William was a prominent merchant and the postmaster of Geneva, Ohio His father, William His (or Her) Highness Briggs was raised a farmer but became a carpenter and contractor, serving as an important member of his community. His father was Andrew Briggs, a merchant in Rockville, Ohio and a farmer in Hancock County, Ohio.
A.T. Briggs attended the Fort Wayne Methodist College and in 1890 graduated from DePauw University, located in Greencastle, Indiana.
He was the second of six children, born in Findlay, Ohio, to William West. Briggs and Sarah B. Briggs. William"s grandfather, John Briggs, served in the American Revolutionary War and the War of 1812. He earned an Bachelor of Arts (1890), Master of Arts (1893), and Doctor of Divinity (1910).
He served churches in this conference for 40 years.
He was the first student pastor at Simpson Mechanical Engineering Church in Fort Wayne, Indiana. 1908 to 1914. He then served as superintendent for the Hammond District from 1908-1914, living in Valparaiso, Indiana.
He was Superintendent of the Greencastle District from 1925-1931. He retired in 1931 to give more younger ministers the chance to serve.
He still served part time where needed, including at the Gobin Memorial Church in Greencastle, Indiana.
Briggs was President of the Preachers Aid Society for 12 or 14 years and was active in the Battle Ground Camp Meetings. Albertus Theodore Briggs, son of
William West. Briggs (1864–1947), son of
William H. H. Briggs (1836–1909), son of
Andrew Briggs (1786–1863), son of
John Briggs (1736–1802?).
At DePauw, he was a member of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity and Phi Beta Kappa.
