Briggs, Caleb
physician, geologist, was born May 24, 1812, in North Rochester, Mass. He was educated as a physician, but devoted himself to the study of geology and its allied sciences, and was engaged in the first survey of the coal and iron regions of Ohio. He entered upon the work in June, 1837, explored Scioto, Lawrence, Gallia, Athens, Jackson, Hocking, and afterward Wood, Crawford, and Tuscarawas counties, and, after the survey terminated in 1839, was employed in surveying the western counties of Virginia. He then settled at Ironton, Ohio, where he engaged in mining and gave $25,000 to found a public library. He died Sept. 28, 1884, in North Rochester, Mass.