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biography from Portrait & Biographical Album of Mahaska Co., Iowa, 1887
GEORGE BRIGGS, of Prairie Township, is a son of Jonathan and Elizabeth (Millhouse) Briggs, both of whom were native of Ohio, residing in Belmont County, and engaged in farming. They came to Iowa in 1865, and became residents of Mahaska County, locating in Union Township, when Elizabeth Briggs died in 1875, at the age of seventy-two years. To them were born seven children, in Belmont County, Ohio, all of whom were living when the youngest was thirty years of age. Three are now dead, viz.: Robert, William and Josiah, who were residents of Prairie Township, and farmed the land their father had entered in 1854. The living children are Mary; George; Sarah, wife of Benjamin Stanley, of Linn County, and Benjamin. In the spring of 1876, Father Briggs went to Keokuk County, where some of his children reside, and where he owns considerable property. He was born in 1804, and although now over eighty-two years of age, is hale and hearty, and weighs nearly 200 pounds. George Briggs, the subject of this sketch, was born in Belmont County, Ohio, March 12, 1834. He was raised a farmer's boy, and received a good common-school education, supplemented by one years attendance at the Friends' College, Mt. Pleasant, Ohio. He resided in his native county until 1865, then came to Iowa. In 1869 he united in marriage with Elizabeth Cattell, a daughter of Joseph and Annar Cattell. She was born in Mahoning County, Ohio, March 1, 1833. Mr. Briggs now resides on section 25 in this township, where he owns eighty-seven acres of land, which he has changed from raw prairie to a well-improved, highly cultivated farm, and in addition has charge of and cultivates 133 acres belonging to his father and brother. Mr. and Mrs. Briggs have one son, Alfred, born Nov. 6, 1874. Politically he is a Republican, and has voted and acted with that party since its organization. His religious connection is with the Society of Friends, of which he has been an acceptable minister for twelve years. Mr. Briggs' principal business since coming to Iowa has been that of bee-culture. At one time he had as many as 225 stands of bees, and in 1883 harvested over 12,000 pounds of honey. He is the inventor and patentee of the Briggs Plaster of Paris Beehive, which, with all other bee supplies, he has manufactured for the past three years. He is the most extensive apiarist in the county, and one of the most prominent men engaged in that business in the State and in all matters relating to bee-culture is considered the best authority. As a Christian gentleman and citizen, Mr. Brigga has no superiors in the county. A man of fine intelligence, of great force of character, a student of men and books, and of extensive general knowledge, he occupies a prominent place among the leading citizens of his township.
Portrait & Biographical Album of Mahaska Co., Iowa, 1887
Mahaska County, Iowa Genealogy