BRIGGS - Albertus Theodore
ALBERTUS THEODORE BRIGGS
Albertus Theodore Briggs saw the light of day in Hancock County, Ohio on March 3rd in 1862 and passed away Sept 12, 1937, the son of William Henry Harrison Briggs and Catherine Harmel. From a large family, he was the second of their six children. His father was a carpenter and contractor, served in the Civil War and was the son of Andrew Briggs, a merchant and farmer. Andrew’s father was not only in the War of 1812, but also served in the Revolution. A.T. was in constant learning, graduating in 1886 from Fort Wayne College and in 1890 from DePauw. There, he was a member of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity and a charter member with three others in the Phi Betta Kappa. Told ya’ he loved to learn, earning an AM in 1893 and in 1910 his DD. Wow, what a guy!
For 40 years, he was a pastor in various places connected with the Northwest Indiana Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The major ones were Centenary near Terre Haute, the found of Maple Avenue Church in Terre Haute, Rochester, Kentland, Monticello, LaPorte and Attica. From 1908-1914 he was the Superintendent for the ME Hammond District while he lived in Valparaiso. The next two years were spent at West Lafayette, then he was Superintendent of the Greencastle District, retiring from there so that younger ministers would have a chance to serve.
For 14 years, he served as the President of the Preachers Aid Society and was extremely active in the Battle Ground Camp Meetings. Although sick for a few years before he passed, he would preach at short intervals where needed, especially at the Gobin Memorial Church in Greencastle, which he dearly loved.
While he attended the Ft. Wayne Methodist Academy, he met Lenore Alleman. They both then went to Depauw and were married June 14, 1890. She was the daughter of Jacob and Mary (Lowry) Alleman, her mother living with them until her death. Her great grandfather John Alleman was a Revolutionary Soldier. She earned a PhB and an AM from DePauw and was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta sorority. She was a HS principal at Waterloo HS (Atwater, Ohio) in 1891 an unusual gig for a woman of the times. They were parents of five daughters: Genevieve, Margaret, Mildred, Ruth Lenore and Mary Elizabeth all college graduates.
Upon his death, appropriately at Methodist Hospital, he was brought back where his funeral was held at Gobin Memorial Church in Greencastle with over 50 ministers attending. He was interred into his adopted city at the Forest Hill Cemetery in Greencastle.
Anyone know anything about what he did in FoCo, let me know - written by Karen Zach
Sources used: Wikipedia; Ft. Wayne Daily News 25 June 1886; Nappanee News 16 Sept 1937; Greencastle Daily Banner 16 Sept 1937
Below are various sources, some I used to write the above, others not.
Source: Fort Wayne Daily News Fri 25 June 1886 p 1 – The annual commencement exercises of the Fort Wayne College were held last evening and were attended by near 1,000 people who were greatly pleased at the high standard of literary taste displayed. The class of ’86 is composed of … Albertus Theodore Briggs.
Source: Nappanee Advance-News 16 Sept 1937 p 1
Mrs. John F. Coppes was called to Indianapolis Sunday where her father, Dr. Albertus T. Briggs 75 years old of Greencastle who was a well-known retired minister of the Methodist Church died at Methodist Hospital. He had been ill for several years. Dr. Briggs’ pastorates included West Lafayette, Terre Haute, Attica, Carpentersville, Rochester, Kentland, and Knightsville. He was one of the founders of the Maple Avenue Methodist Church at Terre Haute. Funeral rites were held in Greencastle Wednesday afternoon at Gobin Memorial Church where he was acting pastor in 1935. John Coppes went to Greencastle Wednesday to attend the funeral service.
Source: Greencastle Daily Banner, 3 June 1938 – notice is hereby given to the creditors heir and legatees of Albertus T. Briggs (AT Briggs) deceased to appear in the Putnam Circuit Court held at Greencastle, Ind on 27 June 1938 and show cause if any why the Final Settlement Accounts with the estate of said decedent should not be approved; and said heirs are notified to then and there make proof of heir ship and receive their distributive shares. Lenore A. Briggs Executrix Witness the Clerk of said Court this 3rd day of June 1938. Homer C. Morrison, Clerk Putnam Circuit Court – Frank G. Stoessel, Atty
Source: Greencastle Herald 27 Sept 1927 p 3
Dr. and Mrs. C. Howard Taylor, Rev. AT Briggs, district superintendent and Rev. Appleby of Brazil are attending the annual conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Gary. Rev. Briggs will read his report at the conference Wednesday.
Source: Waterloo Indiana Press 14 July 1932 p 5
Announcements have been received here of the marriage of Miss Mary Elizabeth Briggs, daughter of Rev. and Mrs. Albertus Theodore Briggs at Greencastle, Ind to Mr. William Godwin Blanchard on July 7th. Mrs. Briggs is better known here as Miss Lenora Alleman, at one time principal of the Waterloo HS.