Benjamin Franklin Briggs
Surnames: BRIGGS, WILLIAMS, GODFREY, ROARK, SAXON, REAMY, MORRIS, BOARD, OLIVER, LEBRECHT, JASTER, BRASWELL, SPEARSBenjamin Franklin Briggs, b June 22, 1870 in Kosse, Limestone County, Texas, d November 17, 1937 at McClanahan, Falls County, Texas and buried in McClanahan Cemetery - was a son of Lee Marshall arid Mary Ann (Williams) Briggs, who were both buried in Calvary Cemetery in Marlin, Texas.
On July 8, 1892 in Falls County, a marriage license was issued for the marriage of Benjamin Franklin Briggs to his first wife, Lottie Lela Godfrey, b October 13, 1874, d January 8, 1902 and buried in Mustang Prairie Cemetery in Falls County - a daughter of Lott Leguin Godfrey, b May 7, 1823 in Oconee County, Georgia, d January 6, 1916 and buried in Mustang Prairie Cemetery, and his second wife, Nancy ("Nannie" Roark) Godfrey, b December 22, 1843, d January 30, 1884 and buried in Mustang Prairie Cemetery. Lott Leguin Godfrey had come to Texas in 1846, when he was only twenty-two years old. When the United States declared war against Mexico, he enlisted in Captain Sutton's Company, and participated in a number of engagements - including the capture of Monterrey, Mexico. At the close of the war, Lott returned to the Eutaw Community near present day Kosse, Limestone County, Texas, where he married first to Emily Biggs - a daughter of William J. Biggs - an early settler of Limestone County. When Emily died, Lott married second to Nancy Roark. When he died in 1916, it was reported that he was the "last living veteran of the U.S.-Mexican War, in the area." Lott was a farmer and stockraiser.
Benjamin Franklin Briggs was a farmer and cattleman, and raised a great number of acres of cotton, after his move from Kosse, Texas to the McClanahan Community of Falls County.
He and Lottie were the parents of four children before her death:
Infant Son Briggs, b April 12, 1893, d April 19, 1893 and buried in Mustang Prairie Cemetery.
Clayton Marshall Briggs, b May 7, 1894, d October 4, 1925 - married Etta Mae Saxon, b December 20, 1894 in Falls County, Texas, d March 30, 1976.
Douphitt Briggs, b October 6, 1896, d April 30, 1978 - married Anna L. (maiden name unknown), b October 28, 1913, d November 17, 1963 - and both buried in McClanahan Cemetery. They had Douphitt Briggs, Jr. No further information.
Clara Briggs, b January 15, 1899, d April 1,1926 and buried in McClanahan Cemetery - married Charles J. Reamy. They had a daughter, Juanita Reamy, b 1920, who married Clark Morris of Reagan. Clark and Juanita have a son, Benjamin Louis Morris, who married Carol Board. Ben and Carol, who are divorced, had Jennifer Ann Morris. Clark is retired as Director of the City Water Department of Marlin, where he worked for many years and Juanita was employed at First State Bank of Marlin. They continue to reside in Marlin. Prior to the marriage of Charles J. Reamy to Clara Briggs, he was married to Freida Ella (maiden name unknown), b December 18, 1894, d January 27, 1919 and buried in Calvary Cemetery; and they had children. After Clara's death, Charles S. Reamy moved to Arkansas, married a third time, and had other children.
After the death in 1902 of Lottie Lela (Godfrey) Briggs, Benjamin Fanklin Briggs married second on November 10, 1902 in Falls County, Texas to Nancy S. Oliver, b 1883, d 1953 and buried by her husband in McClanahan Cemetery.
They were the parents of seven children:
L. O. "Jack" Briggs, b June 6, 1903, d May 29, 1970 and buried in Calvary Cemetery - married Addie Lebrecht, b June 29, 1898 in Texas, d April 8, 1969 and buried in Calvary Cemetery - a daughter of Max Lebrecht (1867-1950) and his wife, Bertha (Jaster) Lebrecht (1867-1951) and both buried in Calvary Cemetery. Jack and Addie had no children.
"Little" Wiley Briggs, b December 26, 1905, d Febmary 4, 1912 and buried in McClanahan Cemetery.
Beatrice Briggs - who married and moved to California; had one daughter, who moved to Alaska. No further information.
Willie Earl Briggs - a daughter, b October 6, 1911, d May 6, 1978 and buried in Calvary Cemetery married July 2, 1943 in Falls County, Texas to John H. Braswell. They were divorced when she died. No further information.
Bennie Mae Briggs - married and moved to Houston, Texas, but died in Marlin, Falls County, Texas, and buried in Calvary Cemetery.
Hiley Briggs - married Virginia Spears, and resides in Bremond, Robertson County, Texas. They had two children: Bonnie Briggs, and Hiley Briggs, Jr.
Benton Robert Briggs, b August 26, 1918, d August 25, 1970 in the Veterans Administration Hospital in Marlin, Falls County, Texas, and buried in Marlin in Calvary Cemetery. He married and had one child, but was divorced when he died. He had been a tractor driver in Freeport, Brazoria County, Texas, before he became too ill to continue work.
Some biographies from "Families of Falls County", compiled and edited by the Falls County Historical Commission.
Permission granted to Theresa Carhart by the Falls County Historical Commission, for use on this page.
Correction
Submitted by Michal ThompsonI've found a discrepancy in the historical profile for Benjamin Franklin Briggs. I was doing research on L. L. Godfrey, which brought up his reference in the Briggs bio. His first wife, Lottie Lela Godfrey, born 1874, is cited as the daughter of L. L. Godfrey. However, the 1880 census lists no such daughter in the L. L. Godfrey household living then in Falls, TX. Instead, Lottie Godfrey, 5, is listed as the daughter of Bryan and Mary Godfrey living in nearby Limestone.
Michal Thompson, Hillsboro, OR
