Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 847 - 848

PLIN BRIGGS. Among the leading farmers and stock-raisers of Attica Township, there is none better known in its history than the individual whose name heads this article. He is the oldest living settler of this subdivision of the county and probably the best rifle‑shot in Southern Kansas. He removed to Kansas in 1871, and in August of that year pre-empted 160 acres of land, part of which he still owns. There was one man who came to this locality some five days previous to Mr. Briggs, but was not able to stay here on account of the hardships of those days and the hard times of 1871-72. Mr. Briggs could not have staid himself had it not been that in his boyhood he had learned to trap and hunt the game that was then so plenty in this neighborhood, and often while living on a dugout in his place, the wolves that then roamed this country would come to his cabin and peer into the window.

             The subject of this sketch was born in Wyoming County, N. Y., March 7, 1841, and is the son of Wheaton Allen and Fanny (Barber) Briggs, both of whom were born in the neighborhood of Hartford, Conn. His father, whose birth took place in 1790, was taken to the State of Vermont by his parents when he was quite a small boy, and there grew to manhood. In 1808, when about eighteen years of age, he removed to Wyoming County, N. Y., of which section of the country he was one of the first settlers, and where he was married and spent the remainder of his life. He was Captain of a company of militia during the war with Great Britain in 1812-15, and was present at the burning of Buffalo by the British army. He was a farmer by occupation, and followed that business the greater portion of his life. He was the father of fifteen children, all of whom grew to manhood and womanhood. The following is a partial list of the brothers and sisters of our subject: Lyman, who died at the age of twenty-two; Eunice, Mrs. George Shepard, residing in New York State; Anthony; Orson, who lives in Gratiot County, Mich.; Althea, Mrs. Luther Briggs, deceased; Jason, deceased; Fanny, Mrs. Horace Bump, living in Rock County, Wis.; Aliva, the widow of L. H. Porter, who died in the army, is living in Rock County, Wis.; Helen, who married J. G. Valentine, lives at St. Mark, Kan.; Merritt lives in Wyoming County, N. Y., on the old homestead; Dwight, who was drowned at Green Bay, Wis., when eighteen years old, and Harriet, Mrs. Seth Porter, living in Ionia County, Mich. Mr. Wheaton Briggs died in 1863.

             The subject of this personal narrative was reared upon his father's farm, and received in his youth but a limited education, but having acquired a habit of reading good books, he has made himself a well-informed man. At the age of ten years he and a brother left their home, and from that day until the present he has made his own way in the world. In the course of his wanderings he has traveled a great deal, having visited every State and Territory in the Union except four, and has also been in Mexico. In August, 1862, he enlisted in the 23d Michigan Infantry, where he served about a year, but was sick for nearly nine months. In 1863 he re-enlisted, in the 3d Michigan Cavalry, and served with that gallant band of heroes about two years and one-half, receiving his discharge March 10, 1866. He had settled previously to his enlistment in Michigan, from which State he came to Kansas. It is said of him that he was one of the most famous hunters, both in Ionia County, Mich., before he left there, and in Sedgwick County, and has killed a great quantity of game in the course of his natural life.

             Mr. Briggs was united in marriage, April 4, 1869, with Miss Evelina M. Watkins, a native of Coal Creek, Ohio, born June 25, 1851, and daughter of John and Eveline (Stephens) Watkins. She was a resident of Ionia County, Mich., whither her parents had removed in 1863, at the time of her marriage. By this union there have been born two children: Willis Henry, whose birth took place Jan. 8, 1874, and Robert, who was born Feb. 10, 1882. On the 19th of July, 1884, Mr. Briggs was called upon the mourn the loss of his wife, who passed away to her rest regretted by all. In his political opinions, our subject is in hearty concurrence with the Republican party, and took an active part in the organization of the township, and was the first to fill the office of Constable. He still takes great delight in reading, and is a highly intelligent and much respected citizen of the community.

             A view of Mr. Briggs' place is presented in this volume.

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