, 1881-06-17

he state government was organized. He
was a man OF excellent Judgment. and
his administration was popular one.
Governor Briggs was the first and Gov
ernor Hampstead the last democratic GOV
ernor OF Iowa.
Omaha lNeb.l "Herald."l
Ii is gratifying to The Herald to note
the honors which were paid the memory
of the venerable Ex-Governor Briggs by
| the state of which he was the first eXecu-
! tive. His death cast a gloom over Oma-
ha, where lie had resided many years; but
even here where he was so greatly honor
ed and where his death was so widely la
mented, we felt that to Iowa belonged the
right OF expressing in some formal way,
the public appreciation of citizen at
| once eminent in her annals and distin-
guished as her first governor. The great
commonwealth, which in The first assump-
ton of sovereignty, was piloted with hon.
est zeal and patriotic tervor by the Ia
mentel dead shared this impression as
will be seen by the proclamation of Gov
ernor Gear which we print elsewhere in
this issue, and by solemn public testi-
mOnial evinced alike her sorrow in the
death, and her pride in the citizen whose
career of honor and usefulness was insep-
arably connected with her own"
The Governors proclamation referred
TO in the foregoing was document preg-
nant with expressions of esteem for the
late lamented, and directed that minute
guns be fired in his honor at the capital
of the state, from sunrise to noon of the
day of the funeral, and that flags be dis
played at half mast on all public buildings
in the state.
From Judge Briggs we learn few par
ticulars in addition to those already In
type, and in coDtravention of one or two
errors. Ansel Briggs was born in YER
mont, and not in New York. He was
twice married, first in Cambridge, Guern-
sey county, Ohio, to Miss Nancy Dunlap,
daughter of Maj. Dunlap, an officer Of the
war of 1872. By this marriage his chill
dren were born. His parents, Benjamin
Inglcy Briggs and Elec.a Briggs, moved
to Cambri lge, Ohio, where Young Ansei
grew 20 manhood, and where he as whig
first ran for office against John Ferguson,
Jackson democrat, for the Office of Coun-
ty Auditor. In this contest he was de-
teated. Later on, after he had moved to
Andrew, Uowa) he appeared in politics as
democrat, was elected to the state legis-
Iature and afterwards sheriff OF the coun-
ty. He has no brothers living in Califor-
mia, as has been enormously stated; but
one. Roswell Briggs, lives in Southern
Oregon, where he and two or three sons
settled.
Judge Albert Briggs, unlike his distin.
guished brother, has been q republican
ever since he, as wing, became merged
into that party. Coming west in early
days, he settled in Oregon. from which
state he subsequently removed to WASH
ington Territory and chose pleasant
spot on the shore OF Port Townsend Bay
rs his home. He was twice elected to the
legislature of Washington Territory, rep
resenting Jefferson county at the sessions
of 1872 and 1861. He also served as
Probate Judge OF the county about II
years, from which Office he received his
title. He is at present chairman OF the
County Republican Central Committee.
He is Us spry as most young men, though
advancing years are telling somewhat on
his personal appearance.