Notes |
- James appears to have been named after his uncle James Thompson who married his aunt Eleanor.
In the early 1840s, he migrated with his parents to the state of Indiana, and grew up near the city of Wabash.
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He married Catherine in 1854.
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The 1860 census:
Noble Township, Wabash Co., Indiana (Roll 304 Book 1, Page 231, 7/16/1860)
James Briggs, 28, M, Farmer, $50 Real Estate/$200 Personal, b. PA
Catherine ", 24, F, House Work, b. PA (about 6 mo. pregnant with John)
Alfred W. ", 4, M, b. IN
Clinton L. ", 3, M, b. IN
Loren E. ", 1, M, b. IN
(Next door was James' father Benjamin, age 76, and mother Sarah, age 63)
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In 1869, after 7 of their eventual 12 children were born, James & family moved across the state line, near Hoopeston, VermilionCo., Illinois. He bought a quarter section of land there for $300, eventually he purchased 200 acres.
The last 5 of their children were born in Hoopeston.
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The 1870 census of Grant Township, Vermilion Co., Illinois shows:
(Roll 285 Book 1, Page 245b)
Briggs, James, 39, male, white, farmer, $3150 real estate, $2350 personal wealth, b. PA
- , Catherine, 34, female, white, keeping house, b. PA
- , Alfred, 14, male, white, b. IN, in school
- , Clinton, 12, male, white, b. IN, in school
- , Lorrain, 11, male, white, b. IN, in school
- , John, 10, male, white, b. IN, in school
_ , Charles, 8, male, white, b. IN, in school
- , Bell, 3, female, white, b. IN
- , Effie, 1, female, white, b. IN
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In the 1880's James & family moved near the town of Ainsworth, Brown Co., Nebraska and "Homesteaded" 3 quarter sections of land.
James was elected to County Commissioner and made responsible for maintaining the roadways in the district.
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At 50 James moved to Ainsworth & rented out his farm land.
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1885 Nebraska State Census
ED: 44
Loc: Ainsworth Precinct, Brown Co., Nebraska
Date: 08 Jun 1885
Enumerator: F. M. Whittecar
Name: James T. Briggs Race: W Age: 54 Birth Place: Pennsylvania
Name: Cathrine Briggs Race: W Age: 48 Birth Place: Pennsylvania
Name: Minnie Briggs Race: W Age: 17 Birth Place: Indiana
Name: Effie Briggs Race: W Age: 15 Birth Place: Indiana
Name: James Briggs Race: W Age: 13 Birth Place: Illinois
Name: Moses Briggs Race: W Age: 11 Birth Place: Illinois
Name: Jessie Briggs Race: W Age: 9 Birth Place: Illinois
Name: Jizza Briggs Race: W Age: 8 Birth Place: Illinois
Name: Ora Jane Briggs Race: W Age: 6 Birth Place: Illinois
Name: John L. Briggs Race: W Age: 24 Birth Place: Indiana
Name: Charles Brigs Race: W Age: 23 Birth Place: Indiana
Name: Clinton Brigs Race: W Age: 27 Birth Place: Indiana
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James was an active member of the Methodist-Episcopal Church.
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1900 census:
(Ainsworth Precinct, Brown Co., Nebraska)
Briggs, James T., Head, M, W, b. Oct. 1829, age 70, Married for 44 yrs., b. PA, fa. b. PA, mo. b. PA, Retired Farmer
Briggs, Katherine E., Wife, W, F, Mar. 1836, age 64, Married for 44 yrs., 12 of 12 children surviving in 1900, b. PA, fa. b. PA, mo. b. PA,
Briggs, Ova, Dau., W, F, Mar. 1880, age 20, Single, b. IL, fa. b. PA, mo. b. PA, Seamstress
Potter, Elizabeth, Dau., W, F, Sep. 1870, age 29, Married, 0 children, b. IL, fa. b. PA, mo. b. PA
Potter, Marion, son-in-law, W, M, Apr. 1875, age 25, Married 2 yrs., b. IL, fa. b. ?, mo. b. ?, Barber
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1910 census:
(Ainsworth Precinct, Brown Co., Nebraska)
Briggs, James T., Head, M, W, 80, Married for 54 yrs., b. PA, fa. b. PA, mo. b. PA,
Briggs, Katherine E., Wife, F, W, 74, Married for 54 yrs., 11 of 12 children surviving in 1910, b. PA, fa. b. PA, mo. b. PA,
This census indicated the couple was living on Oak or Elm St.
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