LAKE COUNTY OHIO - OBIT: Mrs. Jessie BRIGGS (d. 1949) *********************************************************************** OHGENWEB NOTICE: All distribution rights to this electronic data are reserved by the submitter. Reproduction or re-presentation of copyrighted material will require the permission of the copyright owner. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net/ *********************************************************************** File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Deb Breniser rbcobb@ncweb.com May 13, 2000 *********************************************************************** From the Painesville Telegraph, Lake County, OH, Tuesday, 6 January 1949 Death Takes Mrs. Jessie Briggs, 80, Early Resident A death of interest especially to pioneer residents of Painesville is that Mrs. Jessie Briggs, 80, who died Monday at her home, 1222 Cortez, Coral Gables, Fla. Mrs. Briggs was born in Painesville, a member of an early outstanding family of the city. Later she went to Elyria, O., and from there went with her husband, the late F. H. Briggs to Florida. They became pioneer founders of Coral Gables and figured impressively in the history of that section. The couple bought citrus grove land from Solomon Merrick, who first dreamed of starting a colony in that area of retired Congregational ministers. The Briggs home still stands across from Coral Way the Merrick manor home. Mrs. Briggs was one of the founders of the Community Church and the Elementary school in Coral Gables. With Mrs. Merrick she made a house to house canvass for children to attend the school they had built a small wooden structure on the present site of the Coral Gables Elementary school. She was a member of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in Elyria, and became a member of the St. Philip's Episcopal Church in Coral Gables, when that church was built. She is survived by two daughters, Mrs. Frances Allyn and Mrs. Florence Rauson, three grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. The late Harry, Warren and Miss Laura Post and Mrs. Eva Hecox, who are residents of Painesville were cousins of Mrs. Briggs, and Dan S. Post of Ashtabula is a cousin. Grave side services are to be held Friday at 10. A. M. at Evergreen Cemetery, here, with Rev. Dayton B. Wright rector of St. James Episcopal Church officiating. Spear Funeral Home is handling arrangements locally. services were held Wednesday in Coral Gables.