Ansel Briggs

Political life When Briggs came to Iowa, he had decided to be recognized as a Democrat politically. Because his business caused him to travel to many parts of the Iowa Territory, Briggs became well known. This plus his readiness to be involved in public affairs made it easy for him to be chosen as a member of the Fifth Territorial Assembly from Jackson County in 1842. He served on the Committee on Enrolled Bills and chaired the Committee on Territorial Affairs. Briggs continued to be a representative until 1846. Briggs's campaign was centered on the promise of no outside businesses, including banks, having influence in his administration. He had once made a toast at a political banquet, "No banks but earth, and they well tilled". This became his gubernatorial campaign slogan. The Democratic convention was held in Iowa City on September 24, 1846. The vote for Democratic candidacy for governor resulted in Briggs getting sixty-two votes, Jesse Williams receiving thirty-two, and William Thompson, thirty-one. Williams and Thompson withdrew and Briggs was chosen by acclamation. The election for Iowa's first governor was held on October 28, 1846, with Briggs winning with 7,626 votes over his opponent Thomas McKnight, a Dubuque lawyer running on a Whig ticket, who received 7,379 votes. True to his campaign promise of no outsider influence, he sold his contracts with the Post Office Department and his administration was praised as, "one void of any special interest . . .exhibited an independence of principle, characteristic of his nature". When his term ended in 1850, Briggs retired from state politics.

Although he was originally buried in Omaha, he was re-interred in 1909 in the Andrew Cemetery in Andrew, Iowa.

Legacy Born in Vermont, Ansel Briggs through his life lived in the states of Ohio, Iowa, Nebraska, Colorado, and Montana joining the western march to settle and develop new lands. He farmed with his father, was a stagecoach driver, became engaged in mining and land developing. Briggs early realized importance of public service and held different public offices, from sheriff to a member of the Iowa Territorial House of Representatives eventually becoming the first Governor of Iowa. As a public servant, he earned "a reputation for dedication, frugality, and honesty." While Governor of Iowa, he oversaw the formation of the government bodies of Iowa, the state's school system, and diplomatically avoided an armed border dispute with the state of Missouri. Content with his accomplishments as governor, he declined running for a second term and returned to his business interests.