From Lane Co Oregon

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Springfield was settled when Elias M. and Mary Briggs and their family, including Isaac Briggs arrived in the winter of 1848 via the South Road. Isaac and Betsey Briggs had migrated from Iowa in 1847 along with Elias with his wife Mary over the Applegate Trail. They had pioneered the Church of Christ in Iowa State and they were about to do the same thing again in for Springfield, Oregon. They first settled at Pleasant Hill and were charter members of that active church, then relocated to the Springfield area. Donation land claim records list their filing date on 640 acres as October 1849 (Geneaological Forum of Portland 1957):

[Briggs] chose as the site of his dwelling a spot convenient to a spring of water that sent up its bubbled with ceaseless energy. A portion of the prairie where stood this found in due time was fenced in the enclosure becoming known as the Spring-field - - hence the name of the town. Here for two years dwelt the Briggs family, the father and his belongings removing at the end of that time to a farm about a mile and a half from their original location. The father and son conducted the ferry where the fine bridge spans the Willamette…(Walling 1884:452).

We do not know just when the church began meeting, but by 1871 the Springfield Church reported 60 members. Early members included both Briggs families and Dr. William M. and Mariah Owsley.

1880s

1880 Census shows the following people within the same household:

Briggs, Elias M. aged 56. Born about 1824 in Kentucky. Residence: Coast Fork, Lane, Oregon.Spouse: Mary

Mary, aged 54. Mother's birthplace: Kentucky

Isaac R Briggs, aged 23. Relationship: Son. Estimated birth year: abt 1857. Birthplace: Oregon. Farmer. Race: White. Gender: Male. Status: Single.

Abraham L Briggs, aged 13. Relationship: Son. Estimated birth year: abt 1867. Birthplace: Oregon. Occupation: Attending School. Race: White. Gender: Male. Status: Single.

Charles W Briggs, aged 11. Relationship: Son. Estimated birth year: abt 1869. Birthplace: Oregon. Occupation: Attending School. Race: White. Gender: Male. Status: Single.

George E Briggs, aged 7. Relationship: Son. Estimated birth year: abt 1873. Birthplace: Oregon. Occupation: Attending School. Race: White. Gender: Male. Status: Single.

Source Citation: Year: 1880; Census Place: Coast Fork, Lane, Oregon; Roll: T9_1081; Family History Film: 1255081; Page: 265.2000; Enumeration District: 66; Image: 0740.

Contradictory information

The greatest impetus to town growth was the water-powered sawmill and grist mill built by Elias Briggs in 1853-1854. Walling (1884:306) claimed the Springfield town site contained “one of the best water-powers in the country.” Briggs and his brother, Isaac, completed the digging of a millrace during the latter part of 1852. In partnership with Jeremiah Driggs and Thomas Monteith, two Linn County millers who financed the enterprise, the brothers hired an experienced millwright from the East Coast to design and supervise construction of the mills. The grist mill was the first flouring mill in Lane County, and the sawmill, which featured a sash saw, had the distinction of supplying the lumber for building the first county courthouse.

Some articles state that Isaac was Elias' brother. Others state he was Elias' son, uncle, and father. So far there is not a clear definitive as of yet. One fact is that the 1880s state that there was a son of Elias called Isaac R. This may suggest that Isaac R was named after Elias' father, uncle, or brother.

Tomb

Isaac is buried along side Robert Briggs on Laurel Hill Cemetery. Date of death not stated.

Isaac Briggs

Pioneer of 1847

Founder of Springfield, Ore.

Betsey Briggs

Pioneer of 1847

Robert Briggs

Census Notes

IVEY, Thad Elvin IVY, Claude W. IVY, Jess W. IVY, Martha

Name: J. W. Fitch Home in 1880: Coast Fork, Lane, Oregon Age: 60 Estimated birth year: abt 1820 Birthplace: Ohio Relation to head-of-household: Self (Head) Spouse's name: Hariet Father's birthplace: Massachusetts Mother's birthplace: Vermont Neighbors: View others on page Marital Status: Married Race: White Gender: Male

Household Members: Name Age J. W. Fitch 60 Hariet Fitch 66 Charles W. Fitch 33

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Name: Hariet Fitch Home in 1880: Coast Fork, Lane, Oregon Age: 66 Estimated birth year: abt 1814 Birthplace: New York Relation to head-of-household: Wife Spouse's name: J. W. Father's birthplace: Massachusetts Mother's birthplace: New York Neighbors: View others on page Occupation: Keeping House Marital Status: Married Race: White Gender: Female

