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 Briggs, Texas
About an hour's drive north of Austin, on 183, sits the little community
of Briggs, Texas. Few who drive by even notice it is there. It
is all but a ghost town now, but it is of particular interest to me as I
have Great Grandparents buried there, and my maternal Grandmother was born
and raised there, and she & my maternal Grandfather met and were married
there.
The picture above -- and several below -- are courtesy of Mr. Jimmy
Williams who says these photos were taken by his grandfather Josepth (Joe)
Williams of Oakalla, Texas. This photo -- taken atop a windmill by Joe
Williams -- appeared in the book Briggs, Brief Annals of the Times and
People, From Gum Springs to 1960, compliled and edited by Ernest
Langford (very hard to find). The photo's caption from the book reads:
“Horse and Buggy Days: Briggs Soon After the Century Turned. Looking North
Along Main Street. The years have taken their tool so that little remains
today of what was once a thriving, prosperous business community.”
Google Maps
A look at Briggs on Google Maps .. click on picture
View of Main Street in Briggs
This picture shows a boiler being moved from the G.E.
West Gin to Briggs in about 1908. It was bought by Lloyd and John Ellison.
In the picture are John Ellison and his team of oxen, Lloyd Ellison, Sid
Jordan, Jim Jordan, Homer Jordan, Jim Presslar, A.W. Horne, J.T. Harton, Jim
Harton, Edwin Harton (age 3); J.M. West driver (right), W.M. Hall driving
team (left), Charlie O. West, Hill DeWolf, John E. Moore (on crutches) and
Doyle Moore. Marvalene West told me (Richard Denney) that Bryan Goodloe (my
Great Uncle) is wearing cap with wagon being drawn by cows to right. Sign
on building on left reads “RESTAURANT & Cold Drinks”. Another sign in back
reads “GROCERY"
Brigg's first drug store
Owned by Dr. Hazelwood in 1897. Back of picture says
"Marvin West, Marshall West, Marshall Haney, Dr. Hazelwood in door, Amos
Patterson and Charlie West .."
Briggs' First Cotton Gin
Built by G.E. West in 1884 at Gum Springs. Those in
the picture are Jim Carpenter on bay horse, Charlie West, J.T. Harton on
white horse, G.E. West on steps of platform, Smith Lockhard in front of
picture, Lynn Tubbs, Ira West, Walter Fewell and Jess Washburn.
Briggs' Cotton Delivery to Georgetown
Photo said "G.E. West .. Cotton delivered in
Georgetown. Briggs Texas".
The photo says "N.M. WILCOX, Photographer, Georgetown,
TX" so assume photo shows the delivery being made to Georgetown ( which is
consistent with the size of town shown .. too big for Briggs )
Tornado of 1906
April 12, 1906, Briggs was struck by a devastating
tornado. The following pictures are courtesy of Mr. Jimmy Williams who says
these photos were taken by his grandfather Josepth (Joe) Williams of Oakalla,
Texas. They were scanned from the original 5x7 glass negatives (Thanks for
sharing these Mr. Williams)
This site has some more info on the
tornado of 1906.
I have the following notes on these photos courtesy of Marvalene
(West) Samuel. In following picture: Henry Williams sitting, J.M.
West (Marvalene's father) on horse, Fred Reavis, Hill DeWolf on horse. Tom
Hall's store building standing, Ireland Joseph's house demolished.
The Briggs School house and Dr. Taylor's barn were
destroyed by the tornado Thursday April 12, 1906. In the next photo: The school house near the
lower left side of the lot shown in the picture, where only a few boards are
seen. Taylor barn middle of picture [just left of buggy].
Briggs, Goodloe Family Photo in Front of House
This is a photo of my Great Grandfather and
Grandmother, plus my Grandmother.
Left to right: Bryan Goodloe (little boy weareing cap
and "dress"), John Goodloe and wife Margaret Jane (Montgomery), Madeline
Goodloe (Richard Denney’s Grandmother), Beulah (Marvalene’s mother) and
Ernest Goodloe (the fiddle player). Don’t really know who the two lady’s on
right are.
Margaret died of tuberculosis, or as it was called
"consumption" or "white plague". This photo was taken shortly before her
death.
