ALFRED BRIGGS

Sacramento County

Biographies

ALFRED BRIGGS

ALFRED BRIGGS, rancher, was born in the town of Skaneateles, Onondaga County, New York, September 11, 1820, son of Samuel and Anna (Wilkie) Briggs, both natives also of that State. His grandfather, John Briggs, was a native of Vermont, and, after his daughter Betsey was born, emigrated in pioneer times to the frontier in New York State, locating at a place called New Albany, where a number of his children were born, among whom was Samuel, the next to the eldest. A few years later he returned to Vermont, and in 1800 to New York again. He was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. Samuel Briggs was born in 1789. When grown up he received a piece of land from his father, and afterward bought other tracts. This farm contained 110 acres, and was about half a mile from the foot of Skaneateles Lake, the town of the same name being situated on both sides of the lake at the outlet. It is now in the possession of Courtland Briggs, the youngest son. In early days the family were surrounded by friendly Indians of several tribes, and here Samuel brought up his family. His house fronted on the old Genesee road running from Albany to Buffalo, which was the first made through the country, a distance of about 300 miles. Along this road were a number of “taverns,” some of them kept by Indians. When thirty years of age Mr. Samuel Briggs married Miss Anna Wilkie. Her mother was born in New Amsterdam, of Mohawk Dutch descent. She died in 1841, and her husband survived till about 1867. They had four children, all sons, namely: Alfred, Frederick, Charles and Courtland, of whom the eldest and youngest only are living. Alfred Briggs lived with his parents and in the vicinity of his home until he was twenty-five years of age, working on his father’s farm and clerking for his uncle in a flouring mill and distillery. That mill in those days turned out about 100 barrels of flour a day. In the distillery high wines exclusively were manufactured, which were shipped to New York. In 1845 Mr. Briggs went to Chicago and different places in Indiana. His brother Frederick was keeping a store at Rochester, Indiana, with whom he remained for a time, returning in the fall to New York. In July, 1846, he again went to Rochester, Indiana, and engaged as a clerk in a dry-goods store three months, or until November, when he went to the lead mines in La Fayette County, Wisconsin, which is in the southwest corner of the State. He followed mining there about eighteen months, then entered the store at Shullsburg as clerk, where he shortly afterward took an interest in the business, under the firm name of Briggs & McNulty. At the end of four years the gold excitement of California carried him away with the rushing crowd toward the El Dorado. Having seen some ‘49ers who had been here and returned, bringing the news direct, in April, 1850, he and a cousin, William Billings, started by way of St. Joseph, Missouri, and came through on the Salt Lake route. At St. Joseph they found many old acquaintances, that point being a great rendezvous for Western travel, and the final point of preparation and departure through the unknown wilds that stretched illimitably before the eager gold hunters. They joined a train of six or seven wagons, commanded by Abram Woodard, an old settler in this county whose sketch appears in this work. Mr. Briggs celebrated the 4th of July in Salt Lake City, at a grand dinner furnished by the Mormons, who made a business of feeding immigrants. Here the party rested a few days. They left the valley July 10, taking the Mormon route, and using the Mormon guide book, which was the best one published at that time. They soon met two men from the Woodard train returning to Salt Lake for provisions. The company were suffering considerably on the route of the Sublette cut-off, and these two men announced their intention to go with this company instead of pursuing the cut-off any further. Flour at that time was $50 a hundred weight, and cornmeal $25; a pint of brandy would buy fifty pounds of flour. Brandy, coffee and sugar commanded almost any price in Salt Lake City. The Mormons had made considerable money from returning Californians and money was scarcely an object with them. On reaching the Sink of the Humboldt they loaded Mr. Briggs’ wagon with hay and water, leaving the other wagons there and packing the other animals. Each one on his horse, they thus reached Ragtown, where they recruited, paying a “bit” a pound for hay. Crossing the mountains through the Carson Canon they reached Johnson’s ranch, where they sold their horses, saddles, etc., and commenced mining. Mr. Brigg’s mining experience would be a history of itself. He was generally lucky--indeed so much so that others used to say, “Wherever Briggs goes it will pay you to follow.” Altogether he took out of the mines probably about $150,000. Being of a free-hearted nature, he has been very liberal with his fortune. He followed the business about fourteen years in El Dorado County, during which time he was married, and for five or six years lived on a ranch; but this being nearly all mining land, he paid but little attention to farming. In the spring of 1864 he came to Sacramento County, and a year afterward purchased his present place in Sutter and Brighton Townships. It contains 185 acres, well improved and in a good state of cultivation. Politically Mr. Briggs was in former years a Democrat. In 1853 he was elected to the Assembly from El Dorado County, and in 1858 he was again elected, on the anti-Lecompton ticket (anti-slavery) to the same position. He has accordingly been a supporter of the Republican party ever since it was organized. In 1864, through the influence of John Conness, of El Dorado County, then United States Senator, Mr. Briggs received from Abraham Lincoln the appointment of Collector of Internal Revenue for the Fourth District of California, which position he held nine years, having his office in Sacramento. For the past twenty-one years Mr. Briggs has been a member of Tehama Lodge, No. 3, F. & A. M., of Sacramento. October 18, 1854, is the date of Mr. Briggs’ marriage to Mary A. Lucas, who died July 15, 1870, the mother of six children, namely: Helen M., Charles W., Anna E., John C., George F., and Alfred, Jr. The three youngest are deceased, and the living are all residents of this State. Mr. Briggs was again married October 28, 1873, to Mary E. Dougherty, and by this marriage there are three children, - Bertha, Alfred, and Clara.

Transcribed by: Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.

Davis, Hon. Win. J., An Illustrated History of Sacramento County, California. Pages 716-718. Lewis Publishing Company. 1890.