Biographies B
George W. Briggs
George W. Briggs, Muhlenberg County, was born May 4, 1848, in Logan County, Ky., and is the second of six children born to David C. and Sarah (Whitescarver) Briggs, natives of Warren and Logan Counties, respectively, and of English origin. David C. was a son of George Briggs, a native of Virginia, and a farmer; came to Kentucky about 1820.
G.W. Briggs was reared on a farm and received a common school education. He lived with his parents until he enlisted June 9, 1865, in Company G, Seventeenth Kentucky Cavalry, under Col Sam Johnson; he participated in a few skirmishes and was discharged October 4, 1865; he returned home and engaged in farming in Muhlenberg County, Ky. The parents of our subject moved to Wayne County, Ill., when the war broke out; later to Mt. Vernon, Ind., and were gone three years.
George W. Briggs located in Muhlenberg County, in 1867, where he has since resided; was deputy sheriff of Muhlenberg County from 1879 to 1883; has since been engaged in the tobacco trade, and meets with good success. He was for a short time engaged in the mercantile business with Jones & Penrod; at present the firm name is James & Briggs.
Mr. Briggs was married November 7, 1869, to Sarah J. Welborn, of Muhlenberg County, a daughter of Henry and Elvira A. (Tigart) Welborn, natives of Muhlenberg County, and of English descent, and who were some of the first settlers of the county. Her grandfather, James Tigart, came from New Hampshire. To Mr. and Mrs. Briggs were born five children: Addie C., Sarah F., Alma D. Eller B. and Anna L. Mrs. Briggs died April 27, 1884, a member of the Baptist Church. Mr. Briggs was formerly a member of the Grange.
Source: Battle, J.H., W.H. Perrin, and G.C. Kniffen. Kentucky: A History of the State. Louisville, KY: F.A. Battey, 1885. Page 899.
Updated June 6, 2018