Joseph Warren Briggs

Notes:

JOSEPH W. BRIGGS, deceased. The subject of this sketch was born in New York in 1832. He was the son of Thomas Briggs, of New York. In his childhood his father removed to Medina County, Ohio, where our subject was reared and schooled, obtaining such education as the schools of that date afforded. He early learned the details of the work on his father's farm in assisting in its management.

He made the overland journey to California, and upon his arrival joined his brother, who resided near Marysville, the two entering into extensive fruit-cultivation, thus becoming pioneers of that industry in this State. He continued in k until 1854, when he returned to Ohio, and there married, in that year, Miss Mary J. Oldes, the daughter of Albert and Mary (Bennett) Oldes, who resided in Medina County, Ohio. After a two years' stay in Ohio, he went to Franklin County, Kansas, where he purchased land and established himself as a farmer and stock-raiser. There he made his home for several years, in fact until, in 1862, he returned to this State, and, with his brother, John G., and his brother-in-law, Edward Haskell, entered largely into fruit-culture. His family joined him in his new home in 1863. Mr. Briggs eventually bought out the interests of his partners, and for a time managed these orchards, of hundreds of acres in extent, without other assistance than that of hired help. In 1873 he sold out these interests and came to Santa Clara County, where he bought a tract of 120 acres on the Trimble road, on Coyote Creek, in the Midway School District. He immediately began the work of planting extensive orchards and small-fruit vines, and succeeded before his death in producing a splendid farm, upon which his widow now resides. Fifty acres were devoted to the raising of plums and prunes, twenty acres to pears, ten acres to apples, twelve acres to cherries, and the remainder to pasturage. Six acres of raspberries, and five of strawberries, were cultivated among the fruit-trees. Plenty of water is supplied by five artesian wells, each of which furnishes an average flow of water. These lands, being in a high state of cultivation and very productive, testify to Mr. Briggs' skill in horticulture. In addition to the supervision of this large farm, Mr. Briggs engaged largely in fruit-raising near Visalia, purchasing in 1881, 200 acres of land. His son, Frank T., bought 160 acres near this property, and in 1885 Mr. Briggs also acquired that tract by purchase. His design was the conversion of the whole into orchards, but his plans were destroyed by the hand of death, which occurred April 19, 1887.

He left three children: Frank T., married and living in San Francisco ; John G., who married Miss Lizzie Adams, of Alviso, now a resident of San Jose; and Albert L., residing on the old homestead. He also left, besides a devoted family, f friends, by whom his loss was deeply felt. He was a man of great strength of character, of untiring energy, as the magnitude of his enterprises proves. He was well versed in the business affairs of life, and was thus able to bring to a successful issue his many plans.

His worth in social circles was thoroughly appreciated, and by his death many secret organizations mourned the loss of a most useful member. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity, being a Knight Templar, and was also connected with tcan Legion of Honor, Chosen Friends, Knights of Honor, and Ancient Order of United Workmen.


Pen Pictures From The Garden of the World or Santa Clara County, California, Illustrated. - Edited by H. S. Foote.- Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1888.
Pg. 572

Joseph married Mary J. Oldes in 1854. Mary was born about 1835. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

JOHN G. BRIGGS, was born in Franklin County, Kansas, December 3, 1858. He is the son of Joseph W. Briggs (whose sketch appears in this connection) and Mary J. (Oldes) Briggs, a native of Ohio. When but five years of age he was brought by his parents to this State. During his youthful days, when not in school, he was employed in his father's large orchards, and thus at an early age he had become familiar with all the details of orchard culture. In his boyhood, his father had the care of
extensive fruit interests near Marysville, but in 1873 he came to this county and purchased 120 acres of land near the Trimble road. He eventually improved 100 acres of this tract, setting that portion to fruit-trees. In this work he was most ably assisted by our subject, who, as young as he was, managed this extensive property, and in time came to have sole control of it, as for many years previous to his death, in 1887, his father was occupied in the care of his large interests near Visalia.

This magnificent orchard contains about 10,000 trees, and is known far and wide as one of the finest and most productive in the county. This is due to Mr. Briggs' thorough, practical knowledge of the business to which he was trained, ande and attention which he has devoted to the production of these telling results. Mr. Briggs is now living at San Jose, where he is engaged in settling the affairs of his father's extensive estate.

In 1882 he was united in marriage with Miss Lizzie Adams, the daughter of William Francis and Mary Ann Adams, who were natives and residents of England. Mr. and Mrs. Briggs have one daughter, Edith Violet.


Pen Pictures From The Garden of the World or Santa Clara County, California, Illustrated. - Edited by H. S. Foote.- Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1888.
Pg. 572-573



Born in Kansas, December 3, 1858, and came with his parents to California in 1861. On arrival the family proceeded to Marysville, where they resided until 1873, when J. W. Briggs, the father of our subject, purchased the property on which they now reside. This, one of the finest orchards in Santa Clara county, contains about ten thousand fruit trees in all, there being some three thousand pear, two thousand plum, fourrteen hundred cherry, fifteen hundred apple, seven hundred peach, and the balance apricot trees. No pains has bee spared by J. G. Briggs, who manages for his father, in conducting this orchard, whilehe includes in his cultivation the rarest varieties of blackberries, raspberries and strawberries. There are althogether one hundred and twenty acress on the farm, twenty of which are devoted to pasturage, and the remainder to fruit culture.

History of Santa Clara County, California San Francisco: Alley, Bowen & Co., 1881, 838 pgs.page 562