36th Rochester Mayor. Served as Mayor of Rochester, New York from 1871 to 1872.
From Cheryl Ayres (46935923);
From Rochester and the Post Express; A history of the City of Rochester from the earliest times; the pioneers and their predecessors, frontier life in the Genesee country, biographical sketches; with a record of the Post Express
compiled by John Devoy (1895)
pages 147 - 148
CHARLES W. BRIGGS
Charles BriggsEx-Mayor Charles W. Briggs was born in Mile Square, town of North Castle, Westchester county, New York, October 6, 1820. His grandfather owned a mile square of land and the place derived its name from this tract. The family, with Samuel Briggs at its head, removed to Solon, Cortland county, New York, and came thence, late in December, 1833, via the Erie canal, from Syracuse to this city, where they have resided ever since. Mr. Briggs has achieved rank and respect in business, social, and political circles during his sixty-one years residence in Rochester. The late Ellery S. Treat was his first school teacher in this city and the school was located in a small building where the Free Academy now stands. Out of school hours Mr. Briggs was one of the attendants of the old bathing house that was situated on Buffalo street on the south side just west of Plymouth avenue, and was conducted then by K. H. Van Rensselaer. He graduated from the old High school on what is now called Cortland street, where Lindley Murray Moore and Professor Dewey were his preceptors. He commenced his business career as a clerk in the seed store of Reynolds & Batham, located in Reynolds arcade. The firm name was changed to Batham & Crossman, and then to B. F. Smith & Company, and in 1845 Rapalje & Briggs started in the business on their own account, showing the rapid progress made by the clerk. The firm continued under this name for five years and then blossomed out under the title of Briggs & Brother. The firm's business prospered and extended at a tremendous pace, and was ranked as the largest seed firm outside of New York city. The firm is now Briggs Brothers & Company and has its large seed warehouses in the rear of the Government building on Church street. A large store for the sale of flowers and seeds at retail is located at 29 South Clinton street and large conservatories have been established on Hawley street. The ex-Mayor was one of the leading spirits in securing the location of the Government building at the site it occupies. Mr. Briggs in early life was a Democrat, but in 1848 he became a Free Soiler. He was elected mayor as a Republican in 1871. Prior to that he was elected Alderman of the First ward, and was the first Republican to reach that office for thirteen years, a fact which attested the esteem in which he was held by his neighbors. He assumed the mayoralty in 1871, being elected by five hundred majority over such a popular citizen as the late Henry E. Rochester. While mayor of the city he vetoed a resolution of the Common Council authorizing the purchase of the old Methodist church property, southeast corner of Main and South Clinton streets, for the site of the new City hall. He also vetoed an ordinance passed by the Common Council to improve Lake avenue with wooden block pavement. Both vetoes were sustaited by the Common Council. From boyhood up the ex-Mayor has been a devotee of field and outdoor athletic sports and has wide renown, even in his old age, as a fisherman and expert rifle-shot. To see him now tramping through roads and fields and rowing on the waters, one would think he had not passed the heyday of youth. He is a shining example of abstemiousness, having never smoked a cigar or pipe and for fifty years has not drank a drop of coffee or tea. This is a record that few men can equal. He is remarkably vigorous for a man of his age and takes time keenest interest in all public and municipal affairs. He is the head of the great seed, vegetable, and flower house of Briggs Brothers & Company, and honor to Rochester and one of our leading industries.
