1852 First Marriage:2932 John W. Wagner married Nancy Jane Soesbe on 12 October 1852 in Jones County, Iowa.

1862 Death of First Husband:2928 Wesley Waggoner died 23 April 1862, leaving Nancy a widow with four children: Hilton, Alice, Albert, and Angie.

1864 Second Marriage:2933 Benjamin Harrison married Nancy Waggoner on 23 October 1864 in Jones County, Iowa.

1876 Death of Second Husband:2934 Benjamin Harrison, 25 July 1876, Center Cemetery, Rome, Jones County, Iowa.

1879 Third Marriage:2929 W. P. Briggs married Nancy Harrison on 3 July 1879 in Jones County, Iowa.

1880 U.S. Census:2922
Jones County, Iowa (Fairview Township)
Enumerated 10 June 1880
William P. Briggs •• white, male, 49, married, farmer, born in Ohio, father born in Massachusetts, mother born in Vermont
Nancy •• white, female, 47, wife, married, keeping house, born in Indiana, father born in Kentucky, mother born in Kentucky
Arthur •• white, male, 16, son, single at home, born in Iowa, father born in Ohio, mother born in Indiana << son of William P. and first wife Margaret Clancey
(Ernest) Harrison •• white, male, 14, son, single, at school, attended school within the year, born in Iowa, father born in Ohio, mother born in Indiana << son of Nancy and second husband Benjamin Harrison
Letta L. •• white, female, 12, daughter, single, at school, attended school within the year, born in Iowa, father born in Ohio, mother born in Indiana << son of William P. and first wife Margaret Clancey
Albert •• white, male, 9, son, single, at school, attended school within the year, born in Iowa, father born in Ohio, mother born in Indiana << son of William P. and first wife Margaret Clancey
Edith •• white, female, 7, daughter, single, at school, attended school within the year, born in Iowa, father born in Ohio, mother born in Indiana << daughter of Nancy and second husband Benjamin Harrison

1884 Divorce:2923 During the May term 1884, Nancy Soesbe Waggoner Harrison Briggs was granted a divorce from W. P. Briggs, whom she married on 3 July 1879. The twists and turns of these divorce proceedings are recorded on 19th Century Divorce on the Jones County, Iowa USGenWeb site.

1885 Iowa State Census:2936
Jones County, Iowa (Fairview Township)
Nancy Briggs •• age 37(?), female, divorced, keeping house, born in Indiana
Earnest Harrison •• 19, male, single, farmer, born in Jones County
Edith Harrison •• 12, female, born in Jones County

1904 Obituary:2928 Nancy Jane Soesbe. 3 May 1833-5 February 1904. Nancy J. Soesbe was born in Vigo county, Indiana, May 3d, 1833. At the age of nine years she moved with her parents to Iowa. She lived near Mechanicsville until she was eighteen years of age, afterwards moving on a farm near Fairview. She taught the third term of school that was ever taught in the log school house between Fairview and Anamosa.

She was converted early in life but did not join any church until 1870, then uniting with the Baptist church at Fairview. She remained a member of this church till 1893 when she became a member of the Baptist church of Anamosa.

In the year 1853 she was united in marriage to Wesley Waggoner. To this union were born four children--Hilton, of Kansas City; Alice Byerly, of Onslow; Albert Waggoner, of Anamosa; and Angie Sherman of Anamosa. Mr. Waggoner died April 23d, 1862, leaving her a widow with four helpless children in time of the war. She worked and struggled to maintain her children and educated and kept them all together.

In October, 1865, she was married to Benjamin Harrison. To this union were born two children--Ernest W. Harrison, of Anamosa, and Edith Sigmund of Anamosa. Mr. Harrison died July 23d, 1876, on a farm 2 1/2 miles south of Anamosa. She remained at that place until her children were grown, moving to Anamosa in the spring of 1893. She departed this life Feb. 5th, 1904, at the home of her son Ernest Harrison. If she had lived until the 3d of May she would have been 71 years of age. She was a faithful Christian, never failing to attend church when she was able to do so, but her failing health has prevented her from being an active member for a number of years.

As a mother she was most devoted, always thinking of her children and looking out for their welfare. Her children were all at her bedside and all that they could do toward her comfort was done. She was the oldest child of nine children of William and Angelina Soesbe, all of whom have departed this life but one sister, of Bloomer, Wisconsin, and one brother, E. W. Soesbe, of Greene, Butler County.

1904 Tombstone:2930 Riverside Cemetery, Fairview Township, Jones County, Iowa.
Nancy J. Harrison
5-3-1833
2-5-1904