BRIGGS, Alexander Riddle [12314] ^{1 2 3}

   Cause of his death was mine explosion.

  General Notes:

According to Robert Carson (Feb 2002):
Addresses: 1871-No112 Road; 1881/85-No72, both Newtongrange
Documents: Marr cert Censuses-1871,1881
Note: Witnesses to marriage Maggie McKay & Thomas Briggs [#179]

From "Wyoming", 1935, pg. 158: Alexander Briggs was born at Newton Grange, Scotland, February 16, 1860, and died at Hanna, Wyoming, March 28, 1908. His wife was born at Peebles, Scotland, March 17, 1860, surviving him nearly twenty years and died at Evanston, Uinta County, Wyoming, December 30, 1927.
Alexander Briggs was a lad of about fourteen years when he came from his native land to the United States and forthwith made his way to Wyoming, where he found employment as a miner at Rock Springs. While thus engaged he advanced his education by zealous study and reading in the evenings and other leisure hours. He was finally advanced to the position of mine foreman at the old town of Carbon, Carbon County, and his ability and loyalty eventually led to his promotion to the position of mine superintendent of a leading coal mine in this county, his service in this capacity having been continued until his tragic death, as a result of injuries he received in an explosion in Mine No. 1, and he having been but forty-eight years of age at the time. Mr. Briggs became a staunch supporter of the cause of the Republican party and was active in the local advancement thereof. He was affiliated with the Masonic fraternity and the independent Order of Odd Fellows, the while both he and his wife were consistent members of the Presbyterian CHurch, in the faith of which they had been carefully reared in their native land, where likewise they had been youthful sweethearts. After coming to the United States Mr. Briggs returned to Scotland for his marriage, which occurred in 1875, as previously noted, when each was about sixteen years of age. Of the children of this union the eldest is Staris D....; Jeanette resides at Berwind, Colorado, and is the wife of Jim Easton, who is there a miner by vocation; Joseph resides at Hanna, Carbon County, and is a stationary engineer in the service of the Union Pacific Coal Company, while his next younger brother, William, is here employed in the mines operated by the same company; Margaret isthe wife of Albert Film, of Troy, New York, where her husband is engaged in the buying and shipping of cattle; Annie is the wife of Robert McClean, credit manager for the Gates Tire & Rubber Company in the City of Denver, Colorado. ⁶

  Noted events in his life were:

• Occupation: Mine Superintendant, 1900. ⁷

Alexander married Annie McKAY [12517] [MRIN: 4282], daughter of Joseph McKAY [21833] and Unknown, in 1875. (Annie McKAY [12517] was born on 28 Mar 1860 in Peebles, Scotland,³ died on 30 Dec 1927 in Evanston, Uinta Co, WY ³ and was buried in Mountain View Cemetery, Rock Springs, Carbon Co, WY ³.)

Alexander next married Ann McKAY [19969] [MRIN: 7174], daughter of Joseph McKAY [19971] and Janet SCOTT [19970].