John Reading Briggs Jr., (c.1822 – December 3, 1872) was an American newspaper publisher, politician, and pioneer of Wisconsin and Iowa.
He was described as a personal friend of Abraham Lincoln, and was employed as stationery clerk for the United States House of Representatives for the last decade of his life.
After five years of apprenticeship, he was employed by Henry L. Dawes as editor of the North Adams, Massachusetts, Transcript newspaper.
[2] Later that year, Briggs moved to Keokuk, Iowa, where he became part owner of the Daily Whig newspaper.
While working on the paper, Briggs became friendly with Abraham Lincoln, who was then becoming a leading voice in the new Republican Party.
[6] Emily Briggs assisted her husband with his newspaper, and then became famous as a correspondent for The Philadelphia Press, using the pen-name "Olivia".