James E. Briggs

James E. Briggs of Rochester for many years president of the Lawyers Co-operative Publishing Company and one time time principal of the Arsenal Street School in Watertown died Monday at his son's home in Rochester at the age of 71. He served as principal of the Arsenal Street School for five years beginning November 1836.

In the fall of l861 he resigned his position as teacher and raised Co. H 94th New York Volunteers, being mustered in as captain. In March. 1862. after passing the winter at Madison Barracks, he left for the front with his regiment. The train bearing these troops was wrecked and Capt Briggs was injured and left at the New York City Hospital. He soon rejoined his regiment at Washington and was detailed as provost marshal at Alexandria. In April, 1862 he was stricken with typhoid fever, later rejoining his regiment, and was assigned to court martial duty until August of that year, when he was obliged to resign on account of illness. In 1863 he entered the Albany Law School, graduating in May, 1864. He then went to Newark, N. Y., and began the practice of law.

In 1879 he was appointed general manager and treasurer of the Ontario Southern Railroad, for which he had been attorney for seven years. After the sale of the railroad he organized the Lawyers Co-operative Publishing Company at Newark and served as its president until about ten years ago.

He is survived by a wife, three sons, and one daughter.

Source: Newspaper - Watertown Daily Times - Thursday, June 14, 1906

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