3 Men and Boy with Horses and Dog
Don't know for sure, but I'd guess that man on Left is
Bryan Goodloe (with cap) and mounted rider is Ernest Goodloe.
Beulah Goodloe House
Beulah Goodloe house. Photo taken in about 1958. No
longer standing today (2003).
Briggs School Group Photo
Made about 1907. Teachers were Robert McCann and Cleo
Snow. Pupils: Robert Dillingham, Mae Edgar, Bryan Skaggs, Vena Williams,
Homer Jordan, Mattie Hasty, Georgia Dillingham, Morris Edgar, Snow Skaggs,
Eulalia Butler, Vera Woodbury, Alta Hasty, Ernest Hasty, Leslie Harton, Alma
Williams, Florence Cloud, Mary Smith, Jess Russell, Ruth Smith, Joe Hall,
Raymond Williams, Taylor Butler, Grover Williams, Clyde King, Wesley Morgan,
Marvin Butler, Willie Thornton, Edna Gude, Medie Goodloe (Richard
Denney’s Grandmother), Bertie Harton, Dovie Jordan, Edna Williams, Ethel
Cloud, Marjorie Thornton, Lena Cloud, Celeta Hasty, Stella Ellison, Dora
Presslar, Luther Presslar, Bill Jordan, Homer DeWolf, Charlie Thornton, Ruth
King, Tommie Williams, Evelyn Skaggs, Ernest Hasty, Myrtle Hall, Doyle
Moore, Clyde Fraley, Pete Joyce, Bryan Goodloe (Richard Denney’s Great
Uncle), Ray Reed, Jess Reed, Roley Williams, Myrtel Kanett,
Lawrence Butler, Rose Russell, Carrie Thornton, China Joyce, Pearl Hall,
Arlu Joyce, Merle Hall, Kate Hale, and LaVerne Gude. (Photo from Bertram
Enterprise newspaper, Vol XL Num 19, October 6, 1955)
Gum Springs, Taylor’s Gin, School Photo
On the back it says "Gumsprings School, Taylor's Gin,
Texas, May 1, 1896". This was the old name for Briggs, Texas. In this
photo is Beulah Montgomery – my (Richard Denney) Grandmother's older sister
(circled).
Crowd Photo in Cemetery
This picture appears to be in a cemetery. The monument
just left of center says "Page". The top of the banner just left of this
monument read: "Briggs Camp No. 1203" then something else. The banner just
right of the monument with 3 triangular flags at top read something about
"Florence ___ No. ". Notice musicians and partial view of bass drum which
says "[B]and" on it. Gentlemen at left have some sort of medals on their
coats. Another tombstone at bottom edge of photo, center.
Rocky Creek
This a photo of Rocky Creek, North of Briggs on the way to Lampasas.
Back of the photo states Lois (Goodloe) West was born
in Briggs and baptized in this creek by Rev. George Brown. It was a popular
spot for baptisms and picnics
Six Riders on Horseback
Some of the West family?
The West House & Family Photo
Marvalene tells me this house used to be approx. across
the road from the Mt. Moriah cemetery in Briggs. It burned down however.
Lois West (?) wrote on back:
“My Grand Father West's home and family. Standing
left to right. Back row. Aunt Bessie & Uncle Arrie (Dad's brother &
wife). Uncle Charlie (brother). Aunt Villa (sister). Marvin (Daddy). 2nd
row [starts w/ boy on left wearing hat] Uncle Carl (brother). Uncle Oscar
(died before I was born). Grandpa West. Aunt Emma (Patton .. sister).
Grandma West holding Uncle Joe (brother). Uncle Will Reavis & Aunt Alice
(sister) in buggy..”
[Reavis was tied in w/ Montgomery's of Florence
somehow I think].
Buggy Photo
Don't really know who these folks are. Nothing on back
of photos. Probably either the Wests or Goodloes?
8 Men & Horses by Briggs School House
On back of photo is written: 1889 by school house
[Briggs]. Will Dodd. Elmo West. Esther Caskey. Lee Patterson. Cyrus
Landrum. Ernest Davis. Jim Dodd. Charlie West.
Two members of the West family by the old School (?)
I think this is two of the West family in front of the
old school.
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