History of Adams, (Berkshire County) Massachusetts United States of America

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Biographies:

George Nixon Briggs, governor of Massachusetts, was born at Adams, Mass., April 13, 1796. His father was a soldier under Stark at Bennington, and when the son was seven years of age, he removed to Vermont. Later the family went to White Creek, Washington county, N.Y., where George learned the hatter's trade. Returning to his native place he studied law, and in 1818 was admitted to the Berkshire bar, where he won especial renown as a criminal lawyer. In 1824 he was chosen registrar of deeds for Berkshire county, and held the office seven years. He was elected a Whig representative to the 22d Congress and was five times re-elected, serving from Dec. 5, 1831, to March 3, 1843. In the latter year he was chosen governor of Massachusetts, and remained in office by successive re-elections front 1843 to 1851, when he was made judge of the court of common pleas, remaining in this position until 1856. He was also a member of the Massachusetts constitutional convention, 1853. In 186l he was appointed a commissioner to adjust differences between the United States and New Granada. He held many positions of trust, and was universally respected by the people of the state. For sixteen years he was a trustee of Williams college, and he declined the chancellorship of Madison university. Governor Briggs was a prominent advocate of total abstinence. He was one of the foremost laymen in the Baptist denomination, holding the presidency of the Missionary union of the American tract society, and of the American temperance union. He was accidentally killed at Pittsfield, Mass., Sept. 12, 1861.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

George Pelton Lawrence, representative, was born in Adams, Mass., May 19, 1859; son of George C. and Jane E. (Pelton) Lawrence, and grandson Of Stephen Lawrence. He was graduated from Drury academy in 1876, and from Amherst college, A.B., 1880. He attended Columbia Law school, New York city, 1880-83, and practised at North Adams, Mass., from 1883. He was judge of the district court of northern Berkshire, 1885-94, and a member of the Massachusetts senate, 1895-97, being president in 1896 and 1897. He was married, June 12, 1889, to Susannah, daughter of Col. John Bracewell, of North Adams, Mass. He was elected a representative in the 55th congress, to fill the term of A. B. Wright, deceased, and was re-elected to the 56th, 57th and 58th congresses, 1897-1905. He received the degree of A.M. from Amherst in 1886, and from Williams college in 1899.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor