Biography - Robert Briggs
Robert BRIGGS was born May 10, 1824, on the place now belonging to Green BANDY's heirs, in this township, son of Robert and Polly (LOCKHART) BRIGGS. Robert BRIGGS, Sr., was born in Pennsylvania, and emigrated to Ohio at a very early day, finally coming to Illinois. During the troublous Indian times, he took refuge in a fort atEdwardsville, and there joined old Capt. Sam WHITESIDES in excursions against the red devils at Rock Island; the Indians, according to the old gentleman, seemed to be as thick as the grass on the prairies. They remained in the fort about two years - mother and three children - the husband going out to hunt with others for provisions. The grandfather of our subject was also in the fort, and was a great hunter and Indian fighter. Robert, on leaving the fort, about 1814, settled on Lake Fork, near where Walshville now stands, but a man named BAKER entered the land over Robert's head, thereby dispossessing him of all the improvements he had put on the land; he then settled on land now belonging to Bluford BANDY's heirs, upon which he built a cabin and commenced raising corn; he sold his crops in St. Louis. He raised ten children. Robert, our subject, remained at home until he was twenty-six years of age, when he married, October 9, 1849, Miss Penelope PETTY, of Tennessee. Having entered forty acres of land near where Raymond now stands, he lived there a few years, when, his parents becoming old and feeble, he went to take care of them, all the other children having left home to do for themselves. Mr. BRIGGS moved to his present place March 4, 1861, and has since lived there. He has two children, and one dead. Pleasant and Burd, his two sons, are at home.
Extracted 19 Nov 2016 by Norma Hass from 1882 History of Bond and Montgomery Counties, Illinois, Part 2 Biographical Department, page 131.
