My Genealogy Hound

CAREY BRIGGS belongs to that class of intelligent, enthusiastic and progressive men, who, by their personality and inherent force of character, have made lasting impressions upon those with whom they have come in contact. He is a descendant of an old and noted family of Briggs, who came to New England as early as 1709. His father, Francis Briggs, at the time of his birth, April 21, 1818, was a resident of Berkshire county, Massachusetts (of which he was likewise a native) but seized with the desire to try his fortunes elsewhere, he removed to Cayuga county in 1825. He remained here until 1832 when he emigrated to Chautauqua county and located first in the town of Gerry and later (the next year) in the town of Ellington, where he purchased a farm upon which he continued to reside until his death in 1844. In his church affiliations he was a Baptist and for many years was an attendant of the church at Clear Creek. He was a supporter of the old-line Whig party and served in the war of 1812. Francis Briggs was known as a man of mild, even temperament, possessing the qualities of a man of deep religious convictions. At the same time he was a man of strong will power and conservative mind. He married Miss Betsey Hakes, of Berkshire county, Massachusetts, who died in 1867 at the age of seventy-nine. Subject’s father was a cousin of Governor George N. Briggs of Massachusetts. Grandfather James Hakes was born at Stonington, Connecticut, March 25, 1752, and participated in the struggle of the Revolution.

Carey Briggs came to Chautauqua county with his father, received his education and grew to manhood in that county, In early life, after making a careful inventory of his mental aptitudes, he decided to take up the profession of teaching. This he did and continued his work as teacher for some twenty years. In 1849 he received a certificate from the State superintendent of public schools at Albany, giving him the prerogative of teaching in any district school in the State. Subject has made a careful study of pedagogy in its application to the primary schools and this, together with long and varied experience in practical teaching, has given him a high standing in his profession and in educational circles. Mr. Briggs was the organizer of the stock company which first gave form and reality to the project of building Ellington academy. He has since been strongly identified with education and educational interests in his county,

In 1844 he was married to Miss Diantha, daughter of Daniel Gould of Pomfret, Chautauqua county, who died in 1855, leaving three children — all girls: Clarissa; Caroline, married to Jerry Gifford of Lakewood, N. Y. and Mary Frances, wife of Arthur C. Wade, a prominent lawyer of Jamestown (see sketch). Carey Briggs was married the second time in 1858 to Miss Martha Staples, daughter of Rev. S. Staples of Clymer, New York. By this union he had three children, two sons and one daughter: Charles Francis Adams died at the age of six years, October 5, 1870; William C., of the drug firm of Hatch & Briggs of Jamestown, New York; and M. May.

Carey Briggs is a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he has been steward for over fifty years. In his political views he is an unmistakable republican, and has filled very acceptably the offices of supervisor and school trustee at the hands of that party for a number of years. On current events, educational matters, political relations, literary and scientific topics and general intelligence, Mr. Briggs is a well posted man and, judging from his career and teachings, is the happy possessor of a high, idealistic conception of life.