Stephen Foster Briggs

Male 1885 - 1976


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  • Born  4 Dec 1885  Watertown, SD Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender  Male 
    Died  16 Oct 1976  Naples, Fl Find all individuals with events at this location 
    _CRE  15 Feb 2015 
    • 15:48:07
    Notes 
    • STEPHEN F BRIGGS (1885-1976) BEATRICE BRANCH (1888-1979) 1857 Yankton,Sd ha d its inception in a steamboat landing and a small trading-house. 1859 Was th e first real settlement in Yankton as soon as the Indians were removed. Yankto n was the capital. 1865 Was the start of real growth for Yankton following a s evere drought and problems with the Indians (Sioux War 1862). It was areal st eamboat city along with being a railroad hub. 1885 December 4th SFB born on fa rm near Watertown, Codington Cty, SD 1888BEATRICE BRANCH born 22 Dec, Yankto n,SD 1889 BEATRICE baptized 22 Dec 1st Congregational Church,Yankton by Dan F Bradley 1901 SF attended grade school and high school in Watertown and his f irst job according to BEATRICE was: He was hired by two gentlemen partners fro m Watertown who represented a farm equipment company to be their chauffer. On the first outing they went to a demonsration of a windstacker and the two gen ts (Bothington and Dall) got crocked and proceeded to toss "Pops" prized straw hat,a gift from his father into the windstacker which turned it into straw. To retaliate "Pops" deliberatly got the auto stuck in mud and made the two ge nts get out and push which covered their great white boiled shirts with mud. ( see pictures). He got fired age 16. She went on to state that the success of t he marriage was "He makes me laugh" 1903 Entered SD State College at Brookin s,SD having graduated from Watertown High School in 1903. Was quoted in an ar ticle as saying " I wired most of the town for electricity and fixed most of the 1st autos from 1903-1907" 1906 Met Harry Stratton the summer of 1906 throu gh William Juneau,then Athletic Director at Brookings. With Harry Stratton's financial help,before graduating from college he designed and builta six cyli nder two cycle air cooled automobile engine (picture in file) and earned part of his way by repairing things. Part of the machine work for the engine was d one at the college shop in Brookings. SF's first job was as a machinest at A. O. Smithin Milwaukee. This was after his junior year in college. 1907 SF gra duated South Dakota State College,Brookings BS Electrical Engineering. Moved t o Milwaukee,Wi. He had been active in athletics especially basketball. 1908 B uilt the "Superior" automobile which was a full toring car. Three of them were made. (See pics) The Superior is still considered by many engineers to be the most innovative and advanced car of the era. At this time the conservative ba nks of Milwaukee were controled by the Beer Barons who believed the auto had no place in the 20th century. " They knew the horse was here to stay , but the y weren't so sure about the car." Around this time S.F. encouraged Atwater Ken t to go into the production of the radio. At the time of WW1 he formed the Bri ggs loading Company which made rifle grenades for the Army. Shortly thereafte r SF formed the Lemke Briggs Electric Company to manufacture ignition coils wh ich they supplied to Ole Evinrude for his use in the first outboard. 1909 Br iggs and Stratton was launched to build gasoline ignition devices. In the begi ning the stationary heading was "Briggs & Stratton designers and builders of H IGH GRADE AUTOMOBILES" S.F. Briggs and H.H.Stratton Later developed switches for controlling ignition,lightsand starters on automobiles. Also built door h andles,window lifts,oil filters,crburators,horns and spring covers. The switc h business led to the manufacturer of locks for switches,doors,compartments,et c on automobiles. The gasoline engine business wasan outgrowth of an unsucess ful venture by B&S to build bicycle motor wheels in the period from 1919-1923 The engines developed for the motor wheels were adapted to other uses such a s lawn mowers,garden cultivators,cloths washing machines,etc. 1910 S FBRIGG S and BEATRICE BRANCH married 17 February at St Pauls Church,the chapel at th e University of SD, Vermillion,SD by Rev Mr.Hene
    Person ID  I20264  Moon Anderson Family History & Genealogy
    Last Modified  15 Feb 2015 

    Father  Stephen Albro Briggs,   b. Nov 1834, Stonington, Ct or Westerly R.I. Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 24 Jun 1907, Watertown, Coddington S.D. Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Mother  Flora Dyer Foster,   b. Oct 1858, Millbridge, Me Find all individuals with events at this location, Watertown, S.D. Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Married  13 May 1880  Episcopal Ch, Shakopee Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Family ID  F7928  Group Sheet

    Family  Beatrice Branch,   b. 20 Sep 1888, Yankton, SD Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 20 Jan 1979, Naples, Fl Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Married  17 Feb 1910  Vermillon, SD Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Children 
     1. Stephen Albro Briggs,   b. 20 Dec 1911, Milw, wi Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 15 Apr 1965, Nassau, Bahamas Find all individuals with events at this location
     2. Barbara Briggs,   b. 8 Jun 1915, Milwaukee, Wi Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 25 Feb 1977, Bel Aire, CA. Find all individuals with events at this location
     3. John Newton Briggs
     4. James Branch Briggs,   b. 20 Feb 1923, Milwaukee, Wi Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 2 Apr 1999, Malvern, PA bur Most Holy Trinity Easthampton, NY Find all individuals with events at this location
    Family ID  F7129  Group Sheet


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