This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: BRIGGS, BAKER, CHADDOCK, STOCKWELL, ANDREWS, PHELPS Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/Wm.2ADEB/2998 Message Board Post: A short mention of the above is in the following Bio.: Portrait and biographical record of Muskegon and Ottawa counties Michigan. Publication date: 1893. pgs 430-432 page 430 CHARLES E. BRIGGS, the energetic and successful District Manager for the Mutual Life Insurance Company of New York, and also the popular and efficient Mayor of Whitehall, Muskegon County, Mich., numbers his friends by the score and has long been identified with the page 431 progressive interests of his locality. Our subject, a native of Niagara County, N. Y., was born near East Wilson, March 27, 1858, and was the son of George A. and Helen M. (BAKER) BRIGGS , highly esteemed residents of the Empire State. The paternal grandfather, Andrew BRIGGS, a brave soldier of the War of 1812, left to his descendants numerous valuable legacies, among them being a powder-horn carried by him during the troublous days of the early part of the present century. Grandfather Briggs was a prominent dairy farmer, his extensive homestead being located in Black River County, N. Y. he was killed by an accident when George, the father of our subject, born in Booneville in 1826, was a small boy. The history of the Briggs family in America is intimately associated with tlhe growth and progress of the United States, four brothers having sailed from England to America more than two centuries ago. They landed in Rhode Island,and while one remained in that State, the others scattered to various parts of the Union. One went to Ohio, another to Pennsylvania, and the direct ancestor of our subject settled in tlhe Empire State. To-day numerous branches of the old family are found in every State of our Republic, many of the men and women filling positions of high trust and importance. The father of ourt subject was an only son, and, a little lad at tlle deatli of his fatler, went to live with an uncle, Nathan Briggs, a wealthy dairyman of Black River County. While with his uncle, George A. received excellent advantages for schooling, and when old enough learned the carpenter's trade, but finally entered largely into farming and became a leading general agriculturist of his native State. Geortge A. Briggs was a man of broad views and sound judgment, and, liberal in sentiment and kindly by nature, never had an enemy, but rejoiced in a host of friends. Although a strong 1)emocrat and patriotic citizen, he was unwilling, although urged to do so, to accept any political perferment. In all public matters as well as p)rivate affairs he was sincere, upright and practical, and was numbered among the substantial men, ever ready to respond to the demands of duty. This good man and true American citizen passed away mourned by all who knew him July 10, 1889, and in Niagara County, where the greater part of his life was passed, his death was accounted a public loss. Helen M. BAKER, the mother of our subject, was born in Niagara County, N. Y., in 1837, and was the daughlter of John BAKER, a prosperous contractor and builder of that county. While yet comparatively a young man, Mr. Baker was killed by the kick of an ox. Mrs. Briggs had two own brothers and one sister, also a half-brother, her mother having married twice. An uncle of our subject, Charles S. BAKER, enlisted as a private in tlie Civil War, serving with courage four years, a twelvemonth of whicli time was spent in Libby Prison. Discharged from the army with the conmission of a First Lieutenant, he survived until 1880, then dying in New York State. John BAKER is a well-known farmer of Niagara County, N. Y. Elizabeth E. Baker married Daniel E.CHADDOCK, and with her husband came to Miichigan, where she passed away in 1868. The half-brother, Frank M., who also bore the name of Baker, is a successful contractor and bridge-builder living at Rosedale, Kan. The mother of Mr. Briggs is now residing in Lima, N. Y., where she went to educate the younger children. Tlere were six in the family, Charles E. being the eldest son. Florence A., the eldest of the sisters, was educated at Lockport (N. Y.) Academy, and was for many years a superior teacher; she now resides with her mother. John E., also educated at Lockport Academy, is a civil engineer at Cameron, Mo.; Frank died when a child: Victoria G., a graduate of the Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, is a successful teacher in the public schools of Whitehall, where she has been engaged for tlhe past two years; Helen C., also educated at the Wesleyan Seminary, married Bert C. Stockwell, a prominent attorney of Lockport, N. Y., and the son of a noted local politician of the Empire State. Our subject passed the days of early boyhood in East Wilson, and had completed his studies in Lockport Academy at the age of nineteen. Immediately after he acquired in Lockport a knowledge of telegraphy. In 1878, an ambitious young man of twenty, Mr. Briggs journeyed to Michigan page 432 and spent one year in tile employ of the West Michigan Railroad Company as operator at Hartford. HIe next went to Sioux City, Iowa, as a civil engineer in tlhe service of the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad, and after the first six montls had charge of a division of the road then under construction. For five continuous years our subject was in charge of various divisions of that system of railroad, and then bettered himself by accepting a position in Cllicago as Assistant Division Engineer of tlle Nickel Plate Railroad. At the close of a twelvemonth lie became the principal Assistant Engineer on the Iannibal & St. Joseph, Kansas City & St. Joseph, Council Bluffs & St. Josepl and D)es Moines Railroads. At tile end of three years, our subject, located in Cincinnati, Ohio, received the position of Principal Assistant Civil Engineer of tle Ohio & Mississippi Railroad, but later, on account of his wife's failing liealtli, resigned that position and in 1888 settled in Michioan, his headquarters being Whitehall, where lie accepted tile management of western Miichigan for tile New York Mutual Life Insurance Company, and in all llis business enterprises has made a success, building up a large and rapidly increasing patronage for the well-known and reliable company which lie so ably represents. A life-long Democrat, MIr. Briggs since his residence in Whitehall has taken an active part in local politics, and was tlhe first Iemocrat ever elected to the honored position of President of the Village Council. Fraternally, our subject is a valued member of the Ancient Free & Accepted Masons, connected with the Blue Lodge and chapter. Upon December 30, 1883, Charles E. Briggs and Miss Octavia L. Andrews, of Hartford, Mich., were united in marriage. Mrs. Briggs is a daughter of Samuel Andrews, a prominent lumberman of Hartford. An uncle, Dr. Josiah Andrews, of Paw Paw, was widely known as one of the most eminent surgeons of the State of Micligan. A brother of Mrs. Briggs, Capt. John HI. Andrews, a brave soldier of the late Civil War,' was killed at the battle of Dallas, Ga., on the march with Sherman from Atlanta to the sea. Another brother, Clarles Andrews, became a prosperous farmer. Nancy 'T. Andrews, the only sister of Mrs. Briggs, is the wife of W. A. Phelps, of Grand Rapids, a wealthy lumberman and also thle largest tan bark dealer in Michigan. The pleasant home of Mr. and Mrs. Briggs has been blessed by the birth of three children. Samuel G., a bright little lad, is now eight years of age; Ethel L. died when one year old; Ralph E. is four years of age. Tie beautiful family residence, one of the finest in Whitehall, is the abode of hospitality, and tile scene of many social gatherings, out subject and his estimable wife being held in high esteem by a wide circle of friends and acquaintances. 1880 Census Wilson, Niagara, New York Family History Library Film 1254901 NA Film Number T9-0901 Page Number 410A George A. BRIGGS Self M Male W 50 born about 1830 NY Farming NY NY Hellen M. BRIGGS Wife M Female W 42 born about 1838 NY Keeps House NY NY Florance A. BRIGGS Dau S Female W 25 born about 1855 NY Teaching School NY NY John E. BRIGGS Son S Male W 19 born about 1861 NY Laborer NY NY Victoria J. BRIGGS Dau S Female W 7 born about 1873 NY At School NY NY Kittie H. BRIGGS Dau S Female W 5 born about 1875 NY At School NY NY