Frank Roy Briggs, BiographyPorter County biographical sketches . . . .
Transcribed biography of Frank Roy Briggs
REV. FRANK ROY BRIGGS was born in Elgin, Illinois, on July 10, 1888, the son of Rev. Charles Alfred and Eliza (Rowan) Briggs, both of whom were natives of the vicinity of London, England. Shortly after their marriage they came to America and settled in Brooklyn, New York. Rev. Charles Briggs dedicated his early life after removing to this country to a first hand study of mankind and their problems by intimate association as an employee in various lines of business prior to entering the ministry. His first position was that of shipping clerk in a wholesale twine house, later engaging in farming in Canada, and in 1883 after his removal to Springfield, Illinois, found employment in the watch factory in that city. At this time he began his study for the ministry, serving as a lay-preacher on occasions. On locating in Elgin he was ordained a deacon, and subsequently was elected as an elder in 1896 by the Rock River Conference of the Methodist Church. Deciding to dedicate his time to more active ministerial work, he established a church in Elgin, Illinois, in a very modest structure. His first class was small but the years bore fruit, and the flock became larger until at the time he retired - twenty years after establishing the little church - he joyfully beheld the result of his labors in the vineyard. He was later assigned to other charges. To his marriage were born the following children: Mary, William George, Elizabeth, Lucy, Charles, Alice, James, Frank H. and Walter M. Both Charles and Walter, as well as our subject, are Methodist ministers. Rev. Charles Alfred Briggs passed away in August, 1922, and is laid to rest in Bluff City Cemetery, Elgin, Illinois.
Rev. Frank R Briggs attended the schools of Elgin and graduated from Northwestern Academy in that place in 1906, and later from the Rockford, Illinois, Business College. Following this he was engaged in clerical work in Rockford for three years, and then attended Illinois University and the Garrett Biblical Institute of Evanston, Illinois. He graduated in 1913, and then entered the Northwest Conference at Hammond, Indiana, in October, 1913. His first charge was at Veedersburg, after which he served at Lowell Heights, South Bend, Wingate, and Chesterton. He then served at Lebanon for five years, and at Plymouth for one year. In October, 1925, he came to Valparaiso, where he served as pastor of the First Methodist Church. During the war he rendered signal service as a member of the County Council of Defense. He is a trustee of the Indiana Methodist Children's Home at Lebanon, has served as registrar of the board of examiners of the Northwest Indiana Conference, and is a member of the Epworth League.
Reverend Briggs was united in marriage with Gertrude Louise, daughter of John F. and Magdalene (Moliter) Burns of Oak Park, Illinois. Mrs. Briggs attended the schools of Oak Park, and later studied music and art. She attained excellence in painting on porcelain, reserving many of her best works for her home in Valparaiso. To Reverend and Mrs. Briggs were born two children: Frank R, Jr., and John Phillip.
Source: Cannon, Thomas H., H. H. Loring, and Charles J. Robb. 1927. History of the Lake and Calumet Region of Indiana Embracing the Counties of Lake, Porter and Laporte. Volume II. Indianapolis, Indiana: Historians' Association. 827 p.
Page(s) in Source: 212-213
This biography has been transcribed exactly as it was originally published in the source. Please note that we do not provide photocopies or digital scans of biographies appearing on this website.
Biography transcribed by Steven R. Shook