagle Mill, and until 1860, gave his 
undivided attention to that business.  It then became the property of his son, James A.  In early life Mr. Briggs was a 
Whig, but has affiliated with the Republican party since its organization.  He never aspired to public office but owing 
to his ability and prominence was often solicited to become a candidate.  Socially, he was a member of the Masonic fraternity.  
Neither he nor his wife were members of any Church, but were believers in the Universalist doctrine.
 
The paternal grandfather of our subject was a native of Taunton, Mass., but in an early day removed to New York, locating 
in Hague, whence he went to Ticonderoga, where he died in 1824.  He served in the War of Independence under the immediate 
command of Gen. Washington.  His wife was born in Taunton, Mass., in October, 1770, and died in Shoreham, Mass., at the age 
of ninety-one years.  She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.  The maternal grandparents of our subject were 
natives of the Green Mountain State and there spent their entire lives.
 
James A. Briggs remained in the State of his nativity until sixteen years of age, during which time he received his early 
training at the district schools, but completed his education in the High School of Portage, Wis., where he pursued a three 
years' course.  The first business in which he engaged was in assisting his father in the mill, and until the death of the 
parents he remained under the parental roof.  He then took charge of the mill and during the long period of eighteen years 
carried on business in that line with marked success.  Failing health, however, caused him to resort to other occupations 
and he repaired to his farm, of 160 acres, in the town of Douglas, where he now resides.  The same energy and activity 
displayed while engaged in the milling have characterized his career as a farmer and he takes rank among the leading 
agriculturalists of the county.
 
Mr. Briggs was joined in wedlock with Miss Ellen F. Gay, a native of the town of Randolph, Orange Co., Vt., and the birth 
of six children has blessed their union:  Nellie, who died at the age of three years; James Ellis, who is in the auditor's 
office of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad Company, in Milwaukee; Abbie E., who became the wife of Daniel Tears, 
an employee of Galliot & Loomis of Portage City; John G., who died at the age of nine years; and Willie O. at home.  Mrs. 
Briggs has also been called to her final rest.  For many years she was a consistent member of the Universalist Church and 
was greatly esteemed by all.  Mr. Briggs was again married April 23, 1880, his second union being with Mrs. Maggie (Curtis) 
Sherman of Sandusky, Ohio.
 
In politics, our subject is a Republican and has held the offices of Township Clerk and Constable.  In 1870, he was nominated 
for the State Senatorship and though unsuccessful made a brilliant canvass.  His defeat was on account of a division in the 
party brought about by the location to be determined for the Milwaukee & Grand Rapids Railroad.  He has always been held in 
high esteem by those of his own party and has the regard of his political opponents.  The respect in which he is held by both 
parties is such that at the time of his election to the office of Township Clerk, he received all the votes cast, there being 
about sixty Democratic voters.  He is a member of Briggsville Lodge, No. 255, I. O. O. F. and has filed the chair of Noble 
Grand and been Representative to the Grand Lodge.  Mr. and Mrs. Briggs are earnest workers in the Universalist Church and 
command the respect and confidence of all who know them.
 





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