John Shannon Briggs, the only surviving member of the once large family of Ansel Briggs, Iowa's first governor, died at his home in Omaha, Thursday at 12:15 p.m., aged 61 years. He leaves two grown sons, John S., Jr., and Ansel, and one daughter, Mrs. Alex D. Robertson (Iowa's granddaughter) of Washta, Iowa.

Mr. Briggs was one of the pioneers in the newspaper world of Council Bluffs. As a printer, he worked on the council Bluffs Bugle with the late Colonel Babbitt and D.W. Carpenter and was also associated with the late W.W. Maynard. He was identified with the Omaha Herald as printer, foreman, superintendent and business manager, and later was for seven years the government printer for the Department of the Platte.

In 1884 he went to Idaho for two years when he in company with Judge Cawford edited the Idaho Herald at Soda Srings. Returning to Omaha the later part of 1885 he in copartnership with Captain Barney edited and published the Grand Army Index.