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Formatted by U.S. Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott
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Biographical History of Cherokee County, Iowa
W. S. Dunbar & Co., Chigago - 1889

[page 474-475]

    HENRY S. BRIGGS, a prominent farmer of Amherst Township, was born
    in Hillsdale County, Michigan, September 10, 1840. His parents
    were OTIS and ESTHER (SMITH) BRIGGS, natives of the State of Maine.
    The father removed to Iowa in 1844, locating in Dubuque County, where
    he entered a tract of 320 acres of land, which he improved and made
    his home for the remainder of his days; his death occurred in Decem-
    ber, 1868.  OTIS BRIGGS, in company with HEZEKIAH YOUNG and ZEPHANIAH
    KIDDER, laid out the town of Epworth, a part of which occupied a
    portion of Mr. BRIGGS' farm.  He was one of the leading men of that
    section of country, both politically and socially, and was highly
    esteemed by all who knew him.  At the time of his death he was filling
    the office of internal revenue assessor.  HENRY S. BRIGGS was the
    fourth of a family of six children, and was reared from his early
    childhood in Dubuque County.  When the great Rebellion broke out in
    this country he was not reluctant to go to the defense of the nation.
    He enlisted October 1, 1861, in Company H, Twelfth Iowa Volunteer
    Infantry, serving three years.  He was taken prisoner near Jackson,
    Mississippi, and was held seventy-four days; he participated in a
    number of battles, the most important being Fort Donelson, Pittsburg
    Landing, and the siege of Corinth.  After the close of the war he
    returned to his home, where he remained until the death of his father.
    When the estate was settled he determined to go farther west, and in
    the spring of 1871 removed to Cherokee County.  Mr. BRIGGS located
    in Tilden Township on a farm of 240 acres of unimproved land, and
    was one of the first settlers, there being only eight other families
    in the township.  He resided on this farm until 1886, when he came
    to his present home in Amherst Township; this farm contains 240
    acres, and was then unimproved, but he has built a fine two-story
    residence, situated on a natural elevation commanding a wide view
    of the surrounding country; he has occupied his time exclusively
    in farming and stock-raising, and has all the modern conveniences for
    this purpose.  Mr. BRIGGS is identified with the Republican party, and
    has filled nearly all of the township offices, being the present
    justice of the peace; he is a strong adherent to the principles of
    prohibition, and has taken an active interest in the welfare of the
    community.  Being one of the early settlers in the county he was com-
    pelled to undergo many hardships and privations, but he has succeeded
    in the face of all opposition; he has improved two of the best farms
    in the county, and has lent his aid in building up the county in a
    general way.  Mr. BRIGGS was united in marriage December 26, 1870,
    to MIss AGNES GIBSON, a daughter of DAVID and ELIZA GIBSON. Her
    mother's maiden name was HERRON.  She was born in Ireland, January
    29, 1850, and was brought to America by her parents when a child
    of two years of age; they settled in Michigan, and in 1861 removed
    to Dubuque County.  Mr. and Mrs. BRIGGS have a family of three
    children: OTIS H., MAUD E. and ESTHER M.


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