George C. Briggs Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1250-1251 in "History of South 
	Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. II (1904) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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	GEORGE C. BRIGGS, who is presiding with marked ability and 
distinction as judge of the court of Hand county, is a native of the old 
Granite state, having been born in Hinsdale, Cheshire county, New 
Hampshire, on the 15th of June, 1857, and being a son of Erastus and 
Sylvia (Chamberlain) Briggs, both representatives of old and honored 
families of New England, where was cradled so much of our national 
history. The father of the subject was a clergyman - of the Baptist 
church, and was born in Michigan, whither his parents emigrated from New 
England, while his devoted wife was a native of New Hampshire. 

	Judge Briggs received his elementary education in the common 
schools of Vermont, and later continued his studies in Powers Institute, 
at Bernardston, Massachusetts, and the Kimball Union Academy, at 
Meriden, New Hampshire, in which latter institution he was graduated as 
a member of the class of 1877. He then began reading law in the office 
of his uncle, Benjamin F. Briggs, one of the leading members of the bar 
of the city of Boston, and completed his technical studies under the 
preceptorship of Hosea W. Brigham, of Whitingham, Vermont, being duly 
admitted to the bar of the old Green Mountain state in the year 1880. He 
was thereafter engaged in the practice of his profession at Whitingham, 
that state, for one year, and in August, 1883, he removed to Cropsey, 
McLean county, Illinois, where he was engaged in teaching in the public 
schools until April, 1884, when he came to Miller, South Dakota, where 
he has ever since been identified with the active work of his 
profession. He is thoroughly grounded in the science of jurisprudence 
and has marked facility in the proper application of his knowledge in 
the handling of cases coming before him. The Judge is a man of positive 
character and has never lacked the courage of his convictions, while his 
personality is such as to command to him the respect of even those who 
differ with him or even resent his adjudications of litigations in which 
they are involved. In politics he is a stalwart advocate of the 
principles and policies of the Republican party and has ever taken an 
active interest in public affairs. In 1898 he was elected county judge, 
and was chosen as his own successor in 1900 and again in 1902, so that 
he is now serving his third consecutive term on the bench, a fact which 
indicates the proper estimate placed upon his services. He also served 
for several years as justice of the peace and held other local offices. 
He and his wife are prominent and valued members of the Baptist church, 
and fraternally he is identified with the Masonic order and the Ancient 
Order of United Workmen. 

	On the 29th of September, 1886, Judge Briggs was united in 
marriage to Miss Gertrude S. Sherman, who was born and reared in Dover, 
Windham county, Vermont, being a daughter of Edwin F. and Sophia 
(Menifield) Sherman.