Caleb Briggs

In 1853-54 a new association was formed, into which the existing library was merged, and its books were transferred. The membership embraced nearly all the heads of families in Ironton with an annual membership fee of $3.00. This association opened the public reading room and library, and 300 new books and other reading materials were placed there.

Owing to the financial depression, which lasted six years along with the Civil War, the library suspended operation. These books were boxed to wait in Memorial Hall for more favorable times, but unfortunately, in 1865, they were all destroyed by fire. The names of men connected with the library organization were; Dr. Briggs, John Campbell, Rev. Joseph Chester, J. O. Willard, Edward Jordan, H. S. Neal, C. G. Hawley, Ralph Leete, and Dr. Sloan.

Dr. Briggs returned to his birthplace in Massachusetts in 1867 but kept a soft spot in his heart for Ironton.  In the Fall of 1881, at nearly 80 years old, he summoned Judge W.W. Johnson to visit him on some business.  The Judge immediately went to Massachusetts and had a pleasant interview with Dr. Briggs.

During this interview, Dr. Briggs asked the Judge to write a deed of trust, going over every minute detail with great care.  He desired that Ironton would have a public library for the benefit of its residents without postponement.  His generous donation consisted of $25,000.

After Dr. Briggs died in 1884, his bequest was made public. Under the terms of the Trust, no part of the fund should be used for a building until the fund had reached $80,000.  The trustees to handle the gift would be W.W. Johnson, H.S. Neal, J.H. Campbell, and E.S. Wilson.

In the winter of 1892 and 1893, a committee of three gentlemen solicited funds to start a library.  They raised quite a sum of money and were able to purchase 700 new books.  The collection had also added one thousand donated books, plus another thousand being stored away at Mrs. John Campbell’s building on Second St.

During this time, Market Square became the proposed site for Memorial Hall in the southern Ohio town of Ironton. The Hall was dedicated on October 19, 1892, in memory of the Union Soldiers, living and dead.  On March 17, 1893, the library was finally opened to the public.

During that rainy evening, live entertainment was provided in Memorial Hall, bringing a large crowd of delighted residents.  The Ironton Public Library sold tickets costing $3.00 per year for each patron to raise funds to run the library until Dr. Briggs’s fund became available in 1899.   At that time, the name was changed to Briggs Library Institute.  In the first year of its operation, the Public Library had 9155 visitors.

In 1919, the library was moved to the former home of Halsey Burr, corner of Sixth and Jefferson streets.  His wife left this property in 1917 as a memorial to her husband.  After selling the Sheridan Coal lands, the library trustees were able to renovate the home into an accommodating library and reading room.

Briggs’s trust fund largely dissipated during the depression of the 1930s.  At that time, a new Trust Board was appointed, bringing finances into order.  A petition was circulated by city and county organizations, initiated by Briggs Trustees, for establishing a countywide library.  The action was completed in October 1946, the first county Library Board was appointed, and an intangible tax fund of $6,000 was allowed for 1947.

The library continued its operation from this location until 1960 when the library was built at its present location on the corner of Fourth & Washington Streets.  In 1988, Briggs Lawrence County Public Library erected a lighted flagpole in memory of Dr. Briggs.  The portrait of Dr. Caleb Briggs hangs proudly on the walls of the present site of Briggs Lawrence County Public Library.  Dr. D. C. Wilson employed Avery Sharp to paint this three-quarter, life-sized picture.

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Ironton Tribune Oct 8, 1949 & Dec. 7, 1975

Dr. Caleb BRIGGS came to Lawrence County from North Rochester, Mass, in 1837.  He came here as a member of the State Geological Survey at the head of Prof. W.W. Mather.  Dr. BRIGGS was an assistant assigned duty in Southern Ohio, Lawrence being one of his counties.

Dr. BRIGGS became highly pleased with the county’s beauty and resources and predicted that vast industrial developments were forthcoming from the start. A man of close study and observation, his interest in this locality was important.

After his duties upon that survey had been performed, he left and did not return until 1848, when he temporarily visited this county to see about some lands in the neighborhood of Coal Grove, which some eastern parties had purchased.

