| 737 believe if Bro. Deam had attended the Amboy conference in 1860, he would have been solid in the work. When Bro. Deam left earth's service, the saints and church parted with a good, a wise, and discreet counselor, and an honest man. He was no fanatic, but a cool, clear-headed, intelligent Latter Day Saint. May his memory ever be cherished by all the good and pure."
In a poem of over one hundred lines, written by him, after his withdrawal, is found some expressions showing his belief in lineal succession. One place is found these words-
"But in the law we are told,
Joseph must the word uphold."
A number of other sentences are found of like import.
JASON W. BRIGGS.
J. W. Briggs, who was one of the first seven apostles chosen in the Reorganization, was born June 25, 1821, at Pompey, Onondaga County, New York. Of his early life we have very little information. He united with the church June 6, 1841, at Potosi, Grant County, Wisconsin, being baptized by Elder William O. Clark. He was subsequently, in 1842, ordained an elder, and served the church as such during the remainder of the time until the death of Joseph Smith.
His home was at Beloit, Wisconsin, from 1842 until 1854, though absent from there at intervals in missionary and other church work. In this time, he raised up the Waukesha branch which was organized in 1842 or 1843. Partly through his efforts there was a branch of the church raised up at Beloit, either in 1842 or 1843, over which he presided.
He visited Nauvoo in 1843, but again returned to Wisconsin. He, with the branch at Beloit, fellowshiped with the organization under Brigham Young until 1845 or 1846, when as an organization they renounced the leadership of Brigham Young and accepted that of James J. Strang, and remained in fellowship with Strang until the first part of the year 1850. While associated with Strang he was in the active ministry much of the time.
On September 16, 1849, he, with Elder B. G. Wright,
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