The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1921-04-21

Briggs in his southern enterprises and
Miss Lottie Afford Of Chipley, Fla
Mr.. Briggs stenographer.
The funeral services were conduct
ed from the family residence on Water
ST. Monday shortly before noon. a
large concourse of friends and bust
ness acquaintanees of the deceased
attending Rev. Chafins Harvie Nc
Elhiney, pastor of the Congregational
Church In Madison and former pastor
of the Congregational Church here
officiated. In his opening Mr.. McElhi-
ney voiced brief eulogy in which he
mentioned the regard and sympathy of
the people, Mr.. Briggs plans for re-
ligious benefaction and his religious
convictions. The scripture quotations
were of special request and the poem
'The Rose Still Grows Beyond the
large west living room and the cas-
ket was covered with blanket Of red
roses. Magnificent flowers In great
profusion were arranged about the
room, the west wall and bay window
being almost solid bank of exquisite
blooms. Thomas G. Lord directed the
services and the pail bearers were A.
X. Butler, Ernest c.. Butler, c. P. Mer-
rill, Leslie H. Goldsmith, Fred r.
Philbrick and Herbert l.. SWEET The
remains were inferred at the South
side Cemetery.
Francis Wayland Briggs was born
in South Royalston. Mass. June 21,
1877 and was the son of the late Or
lando and Mary (Dobson) Briggs. His
mother died in his early childhood and
his father died in Chicago in 1898. His
mothers parents, Mr.. and Mrs. Robert
Dobson, influential people of Pitts
field, adopted the deceased and he
grew up with them in their Pittsfield
home. He attended the common
schools there and graduated from
Maine Central Institute in Pittsfield.
Fitted for college he became student
at Bowdoin College where he was
popular with the student body and in
his junior year made the Phi Beta
Kappa, somewhat unusual honor to
receive at that institution of learning.
He was also a member of the d. K. E.
at Bowdoin. He graduated in 1899.
On June 12 of the following year Mr..
win daughter of the late William and
Edith Stanwood Goodwin of Skowhe-
gan. The marriage ceremony was
solemnized in the present Briggs home
which was then the residence of Gen.
Russell B. Shepherd, whom Mrs
Goodwin had married after several
years of widowhood. The young
couple began their married life in
Pittsfield, the deceased at that time
having been connected with the tex
tie business there, an industry which
Robert Dobson and his sons were
prominently identified with in Pitts
field for many years. He eventually
became superintendent of the Pioneer
Mill in that town. While thus en-
gagged Mr.. Briggs became interested in
the poultry business and in company
with F. X. Maxcy, a fellow townsman,
he equipped a farm in Pittsfield and
entered into that enterprise on a large
scale. After the retirement of Mr..
Maxcy from the firm the plant was
moved to Holliston. Mass, where it iG
til maintained. Howard Gilmore of
Brookline, Mass. having become
partner in the business.
Eventually the Pioneer Wooden Mill
at Pittsfield was sold to the Ameri-
can Woolen Co. and after the death of
Mrs. Briggs mother in 1914. the fam
lily removed to Skowhegan where they
had extensive property holdings, Mr..
Briggs at that time being president of
the Somerset Traction Co. a position
which he held at his death. In the
fall of 1913 Mr.. Briggs came into
especial prominence in Skowhegan
thru his purchase of the Marston
Worsted Mills, the transaction being
one Of the most important to occur in
the town for years and It was then
a most fortunate thing for
the town that the purchase could be