From Cheryl Ayres (46935923);
From Rochester and the Post Express; A history of the City of Rochester from the earliest times; the pioneers and their predecessors, frontier life in the Genesee country, biographical sketches; with a record of the Post Express
compiled by John Devoy (1895)
pages 147 - 148
CHARLES W. BRIGGS
Charles BriggsEx-Mayor Charles W. Briggs was born in Mile Square, town of North Castle, Westchester county, New York, October 6, 1820. His grandfather owned a mile square of land and the place derived its name from this tract. The family, with Samuel Briggs at its head, removed to Solon, Cortland county, New York, and came thence, late in December, 1833, via the Erie canal, from Syracuse to this city, where they have resided ever since. Mr. Briggs has achieved rank and respect in business, social, and political circles during his sixty-one years residence in Rochester. The late Ellery S. Treat was his first school teacher in this city and the school was located in a small building where the Free Academy now stands. Out of school hours Mr. Briggs was one of the attendants of the old bathing house that was situated on Buffalo street on the south side just west of Plymouth avenue, and was conducted then by K. H. Van Rensselaer. He graduated from the old High school on what is now called Cortland street, where Lindley Murray Moore and Professor Dewey were his preceptors. He commenced his business career as a clerk in the seed store of Reynolds & Batham, located in Reynolds arcade. The firm name was changed to Batham & Crossman, and then to B. F. Smith & Company, and in 1845 Rapalje & Briggs started in the business on their own account, showing the rapid progress made by the clerk. The firm continued under this name for five years and then blossomed out under the title of Briggs & Brother. The firm's business prospered and extended at a tremendous pace, and was ranked as the largest seed firm outside of New York city. The firm is now Briggs Brothers & Company and has its large seed warehouses in the rear of the Government building on Church street. A large store for the sale of flowers and seeds at retail is located at 29 South Clinton street and large conservatories have been established on Hawley street. The ex-Mayor was one of the leading spirits in securing the location of the Government building at the site it occupies. Mr. Briggs in early life was a Democrat, but in 1848 he became a Free Soiler. He was elected mayor as a Republican in 1871. Prior to that he was elected Alderman of the First ward, and was the first Republican to reach that office for thirteen years, a fact which attested the esteem in which he was held by his neighbors. He assumed the mayoralty in 1871, being elected by five hundred majority over such a popular citizen as the late Henry E. Rochester. While mayor of the city he vetoed a resolution of the Common Council authorizing the purchase of the old Methodist church property, southeast corner of Main and South Clinton streets, for the site of the new City hall. He also vetoed an ordinance passed by the Common Council to improve Lake avenue with wooden block pavement. Both vetoes were sustaited by the Common Council. From boyhood up the ex-Mayor has been a devotee of field and outdoor athletic sports and has wide renown, even in his old age, as a fisherman and expert rifle-shot. To see him now tramping through roads and fields and rowing on the waters, one would think he had not passed the heyday of youth. He is a shining example of abstemiousness, having never smoked a cigar or pipe and for fifty years has not drank a drop of coffee or tea. This is a record that few men can equal. He is remarkably vigorous for a man of his age and takes time keenest interest in all public and municipal affairs. He is the head of the great seed, vegetable, and flower house of Briggs Brothers & Company, and honor to Rochester and one of our leading industries.
36th Rochester Mayor. Served as Mayor of Rochester, New York from 1871 to 1872.
From Cheryl Ayres (46935923);
From Rochester and the Post Express; A history of the City of Rochester from the earliest times; the pioneers and their predecessors, frontier life in the Genesee country, biographical sketches; with a record of the Post Express
compiled by John Devoy (1895)
pages 147 - 148
CHARLES W. BRIGGS
Charles BriggsEx-Mayor Charles W. Briggs was born in Mile Square, town of North Castle, Westchester county, New York, October 6, 1820. His grandfather owned a mile square of land and the place derived its name from this tract. The family, with Samuel Briggs at its head, removed to Solon, Cortland county, New York, and came thence, late in December, 1833, via the Erie canal, from Syracuse to this city, where they have resided ever since. Mr. Briggs has achieved rank and respect in business, social, and political circles during his sixty-one years residence in Rochester. The late Ellery S. Treat was his first school teacher in this city and the school was located in a small building where the Free Academy now stands. Out of school hours Mr. Briggs was one of the attendants of the old bathing house that was situated on Buffalo street on the south side just west of Plymouth avenue, and was conducted then by K. H. Van Rensselaer. He graduated from the old High school on what is now called Cortland street, where Lindley Murray Moore and Professor Dewey were his preceptors. He commenced his business career as a clerk in the seed store of Reynolds & Batham, located in Reynolds arcade. The firm name was changed to Batham & Crossman, and then to B. F. Smith & Company, and in 1845 Rapalje & Briggs started in the business on their own account, showing the rapid progress made by the clerk. The firm continued under this name for five years and then blossomed out under the title of Briggs & Brother. The firm's business prospered and extended at a tremendous pace, and was ranked as the largest seed firm outside of New York city. The firm is now Briggs Brothers & Company and has its large seed warehouses in the rear of the Government building on Church street. A large store for the sale of flowers and seeds at retail is located at 29 South Clinton street and large conservatories have been established on Hawley street. The ex-Mayor was one of the leading spirits in securing the location of the Government building at the site it occupies. Mr. Briggs in early life was a Democrat, but in 1848 he became a Free Soiler. He was elected mayor as a Republican in 1871. Prior to that he was elected Alderman of the First ward, and was the first Republican to reach that office for thirteen years, a fact which attested the esteem in which he was held by his neighbors. He assumed the mayoralty in 1871, being elected by five hundred majority over such a popular citizen as the late Henry E. Rochester. While mayor of the city he vetoed a resolution of the Common Council authorizing the purchase of the old Methodist church property, southeast corner of Main and South Clinton streets, for the site of the new City hall. He also vetoed an ordinance passed by the Common Council to improve Lake avenue with wooden block pavement. Both vetoes were sustaited by the Common Council. From boyhood up the ex-Mayor has been a devotee of field and outdoor athletic sports and has wide renown, even in his old age, as a fisherman and expert rifle-shot. To see him now tramping through roads and fields and rowing on the waters, one would think he had not passed the heyday of youth. He is a shining example of abstemiousness, having never smoked a cigar or pipe and for fifty years has not drank a drop of coffee or tea. This is a record that few men can equal. He is remarkably vigorous for a man of his age and takes time keenest interest in all public and municipal affairs. He is the head of the great seed, vegetable, and flower house of Briggs Brothers & Company, and honor to Rochester and one of our leading industries.
