Briggs, William D.

Born: 1819-XX-XX Kentucky

Died: 1853-XX-XX Tazewell County, Illinois

Flourished: Tremont, Illinois

William D. Briggs was an attorney, county judge, and landowner in Tazewell County, Illinois. Between 1835 and 1850, Briggs purchased 160 acres of public land southwest of Tremont. In August 1852, he received warrants for approximately 600 acres of public land in Little Mackinaw Township. Briggs married twice, first to Mary Ann Williams in May 1844, and second to Helen M. Kipp in June 1849. In 1850, he was living and practicing law in Tazewell County and owned real property valued at $1,000. Briggs was involved in numerous legal cases with Abraham Lincoln and his partners. Politically, he was a Whig.

History of Tazewell County Illinois (Chicago: Chas. C. Chapman, 1879), 387; Illinois Statewide Marriage Index, Tazewell County, 2 May 1844, 28 June 1849, Illinois State Archives, Springfield, IL; Illinois Public Domain Land Tract Sales, Tazewell County, 68:234, 69:77, 819:55, 825:39, 43, 44, Illinois State Archives, Springfield, IL; U.S. Census Office, Seventh Census of the United States (1850), Tazewell County, IL, 50; Illinois Journal (Springfield), 8 June 1848, 3:1; For Briggs' cases involving Lincoln, search "Briggs, William D.," The Law Practice of Abraham Lincoln: Complete Documentary Edition, 2d edition (Springfield: Illinois Historic Preservation Agency, 2009), http://www.lawpracticeofabrahamlincoln.org; Gravestone, Tennessee Point Cemetery, Tremont, IL.