Norton
10/16/1841 – 3/21/1924
The first doctor in Norton was a woman by the name of Dr. Phoebe Amelia Oliver Briggs. It is interesting to learn how she happened to come out this far west at such an early time. She was born at Rockford Illinois, Oct. 16, 1841. A little over a 100 years ago, she was in Rogersville, Steuben County, N . Y., acquiring an education in a leisurely manner. At the age of 15 she was teaching school. She taught a few years and in 1862 was the only graduate of the Rogersville Union Seminary. Here she taught classes and later became principal. However she aspired to a higher education and went to Philadelphia where she became an apprentice to a pharmacist, the husband of an aunt. This proved to be a beginning for her in pursuing a course in medicine, which she began in 1867 in a New York Infirmary for women and children.
The odds can be realized when it is known that this pioneer doctor was a member of the class of 39 women who were so disgracefully received at the Pennsylvania Hospital on Nov.6, 1869. This was the time when men were in medical schools, and the women who were strong enough to brave their displeasures were harassed and roundly stoned. Dr. Oliver graduated in March 1870
A year later she accepted an appointment by the Quakers of Philadelphia to be a doctor to the Otoe and Missouri Tribe of Indians. The Quakers sent her to the eastern boundary line between Kansas and Nebraska.
This was a blow to her family. One member wrote her that he didn’t think much of the “Indian Deal” cooked up by her and her aunt, but supposed he would have to accept it. The Otoe Indians too accepted her as the Medicine Woman. Dr. Oliver was tireless in her care of them. She was the only white woman among eight white men and 800 Indians. She thought little of riding horseback for 50 miles to doctor them, then stayed for days to act as a nurse. From her diary-May 29,1871 left Philadelphia, with Aunt Seraph for Kansas.
The second blow to her family was when Phoebe married an Indian trader, John Story Briggs. He was one of the eight men at the post. Many Steuben County people have seen their wedding certificate, a large framed handwritten document of white leather signed by the witnesses and the guests. The guests were Indian Chiefs whose signatures were an X with their names written in. The Quakers at that time, considered a marriage legal if the ceremony was witnessed by a certain number of people, therefore the Indians. This occurred April 30, 1872. (date from Lockard’s History)
Mr. and Mrs. Briggs started out on a unique honeymoon, a two month buffalo hunt with the Otoe Indians; Mr. Briggs traded in buffalo hides. The Briggs and Otoes were in southwestern Nebraska at the time of the Great Indian Massacre. Dr. Briggs and husband were spared as she was the Medicine Woman. Her fame grew so among the Sioux that she was invited to one of the tribal feasts, and presented a ring by the Sioux War Chief. Later she was taken prisoner by a band of Indians but was freed again on recognition as the “Medicine Woman.”
Her stamina and fearlessness stood her in good stead, as she was out in all kinds of weather, over all sorts of roads or none at all. Collecting whenever she could, or nothing at all.
It was happenstance that they came to Norton in late 1872, and in January of 1873 they were through Norton and decided to settle here. In the spring Mr. Briggs bought the only store here from the Newell Bros. and Mrs. Briggs commenced practicing medicine at once. Her first case was W.R. Case who was sick at Mott Wood’s dugout.
In 1879 Briggs built a residence in Norton. They had one child, Clara Ray. They moved to Troy , Kansas in 1884. Lockard’s book gives date of birth of the child as Sept. 19, 1881, born at Philadelphia. She died of diphtheria croup Oct. 30, 1889 at Troy Kansas. During her lifetime she was the controlling force with John Briggs: he was devoted to her and would not suffer her to be out of his sight if he could prevent it; and when she died his mind which had been affected for some time, completely left him. He died at his home in Troy November 23, 1890. The Norton Courier has obit copied from Troy Chief- His mother and a brother, of Troy, survive him.
After the death of her child and husband Dr. Briggs disposed of her varied interests and returned to her home in Rogersville, N.Y. here she lived till her death in 1924. She left her home as a Chapter House for the Corporal Josiah Griswold Chapter of the Daughters of the Revolution.. Dr. Briggs founded the Chapter in her home in 1911.
The Norton Courier dated Dec. 19, 1907 has this article—Mrs. P.A.O. Briggs has changed her address from Troy, Kansas to South Danville, N.Y.
From pamphlet done by Lydia Bishop, researcher for Genealogical Society, and Charles Oliver, a nephew, who was visiting in Norton in 1983 Also Lockard’s History of Norton County.
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The Kansas Chief, Troy Kansas, March 27, 1924
Dr. Phoebe Briggs a former residence of Troy is dead.—Miss Margaret Schletzbnum and Miss Sallie Vanbuskirk received cards from Charles Oliver of Dansville, N. Y. yesterday stating that she was dead. The Card read-Dr. Phoebe A. O. Briggs passed away March 21st at a hospital in Dansville, N.Y. following an operation.”
Several years ago Dr. Briggs moved back to her home at Dansville, every summer she would come west and live in her home at Troy. She was back here last summer, Charles Oliver, her nephew accompanied her here on this trip. She seemed in fairly good health at that time and before she left, she purchased a car and motored back to New York.
Dr. Briggs was a brilliant well educated woman. She had traveled to nearly all parts of the globe. She was a member of the Eastern Star and of the Daughter of the Revolution. Dr. Briggs at the time of her death was eight-six years old.