Household Members: Name Age J. W. Fitch 60 Hariet Fitch 66 Charles W. Fitch 33

ame: Charles W. Fitch Home in 1880: Coast Fork, Lane, Oregon Age: 33 Estimated birth year: abt 1847 Birthplace: Ohio Relation to head-of-household: Son Father's name: J. W. Father's birthplace: Ohio Mother's name: Hariet Mother's birthplace: New York Neighbors: View others on page Occupation: Farmer Marital Status: Single Race: White Gender: Male

Name Age J. W. Fitch 60 Hariet Fitch 66 Charles W. Fitch 33

Savanah Allen Home in 1880: Coast Fork, Lane, Oregon Age: 15 Estimated birth year: abt 1865 Birthplace: Illinois Relation to head-of-household: Daughter Father's name: Thomas Father's birthplace: Illinois Mother's name: Margaret Mother's birthplace: Illinois Neighbors: View others on page Occupation: At Home Marital Status: Single Race: White Gender: Female Cannot read/write:

Blind:

Deaf and dumb:

Otherwise disabled:

Idiotic or insane:

Subscribe now to see this information. Household Members: Name Age Thomas Allen 40 Margaret Allen 37 Matilda C. Allen 17 Savanah Allen 15 Anna M. Allen 12 Henry V. Allen 9 John T. Allen 6 George N. Allen 4

Thomas Allen Home in 1880: Coast Fork, Lane, Oregon Age: 40 Estimated birth year: abt 1840 Birthplace: Illinois Relation to head-of-household: Self (Head) Spouse's name: Margaret Father's birthplace: Virginia Mother's birthplace: Kentucky Neighbors: View others on page Occupation: Farmer Marital Status: Married Race: White Gender: Male

Margaret Allen Home in 1880: Coast Fork, Lane, Oregon Age: 37 Estimated birth year: abt 1843 Birthplace: Illinois Relation to head-of-household: Wife Spouse's name: Thomas Father's birthplace: North Carolina Mother's birthplace: South Carolina Neighbors: View others on page Occupation: Keeping House Marital Status: Married Race: White Gender: Female

Matilda C. Allen Home in 1880: Coast Fork, Lane, Oregon Age: 17 Estimated birth year: abt 1863 Birthplace: Illinois Relation to head-of-household: Daughter Father's name: Thomas Father's birthplace: Illinois Mother's name: Margaret Mother's birthplace: Illinois Neighbors: View others on page Occupation: Dressmaker Marital Status: Single Race: White Gender: Female

Anna M. Allen Home in 1880: Coast Fork, Lane, Oregon Age: 12 Estimated birth year: abt 1868 Birthplace: Oregon Relation to head-of-household: Daughter Father's name: Thomas Father's birthplace: Illinois Mother's name: Margaret Mother's birthplace: Illinois Neighbors: View others on page Occupation: Attending School Marital Status: Single Race: White Gender: Female

Henry V. Allen Home in 1880: Coast Fork, Lane, Oregon Age: 9 Estimated birth year: abt 1871 Birthplace: Oregon Relation to head-of-household: Son Father's name: Thomas Father's birthplace: Illinois Mother's name: Margaret Mother's birthplace: Illinois Neighbors: View others on page Occupation: Attending School Marital Status: Single Race: White Gender: Male

ohn T. Allen Home in 1880: Coast Fork, Lane, Oregon Age: 6 Estimated birth year: abt 1874 Birthplace: Oregon Relation to head-of-household: Son Father's name: Thomas Father's birthplace: Illinois Mother's name: Margaret Mother's birthplace: Illinois Neighbors: View others on page Occupation: Attending School Marital Status: Single Race: White Gender: Male

George N. Allen Home in 1880: Coast Fork, Lane, Oregon Age: 4 Estimated birth year: abt 1876 Birthplace: Oregon Relation to head-of-household: Son Father's name: Thomas Father's birthplace: Illinois Mother's name: Margaret Mother's birthplace: Illinois Neighbors: View others on page Marital Status: Single Race: White Gender: Male

Mary Walker Home in 1880: Coast Fork, Lane, Oregon Age: 41 Estimated birth year: abt 1839 Birthplace: Missouri Relation to head-of-household: Wife Spouse's name: John L. Father's birthplace: Virginia Mother's birthplace: Virginia Neighbors: View others on page Occupation: Keeping House Marital Status: Married Race: White Gender: Female

Name Age John L. Walker 53 Mary Walker 41 Robert E. Walker 19 Martha J. Walker 16 John W. Walker 14 George Walker 6 P. G. Crissman 38 George Daugherty 58 S. E. Mc Clure 18