From Cheryl Ayres (46935923);
From Rochester and the Post Express; A history of the City of Rochester from the earliest times; the pioneers and their predecessors, frontier life in the Genesee country, biographical sketches; with a record of the Post Express
compiled by John Devoy (1895)
pages 147 - 148
CHARLES W. BRIGGS
Charles BriggsEx-Mayor Charles W. Briggs was born in Mile Square, town of North Castle, Westchester county, New York, October 6, 1820. His grandfather owned a mile square of land and the place derived its name from this tract. The family, with Samuel Briggs at its head, removed to Solon, Cortland county, New York, and came thence, late in December, 1833, via the Erie canal, from Syracuse to this city, where they have resided ever since. Mr. Briggs has achieved rank and respect in business, social, and political circles during his sixty-one years residence in Rochester. The late Ellery S. Treat was his first school teacher in this city and the school was located in a small building where the Free Academy now stands. Out of school hours Mr. Briggs was one of the attendants of the old bathing house that was situated on Buffalo street on the south side just west of Plymouth avenue, and was conducted then by K. H. Van Rensselaer. He graduated from the old High school on what is now called Cortland street, where Lindley Murray Moore and Professor Dewey were his preceptors. He commenced his business career as a clerk in the seed store of Reynolds & Batham, located in Reynolds arcade. The firm name was changed to Batham & Crossman, and then to B. F. Smith & Company, and in 1845 Rapalje & Briggs started in the business on their own account, showing the rapid progress made by the clerk. The firm continued under this name for five years and then blossomed out under the title of Briggs & Brother. The firm's business prospered and extended at a tremendous pace, and was ranked as the largest seed firm outside of New York city. The firm is now Briggs Brothers & Company and has its large seed warehouses in the rear of the Government building on Church street. A large store for the sale of flowers and seeds at retail is located at 29 South Clinton street and large conservatories have been established on Hawley street. The ex-Mayor was one of the leading spirits in securing the location of the Government building at the site it occupies. Mr. Briggs in early life was a Democrat, but in 1848 he became a Free Soiler. He was elected mayor as a Republican in 1871. Prior to that he was elected Alderman of the First ward, and was the first Republican to reach that office for thirteen years, a fact which attested the esteem in which he was held by his neighbors. He assumed the mayoralty in 1871, being elected by five hundred majority over such a popular citizen as the late Henry E. Rochester. While mayor of the city he vetoed a resolution of the Common Council authorizing the purchase of the old Methodist church property, southeast corner of Main and South Clinton streets, for the site of the new City hall. He also vetoed an ordinance passed by the Common Council to improve Lake avenue with wooden block pavement. Both vetoes were sustaited by the Common Council. From boyhood up the ex-Mayor has been a devotee of field and outdoor athletic sports and has wide renown, even in his old age, as a fisherman and expert rifle-shot. To see him now tramping through roads and fields and rowing on the waters, one would think he had not passed the heyday of youth. He is a shining example of abstemiousness, having never smoked a cigar or pipe and for fifty years has not drank a drop of coffee or tea. This is a record that few men can equal. He is remarkably vigorous for a man of his age and takes time keenest interest in all public and municipal affairs. He is the head of the great seed, vegetable, and flower house of Briggs Brothers & Company, and honor to Rochester and one of our leading industries.
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