Margaret Briscoe Biography


	This biography appears on pages 440-443 in "History of Dakota 
	Territory" by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. V (1915) and was 
	scanned, OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				MISS MARGARET BRISCOE. 

	Miss Margaret Briscoe, the popular and efficient superintendent 
of schools of Potter county, is a well known resident of Gettysburg. 
She is a native of this state, her birth having occurred at Blunt, 
Hughes county, and is a daughter of John and Ellen (Cunningham) 
Briscoe. Her father was born in Ottawa, Illinois, January 13, 1851, and 
her mother in County Down, Ireland, February 26, 1854. Mrs. Briscoe 
emigrated to this country with an aunt when she was a child of about 
twelve years and here grew to womanhood, her marriage occurring in 
Illinois. The Briscoe family continued to reside in that state until 
March, 1883, when a removal was made to Hughes county, South Dakota, 
the father having taken up a homestead north of Blunt. They resided in 
Blunt during the winters but during the other seasons of the year lived 
upon the farm. Mr. Briscoe brought his land to a high state of 
cultivation and engaged in farming and stock-raising until 1913, when 
the family home was established in Gettysburg. He continued to reside 
there until his death, which occurred March 27, 1914. His widow is 
still living in that town. They were the parents of seven children: 
Henry James, who resides upon a farm near Gorman, this state; Mary, who 
passed away in 1899, when about twenty-two years of age; Anna, the wife 
of Albert Ripley, who resides upon a ranch near Cole Springs, South 
Dakota; Joseph, who is living on a ranch at Brayton, this state; 
Margaret, of this review; Frank, who is also ranching at Cole Springs; 
and Laura, who is teaching in the schools of Clark, this state. 

	Miss Margaret Briscoe completed the course offered in the public 
schools of Potter county and was for one year a student in the 
Gettysburg high school and for three years attended the State Normal 
School at Aberdeen. When but sixteen years of age she began teaching in 
Sully county, where she taught for two terms, after which she was for a 
year a teacher in Potter county. She then continued her education in 
the high school of Gettysburg and the State Normal and after leaving 
the latter institution followed her profession in Potter county until 
the fall of 1913. She then taught in the grammar room at Wessington for 
one year, after which she was elected to the position of superintendent 
of schools of Potter county, taking office in January, 1915. She now 
devotes her whole time and attention to the important duties devolving 
upon her in that capacity and has already demonstrated her fitness for 
the place. Her long experience in educational work has given her a 
practical knowledge of the conditions in the public schools and of the 
possibilities for improvement and through understanding the problems 
that confront the teachers under her she has ably worked with them to 
the best advantage. 

	Miss Briscoe is a democrat and her religious faith is that of the 
Roman Catholic church. Fraternally she belongs to Lodge no. 36 of the 
Degree of Honor at Gettysburg. She is not only a capable teacher and 
superintendent but she is also a good business woman and, owns valuable 
town property in Gettysburg. Her entire life has been passed in South 
Dakota and she has thoroughly identified her interests with those of 
the state and of her community, and as county superintendent she is 
doing all within her power to further the public good through improving 
the schools.