Person:Ephraim Briggs (4)

Name^[3]	Ephraim Brice Briggs
Alt Name^[2]	Brice Briggs
Gender	Male
Birth^[1]^[3]	3 Jan 1840	Huron, Ohio, United StatesThe name "Ephraim" was the name of his maternal grandfather. The name "Brice" was the name of one of his father's brothers (Ephraim's uncle).
Census^[1]	23 Sep 1850	Greenwich (township), Huron, Ohio, United StatesEphraim Briggs, 10
Military`^?`	6 Sep 1861	Reading, Hillsdale, Michigan, United StatesEnlisted Union forces
Military`^?`	2 Oct 1861	Michigan, United StatesHe was assigned to Company G, 2nd Michigan Cavalry. He served in the Union Forces for 3 years, 1 month, and 17 days. The 2nd Michigan Cavalry, according to the official regimental history, was engaged in 59 battles over 7 different states.
Military`^?`	22 Oct 1864	Nashville, Davidson, Tennessee, United StatesDischarge, rank of Private, with notation of Distinguished Service.
Marriage	30 Jul 1865	Coldwater, Branch, Michigan, United Statesto Susan Hughes
Census^[4]	1880	Gainesville, Cooke, Texas, United StatesWard 2, single male, working in local brick yard.
Marriage	9 Jul 1881	Cooke, Texas, United Statesto Sabina Gertrude Hunter
Census^[5]	1900	Gainesville, Cooke, Texas, United StatesPrecinct #2, Head of Household
Census^[6]	1910	Cooke, Texas, United StatesLiving in son Roy Briggs household.
Death^[3]	13 Sep 1915	Dexter, Cooke, Texas, United States
Burial^[3]^[7]		Dexter, Cooke, Texas, United StatesDexter North Cemetery

Ephraim may not have told his children that, as a young man, he had been previously married. As a 21-year-old young man in Hillsdale County, Michigan, Ephraim enlisted for the Union forces in the autumn of 1861 and left for war. His was discharged in the autumn of 1864, three years later, with a commendation for Distinguished Service. The following July, at the age of 24, he married 20-year-old Susan Hughes of Hillsdale County, Michigan.

Their first child was born 6 Jun 1868 and died the following day. Then Susan died of measles only nine days thereafter. Susan's 7-year-old brother, also listed as living in the Briggs household, died on 11 Jul 1868.

However, the story coming through the family (sons and grandsons) is that Ephraim had been disturbed by his experiences in the War, and had spent many years "wandering around the country" before settling in Gainesville, Texas, and eventually, at the age of 41, marrying the 22-year-old doctor's daughter. The family did know that Ephraim was from Michigan, that he had fought in the Civil War, and that many years of his life were spent wandering around the country.

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