BRIGGS, Albertus Theodore

BIOGRAPHY WRITTEN BY KAREN BAZZAI ZACH

Albertus Theodore Briggs saw the light of day in Hancock County, Ohio on March 3^rd 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.

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Various sources used for above article and some not used but all relating to this awesome fellow

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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: 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 Times 19 June 1890

Class degrees were conferred upon : … Albertus T. Briggs …

Source: Greencastle Herald 27 Sept 1927 p 3

The Northwest Indiana Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church opens tonight at Gary with the official address of welcome by Mayor Floyd Williams. Reports will be heard tonight from district superintendents, Rev. Otto T. Martin of Crawfordsville; Rev. Albertus T. Briggs of Greencastle, Rev. John J Wilson of Lafayette and Rev. Bert D. Beck of South Bend.

Sources used: Wikipedia; Ft. Wayne Daily News 25 June 1886; Nappanee News 16 Sept 1937; Greencastle Daily Banner 16 Sept 1937

Source: Greencastle Daily Banner 16 Sept 1937

More than 50 preachers from the Northwest Indiana Conference attended the services for Dr. AT Briggs held at the Gobin Memorial Church at 3 p.m. Wednesday. The services were in charge of Rev. QM McClure and Rev JE Porter. Talks were given by Dean WM Blanchard; Dr. Will G Seaman and Bishop Edgar Blake. Prayers were offered by Dr. JG Campbell and Dr. George G. Switzer. Professor Jerome Hixson a member of the official board of the Gobin Memorial Church prepared the following tributes to Dr. Briggs. The close and active relationship of Dr. Briggs to the Gobin Memorial Church cannot at this time go unnoted. Though he served the church at large for many effective years, it was here that most of us knew him. It was here that we saw him practice what he had so long preached. It was this relatively small segment of his life that we came to esteem him. Long after his student days when with Lemuel Murlin he served student charges at Knightsville and elsewhere he came back to the Greencastle District as superintendent After 50 years he could still appreciate the problems of the student pastor whom he called his “boys.” With all the unction of the older so-called presiding elder, he combined the efficiency connoted by the newer title of “district superintendent.” This church owes a debt to the district superintendent that Dr. Briggs was from 1925-1931; for in the difficult days of transition in the often discouraging enterprise of building the new church, the wisdom of Dr. Briggs experience and the tact of his kindly nature were of great help. It is not unlikely that without his leadership on the district at that strategic time., the church we know might not have been realized. For this church which owes him so much, Dr Briggs must have had an affection, for it was her ein Greencastle that he chose to retire. Without in any sense being intrusive and meddlesome, he became an active member such as we cannot forget. Probably he could not have been otherwise. There was not a canvass nor a campaign we all know, in which he did not work early and late. The generosity of his support of the church shamed all the excuses we commonly hear. Though retired, he showed no inclination to stop working for the Lord. He could step gracefully from the pew to the pulpit to render the service which, with increasing frequency, were thrust upon him in his retirement. But though we had known Dr. Briggs as he had presided over our quarter conferences I his days as district superintendent, and though we thought we had known him as an energetic fellow-member. Gobin Memorial Church did not really know him until in its hour of need, he filled the position of its acting pastor. When the illness of a former pastor Dr. Monger made our pulpit suddenly vacant, it was Dr Briggs who rose to the occasion. In his devoted, efficient service, he made hundreds of calls upon the sick and the disinterested. The remarkable quality of this man who had already served the church for a lifetime became apparent in the appropriateness of his messages from the pulpit. Not less than at any time in his long career was his his message adapted to this university church, a captious time and place. Challenging in thought, clarity and vigor, he soon won the admiration of faculty, students, and townspeople alike. His prayers were holy mantle that covered all, old and young, in one common petition and protection. Always he had a friendly smile, a cheering word. He did not dislike men but the evil in them. He was fearless of wrong. He spoke evil of no man. His silence, like his discourses, proclaimed his character. And because we had known him as a fellow worker and an active fellow citizen, his short ministry in Greencastle here carried the weight of example, for, like Chaucer’s parson, Dr. Briggs first wrought then taught. Into any home where sorrow or trouble were he was quick to find his helpful way. Surely, if there is any truth in Plato’s statement that people grow to be like their names, we have an example in the nobility of Albertus Briggs. We are told that Albertus means, “illustrious through nobility.” Old friends and particularly colleagues, of Dr. Briggs sometimes jocularly called him ”Albertus Magnus.” It was not inappropriate. All who knew him understood that like the Albertus Magnus of old, he loved his books and his study. His utterances showed that. But more than his distinguished namesake of the 13^th century who interpreted ancient learning, our Albertus Magnus interpreted the gospel and Book-land to Folk-land. He made his books do something for people. We who have known him, then in the pew and in the pulpit, we who have known him as he has been in our homes and walked these streets, shall best cherish his countless “Little unremembered acts of kindness and of love,” which Wordsworth says are “that best portion of a good man’s life. Greencastle will be lonesome without him. Gobin Memorial Church will miss him more than it can here express. We thought we needed him for a while yet. But God, who does all things for the best has other plans for Albertus Briggs. He cannot cease to serve the Lord he has served so long. He may be needed as a member – or helper in the great Church Triumphant. What Matthew Arnold wrote in “Rugby Chapel,” regarding his own father, we might have written no less appropriately for this good man whom Gobin Memorial Church would honor: …