John L. Walker Home in 1880: Coast Fork, Lane, Oregon Age: 53 Estimated birth year: abt 1827 Birthplace: Virginia Relation to head-of-household: Self (Head) Spouse's name: Mary Father's birthplace: Virginia Mother's birthplace: Virginia Neighbors: View others on page Occupation: Farmer Marital Status: Married Race: White Gender: Male

Robert E. Walker Home in 1880: Coast Fork, Lane, Oregon Age: 19 Estimated birth year: abt 1861 Birthplace: Oregon Relation to head-of-household: Son Father's name: John L. Father's birthplace: Virginia Mother's name: Mary Mother's birthplace: Virginia Neighbors: View others on page Occupation: Attending School Marital Status: Single Race: White Gender: Male

Martha J. Walker Home in 1880: Coast Fork, Lane, Oregon Age: 16 Estimated birth year: abt 1864 Birthplace: Oregon Relation to head-of-household: Daughter Father's name: John L. Father's birthplace: Virginia Mother's name: Mary Mother's birthplace: Virginia Neighbors: View others on page Occupation: Attending School Marital Status: Single Race: White Gender: Female

John W. Walker Home in 1880: Coast Fork, Lane, Oregon Age: 14 Estimated birth year: abt 1866 Birthplace: Oregon Relation to head-of-household: Son Father's name: John L. Father's birthplace: Virginia Mother's name: Mary Mother's birthplace: Virginia Neighbors: View others on page Occupation: Attending School Marital Status: Single Race: White Gender: Male

Coast Fork, Lane, Oregon Age: 6 Estimated birth year: abt 1874 Birthplace: Oregon Relation to head-of-household: Son Father's name: John L. Father's birthplace: Virginia Mother's name: Mary Mother's birthplace: Virginia Neighbors: View others on page Occupation: Attending School Marital Status: Single Race: White Gender: Male

P. G. Crissman Home in 1880: Coast Fork, Lane, Oregon Age: 38 Estimated birth year: abt 1842 Birthplace: Missouri Relation to head-of-household: Brother-in-law Father's birthplace: Virginia Mother's birthplace: Virginia Neighbors: View others on page Occupation: Cattle Dealer Marital Status: Married Race: White Gender: Male

George Daugherty Home in 1880: Coast Fork, Lane, Oregon Age: 58 Estimated birth year: abt 1822 Birthplace: Delaware Relation to head-of-household: Something other than a direct relationship (Other) Father's birthplace: Ireland Mother's birthplace: Ireland Neighbors: View others on page Occupation: Works On Farm Marital Status: Widower Race: White Gender: Male

Name Age John L. Walker 53 Mary Walker 41 Robert E. Walker 19 Martha J. Walker 16 John W. Walker 14 George Walker 6 P. G. Crissman 38 George Daugherty 58 S. E. Mc Clure 18

S. E. Mc Clure Home in 1880: Coast Fork, Lane, Oregon Age: 18 Estimated birth year: abt 1862 Birthplace: Oregon Relation to head-of-household: Something other than a direct relationship (Other) Father's birthplace: Indiana Mother's birthplace: Tennessee Neighbors: View others on page Occupation: School Teacher Marital Status: Single Race: White Gender: Male Cannot read/write:

Name Age John L. Walker 53 Mary Walker 41 Robert E. Walker 19 Martha J. Walker 16 John W. Walker 14 George Walker 6 P. G. Crissman 38 George Daugherty 58 S. E. Mc Clure 18

William Joel Pengra Birth: dd mm 1857 - city, Lane, Oregon Death: date - city, Lane, Oregon Spouse: name surname

Stella Maria Pengra Birth: dd mm 1850 - Winnebago, Illinois, USA Death: date

Public Member Tree

Unsourced

Avery Wert Pengra Birth: dd mm 1852 - Winnebago, Illinois, USA Death: date

Ella Velina Pengra Birth: dd mm 1855 - city, Oregon, USA Death: date - city, Oregon

George Bynon Pengra Birth: dd mm 1857 - city, Oregon, USA Death: date - city, Lane, Oregon

Public Member Tree

Unsourced

Emma Belle Pengra Birth: dd mm 1860 - Lane, Oregon, USA Death: date

Anna Fidelia Pengra Birth: dd mm 1862 - city, Lane, Oregon Death: date - city, Alameda, California Spouse: name surname

Bynon John Pengra Birth: dd mm 1823 - New York Death: date - city, Oregon Spouse: name surname

Billie Pengra Birth: dd mm 1856 Spouse: name surname