Returning, he stopped at Hanging Rock, where Mr. John Campbell was then living and was induced to remain.  Being a practicing physician, he opened an office. Still, he did very little practice on account of his health and because his attention was drawn to the industrial developments the opening out.

The Iron Railroad was being formed to make a terminus at Hanging Rock, but Dr. BRIGGS suggested that they go three miles above, buy the Kelly farm, lay out a town, and make that the terminus of the Iron Railroad. The Ohio Iron and Coal Company was formed, with Dr. BRIGGS as a member.  So, we may consider that Dr. BRIGGS was one of the founders of Ironton.

His fine mind led him into literary and scientific pursuits rather than business.  He engaged in numerous projects for the furtherance and development of this county, particularly Ironton, taking stock in the Iron Railroad and other industrial endeavors.

But his chief interest was in a public library for Ironton, and the establishment of such an institution engrossed his attention.  In the town’s early days, he was at the head of two attempts to establish a library, both failing.  However, he did not relinquish the hope of having a place where people might read and study and improve their minds with elevating knowledge.

Caleb BRIGGS decided that the great demand for a library would be provided for in his will.

A couple of weeks later, he sent a note to Judge W.W. Johnson, saying he would like to see the judge. The latter immediately went to Massachusetts and had a pleasant interview with the doctor.  He lived on a little farm, attended by a housekeeper and a man who took care of the place.

When the crop was good, he raised cranberries mostly and derived a comfortable income from it; but the culture was uncertain.  Dr. BRIGGS lived there quietly, for he was too far advanced in years to engage actively in work.  Though nearly 80 years old, he still found much pleasure in his books and scientific studies.

When Judge Johnson visited him, he immediately told his purposes and desired the judge to write the deed of trust.  The doctor’s ideas were as well-formed beforehand, and every point was discussed with great care.  His supreme desire was that Ironton should have a library for the people, its foundation should be broad and strong, and it should be permanent and grow.

A donation of $25,000, given by Dr. BRIGGS through a deed of trust, provided means for the beginning of Ironton’s present Briggs Lawrence County Public Library.  Years later, the Burr home on south Sixth Street was left to house the institution by Mr. and Mrs. Halsey Burr, prominent residents. Dr. BRIGGS died September 1884, and his body was interred near North Rochester, Mass.  He was also well known for his philanthropies there and in Ironton.

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Briggs, Dr. Caleb

Occupation:  Physician and geologist.

One of the founders of the city of Ironton.  Dr. Briggs was from Massachusetts.

I. R. May 12, 1892 – The Industrial Edition of the Register will contain portraits of John Campbell and Dr. Caleb Briggs, the first President and Secretary of the Ohio Iron and Coal Co., which founded Ironton.

Mr. Campbell’s picture is as he appeared three or four years ago, and Dr. Brigg’s is from a photograph taken about 1860.  Dr. Briggs was a scholarly man, up to the times in science and literature.  John Campbell took to him because he was a geologist and knew nearly as much about that subject as Mr. C. himself.  The Doctor was Prof. Mather’s assistant in the first geological survey in (can’t make out date)

I. R. August 4, 1892 – OLD ACCOUNT BOOK – We have before us the old account book of Dr. Caleb Briggs, which started when he entered the practice of medicine at Hanging Rock in 1848.  The first charge is against Thos. Martin, made Apr. 2, 1848.

Then follows entries against many well-known names of the past:  Jas. Rodgers, George Kelly, Henry Casey, S. C. Johnston, George Richey, James Sherman, Smith Ashcraft (consulting with Dr. Adams) Ab. Breeden, Lot Breeden, John Campbell, Andrew Hamilton, Saul Wood, Henry Blake, Hugh Crawford, Jas. Means, Geo. P. Rodgers, Squire Walters, John Kelly, Jno. G. Peebles (hired girl’s burnt foot), J. K. Smith, Robt. Wood, Paul Harger, and others.

There were about two entries a day.  He charged 50cts for medicine and $ ____ a visit and medicine.  There was no account over $6.00 in the whole book.