Is this Dr. Albertus?

Source: Greencastle Times, 7 June 1888 p 4
“New Maysville” – Eld Blake preached at the Christian Church last Sunday night. Rev. Briggs preached at the ME Church. Sabbath school at the Baptist and ME Churches every Sabbath.

Source: Greencastle Herald 11 Aug 1911 p 1

Battle Ground, Aug 11 – Yesterday was a big day at BG camp meeting for it was temperance day and much enthusiasm was felt on this question by all who attended the services. At 7:30 a.m. Rev IS Smith of Greencastle led the morning prayer. These meetings are intensely inspiring and are growing in interest. At 9 a.m. the Bible Study class was held. After a short song service, conducted by Rev. Harry Maxwell of Greencastle, Rev. Briggs of Hammond led the opening prayer. Dr George W Switzer presided. Dr. Wm G Seaman dean of philosophy of DePauw lecture on “A Great Isaiah”. He spoke on the character and message of the great prophet Isaiah. This was a most cultured and intellectual address, Dr. Seaman has become very popular during his stay here and every message he brings to the Bible class is very profitable. The temperance day began with the 10:30 a.m. service. The male quartette of the Crawfordsville district furnished some excellent music. Dr. Leazenby supt of the C’ville district led the opening prayer, Rev. Appleby then introduced Dr N Shumaker ….He was heartily applauded many times during his discourse – subject The Temperance Fight in Indiana. His views were optimistic but he declared it was necessary to fight and fight against the liquor traffic.

Source: Hammond Times 9 Oct 1908 p 2

A reception was held last eve in the parlors of the First ME Church at which the new presiding elder of the district Rev. Briggs and family were guests of honor. The reception was the first quarterly social given the members of the congregation for new members of the church and their friends. They are given with an idea of promoting a spirit of fellowship among the members. The reception was a success in every detail and there was a very good attendance. Prof Clark Leaming and Mrs. A L Spon, Dr. W Mayes Martin of the Lincoln-Jeff Law school was present and gave a very enjoyable talk after which WC Belman gave a short address of welcome. After the program members of the ALadies aid soc took charge and served the guests with refreshments. The church room had been made very pretty with flowers and ferns for the occasion.

Source: Greencastle Daily Banner 27 Oct 1934 p 1

City officials reported Sat morning that Rev. and Mrs. AT Briggs, 712 E Seminary Street who returned home from Attica Fri eve found their home had been ransacked during their absence. Mr. B reported later in the morning that the burglars had taken an overcoat and gloves belonging to him, a watch and two rings elonging to his wife and several old coins valued as relics. Rev. Briggs said the house evidently had been entered by a thief who used a skeleton key. The home had been ransacked from top to bottom but only the clothing and jewelry had been taken.

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 3^rd day of June 1938. Homer C. Morrison, Clerk Putnam Circuit Court – Frank G. Stoessel, Atty