Individual Details
John Brisco
(7 Jun 1822 - 11 Feb 1904)
On the 1856 Iowa State Census taken 23 July 1856 at Jefferson Township, Alamakee County shows John with his wife Adeline and children Elizabeth, Pryer, Matilda, Lyddia, Jeremiah, Harriet, Emma and Leelen. John is a plow maker.
John Brisco in History of Floyd County, Iowa, Pages 849 - 851: One of the earliest pioneers of Iowa, and one who has seen nothing but frontier life since his early boyhood in Shelby County, Ky., until now, was born of good old Kentucky stock in Shelby County. His parents moved from there to Monroe County, Ind., when he was a small boy. His reminiscences of Indiana or Hoosier pioneer life; of their log cabins without a scrap of iron; their primitive customs as a whole, are very interesting. He lived at home, assisting his father to carry on the farm until his nineteenth year, when he went to work on the river, piloting the old styled flat boat between Louisville, Ky., and New Orleans. It was a life of intense hardship. One of these boats, floating with the stream, took fifteen days or more to do the journey. The boats, when they arrived, were sold for the lumber in them, though some of them have been brought up the stream by means of ropes and horses. In 1843 he married Adeline Head, of Monroe County. Her father emigrated from "New Virginia" when she was but two years of age. Their names were Josiah and Lydia Head. Both died when she was quite young. Mrs. Brisco is a grand example of what our early pioneer women were, having endured privations and hardships with her husband, working in the field as in the house, being a "better shot" with the frontiersman's rifle than the majority of them themselves, and lastly having raised a family of fourteen children, the greater portion living today to bless the mother and father from whom they have inherited sound constitutions and pure blood. Mr. Brisco, today is healthy and vigorous. Upon Mr. Brisco's marriage they moved to Kosciusko County in the fall of 1847, and from there moved to Allamakee, living there until 1861, when he moved to Riverton. In Allamakee County he moved to Rossville, where he bought 200 acres - two besides himself living in that section at that time, and laid out the town, now Rossville. He carried on the farm for three years, then moved to town and went into the manufacturing of plows and blacksmithing with David Skinner, and remained in the company seven years, when he sold out and formed a partnership with Mr. Ross and built a steam grist mill, which he ran about one year, returning to the farm. During the time he ran the manufacturing of plows he went into and established a shop at Oronoko, on Zumbro River, running it one year and sold out. During this time he also made two trips to Pike's Peak, it being the time of the gold fever, crossing the plains four times with an ox team; the first time there was a company of sixty men and thirty wagons; the second time twenty-seven men, one woman and sixteen wagons. During the last trip they made a halt at Denver, the Indians being on the war path. At the time of their settlement in Iowa, bears and game were abundant. Mrs. Brisco has seen five bears at one time. The pigs had to be kept in the house; and being afraid they would molest the children, Mrs. Brisco learned to use the rifle. Some of her shots rival the stories of the frontier marksman. Her husband once wagered a pair of pants against a new dress that she could not kill over four or five partridges or wood pheasants at a shot; but her scoring thirty-one birds with every shot won the dress. Few women in the history of frontier life have equaled this. Squirrels and wild turkey were doomed if she could see as much as their heads. She has killed two deer. In 1870 he bought a farm of ninety acres in Pleasant Grove and lived there four years; then sold it and bought the one of 160 acres, where he now resides. Their children are - Prier L., Lydia M. and Elizabeth Jane, born in Monroe County, Ind.; Jeremiah and Harriet M., born in Kosciusko County, Ind.; Matilda I. (the first child born in the county), John L. (died when three years old), Emmie L. (Died in infancy), Josiah, Clementine, and Robinson M., born in Allamakee County, Ia; Charles C., Francis U. and Walter M. born in Riverton, Floyd County.
On the 1860 U. S. Census of Franklin, Allamakee Co., Iowa, Adaline Briscoe appears as head of household with her children Pryor S., Eliza M., Elizabeth, Jeremiah, Harriet, Josiah, Clementine, and Matilda. Listed last in the household is Jeremiah Brisco age 13 born in Kentucky and Elizabeth Brisco age 10 born in Kentucky. These may be a niece and nephew.
On the 1870 U. S. Census of Riverton Township, Floyd Co., Iowa, John Brisco, appears with his wife Adaline and children Josiah, Clementine, Robertson M., Charles A., Francis E., and Walter. John is a farmer.
On the 1880 U. S. Census of Pleasant Grove, Floyd Co., Iowa, John Brisco appears with his wife Adaline and children: Josiah, Clementine, Robinson, Charles A., Francis, and Walter. Granddaughter Emma Felcher age 15 is also in the household. John's occupation is farmer.
On the 1900 U. S. Census of Avery Township,Goodell Town, Hancock Co., Iowa, John and Adaline appear alone. They have been married 57 years.
