JESSE P. BRISCOE. The time has never been that the prescription drug gist was not of as great importance to a community as the physician. Indeed it would be difficult to name a branch of business that is more indispensably important than that devoted to the sale and importation of drugs and the preparation of prescriptions. Neither is there any line of business demanding more ability and scientific knowledge. One of the eminent prescription druggists of Harrison, Arkansas, is Jesse P. Briscoe, who is a gentleman of bright talent and enterprise. He was born in Benton County, Arkansas, May 15, 1856, the fifth of twelve children born to James and Martha (King) Briscoe, the former of whom was born in Tennessee, and with his father, John Briscoe, became a resident of Springfield, Greene County, Missouri, the latter’s death occurring in that county. James Briscoe attained manhood in Greene County, and when still young removed to Berry County, Missouri, and later to Benton County, Arkansas, being a resident of the latter place when the war came up. In 1864 he returned to Berry County, Missouri, and was there living at the time of his death, which occurred in 1886, when sixty years of age. His wife, who was a native of Tennessee, died in 1879, a daughter of Jesse King. She bore her husband the following children: Jane who is living in Berry County, John, Bert, Mary, Martha, Vesta, Henry, Sally and Jesse P., all of whom live in Berry County, Missouri, but the last mentioned, and three children who are dead.
The common schools of Berry County, Missouri, afforded Jesse P. Briscoe a fair English education, and after leaving school he was engaged in farming for some time. He then located in Exeter, Missouri, and opened a drug store in partnership with a Mr. Good, but later purchased the latter’s interest in the business, and for six subsequent years successfully conducted the enterprise alone. In 889. he came to Harrison, Arkansas, and established his present well-appointed drug store, which has held a high place in popular favor ever since. He was for some time associated in this business with a Mr. Hammell, but for the last two or three years has been in business alone. In a business way he has been successful and is the owner of some good real estate in Harrison, including the pleasant home, in which he lives. He took up the study of pharmacy many years ago, was registered in 1888, and in this branch of human endeavor is experienced and reliable. He has always been a strong worker for the Democrat party, and socially is a member of the I. O. O. F. of Barry County, Missouri He was married in Virginia to Miss Dora E. Leckie, a native of Springfield, Missouri, by whom he has three children: Marie, Leckie and Eileen.