Obituary of John Briscoe from The Iowa Recorder, Wednesday, February 17, 1904. John Briscoe was born in Shelby county, Kentucky, January 7th, 1822, and died at Goodell, Iowa February 11th 1903.[misprint]. He was married to Adeline Head in 1843. They moved to Allamakee county, Iowa in 1861 and to Pleasant Grove township, Floyd county, in 1870. Fourteen children were born to them. Those left to mourn the deceased are his wife, Adeline, and eleven children: Pryor L., Elizabeth J., Jeremiah, Harriet M., Matilda I., Josiah, Clementine, Robison M., Charles C., Francis U. and Walter. Mr. Briscoe united with the Methodist church in 1872, remaining faithful till death. He was a pioneer, coming to this state in an early day and enduring the hardships of a pioneer life. he was universally respected by his large circle of acquaintances and neighbors. Those best acquainted with him speak in highest terms of his integrity, neighborliness and piety. He not only leaves a large number of relatives, but also a large circle of acquaintances to mourn his death. The funeral services were conducted at his home in Goodell, where he had resided for the last twelve years, and the body interred in the cemetery at Pleasant Grove Sunday morning, February 14th.
Photo of gravestone at Find-A-Grave.com shows last name without the e: Brisco.
John Brisco in History of Floyd County, Iowa, Pages 849 - 851: One of the earliest pioneers of Iowa, and one who has seen nothing but frontier life since his early boyhood in Shelby County, Ky., until now, was born of good old Kentucky stock in Shelby County. His parents moved from there to Monroe County, Ind., when he was a small boy. His reminiscences of Indiana or Hoosier pioneer life; of their log cabins without a scrap of iron; their primitive customs as a whole, are very interesting. He lived at home, assisting his father to carry on the farm until his nineteenth year, when he went to work on the river, piloting the old styled flat boat between Louisville, Ky., and New Orleans. It was a life of intense hardship. One of these boats, floating with the stream, took fifteen days or more to do the journey. The boats, when they arrived, were sold for the lumber in them, though some of them have been brought up the stream by means of ropes and horses. In 1843 he married Adeline Head, of Monroe County. Her father emigrated from "New Virginia" when she was but two years of age. Their names were Josiah and Lydia Head. Both died when she was quite young. Mrs. Brisco is a grand example of what our early pioneer women were, having endured privations and hardships with her husband, working in the field as in the house, being a "better shot" with the frontiersman's rifle than the majority of them themselves, and lastly having raised a family of fourteen children, the greater portion living today to bless the mother and father from whom they have inherited sound constitutions and pure blood. Mr. Brisco, today is healthy and vigorous. Upon Mr. Brisco's marriage they moved to Kosciusko County in the fall of 1847, and from there moved to Allamakee, living there until 1861, when he moved to Riverton. In Allamakee County he moved to Rossville, where he bought 200 acres - two besides himself living in that section at that time, and laid out the town, now Rossville. He carried on the farm for three years, then moved to town and went into the manufacturing of plows and blacksmithing with David Skinner, and remained in the company seven years, when he sold out and formed a partnership with Mr. Ross and built a steam grist mill, which he ran about one year, returning to the farm. During the time he ran the manufacturing of plows he went into and established a shop at Oronoko, on Zumbro River, running it one year and sold out. During this time he also made two trips to Pike's Peak, it being the time of the gold fever, crossing the plains four times with an ox team; the first time there was a company of sixty men and thirty wagons; the second time twenty-seven men, one woman and sixteen wagons. During the last trip they made a halt at Denver, the Indians being on the war path. At the time of their settlement in Iowa, bears and game were abundant. Mrs. Brisco has seen five bears at one time. The pigs had to be kept in the house; and being afraid they would molest the children, Mrs. Brisco learned to use the rifle. Some of her shots rival the stories of the frontier marksman. Her husband once wagered a pair of pants against a new dress that she could not kill over four or five partridges or wood pheasants at a shot; but her scoring thirty-one birds with every shot won the dress. Few women in the history of frontier life have equaled this. Squirrels and wild turkey were doomed if she could see as much as their heads. She has killed two deer. In 1870 he bought a farm of ninety acres in Pleasant Grove and lived there four years; then sold it and bought the one of 160 acres, where he now resides. Their children are - Prier L., Lydia M. and Elizabeth Jane, born in Monroe County, Ind.; Jeremiah and Harriet M., born in Kosciusko County, Ind.; Matilda I. (the first child born in the county), John L. (died when three years old), Emmie L. (Died in infancy), Josiah, Clementine, and Robinson M., born in Allamakee County, Ia; Charles C., Francis U. and Walter M. born in Riverton, Floyd County.
On the 1860 U. S. Census of Franklin, Allamakee Co., Iowa, Adaline Briscoe appears as head of household with her children Pryor S., Eliza M., Elizabeth, Jeremiah, Harriet, Josiah, Clementine, and Matilda. Listed last in the household is Jeremiah Brisco age 13 born in Kentucky and Elizabeth Brisco age 10 born in Kentucky. These may be a niece and nephew.
On the 1870 U. S. Census of Riverton Township, Floyd Co., Iowa, John Brisco, appears with his wife Adaline and children Josiah, Clementine, Robertson M., Charles A., Francis E., and Walter. John is a farmer.
On the 1880 U. S. Census of Pleasant Grove, Floyd Co., Iowa, John Brisco appears with his wife Adaline and children: Josiah, Clementine, Robinson, Charles A., Francis, and Walter. Granddaughter Emma Felcher age 15 is also in the household. John's occupation is farmer.
On the 1900 U. S. Census of Avery Township,Goodell Town, Hancock Co., Iowa, John and Adaline appear alone. They have been married 57 years.
Obituary of John Briscoe from The Iowa Recorder, Wednesday, February 17, 1904. John Briscoe was born in Shelby county, Kentucky, January 7th, 1822, and died at Goodell, Iowa February 11th 1903.[misprint]. He was married to Adeline Head in 1843. They moved to Allamakee county, Iowa in 1861 and to Pleasant Grove township, Floyd county, in 1870. Fourteen children were born to them. Those left to mourn the deceased are his wife, Adeline, and eleven children: Pryor L., Elizabeth J., Jeremiah, Harriet M., Matilda I., Josiah, Clementine, Robison M., Charles C., Francis U. and Walter. Mr. Briscoe united with the Methodist church in 1872, remaining faithful till death. He was a pioneer, coming to this state in an early day and enduring the hardships of a pioneer life. he was universally respected by his large circle of acquaintances and neighbors. Those best acquainted with him speak in highest terms of his integrity, neighborliness and piety. He not only leaves a large number of relatives, but also a large circle of acquaintances to mourn his death. The funeral services were conducted at his home in Goodell, where he had resided for the last twelve years, and the body interred in the cemetery at Pleasant Grove Sunday morning, February 14th.
Photo of gravestone at Find-A-Grave.com shows last name without the e: Brisco.
Events
| Birth | 7 Jun 1822 | Shelby Co., Kentucky |  | ||
| Marriage | 21 Sep 1843 | Monroe Co., Indiana - Adaline Head | | ||
| Death | 11 Feb 1904 | Goodell, Hancock Co., Iowa | | ||
| Burial | Pleasant Grove Cemetery, Floyd Co., Iowa | |
Families
| Spouse | Adaline Head (1827 - 1906) |
| Child | Prier S. Briscoe (1844 - 1904) |
| Child | Elizabeth Jane Briscoe (1847 - 1907) |
| Child | Jeremiah Briscoe (1849 - ) |
| Child | Harriett M. Briscoe (1849 - 1904) |
| Child | Josiah "Joseph" Brisco (1852 - 1933) |
| Child | John Leelen Briscoe (1854 - 1857) |
| Child | Emma L. Briscoe (1856 - 1857) |
| Child | Clementine Briscoe (1858 - 1941) |
| Child | Matilda M. Briscoe (1859 - 1904) |
| Child | Robinson Mills Briscoe (1861 - 1920) |
| Child | Charles A. Brisco (1864 - 1924) |
| Child | Francis "Frank" E. Briscoe (1866 - 1942) |
| Child | Walter M. Brisco (1867 - 1904) |
| Father | Jeremiah Briscoe (1797 - 1880) |
| Mother | Elizabeth Farmer (1802 - 1871) |
| Sibling | Jeremiah Briscoe Jr. (1820 - ) |
| Sibling | Louisa Briscoe (1820 - 1822) |
| Sibling | Eleanor Briscoe (1821 - 1860) |
| Sibling | Benjamin Harrison Briscoe (1824 - ) |
| Sibling | Warrick Briscoe (1826 - ) |
| Sibling | Sarah Ann Briscoe (1827 - 1889) |
| Sibling | Robertson Mills Briscoe (1830 - 1919) |
| Sibling | Samuel M. Briscoe (1831 - 1863) |
| Sibling | Mary Ann Briscoe (1834 - 1914) |
| Sibling | Elias H. Briscoe (1835 - 1905) |
| Sibling | Elizabeth Briscoe (1838 - 1903) |
| Sibling | William Henry Briscoe (1842 - 1920) |
| Sibling | Hezekiah Briscoe (1845 - 1862) |
| Sibling | Thomas Jefferson Briscoe (1846 - 1908) |
| Sibling | Cathrine B. Briscoe (1847 - 1930) |
Endnotes
1. Abigail Farris & James Clason By Fay Morehouse Medhaug, April 1987, Page 203.
2. Find A Grave.
3. Abigail Farris & James Clason By Fay Morehouse Medhaug, April 1987, Page 203.
4. The Iowa Recorder, Obituary of John Briscoe (n.p: Wednesday, February 17, 1904, n.d).
5. The Iowa Recorder, Obituary of John Briscoe (n.p: Wednesday, February 17, 1904, n.d).