Briscoe, James J.

James J. Briscoe, the fourth son of R. W. Briscoe, was born in Fresno County, California, on March 4, 1885. He was raised in the region, where he attended the Malaga grammar school and later completed his education at Heald’s Business College in Fresno. From a young age, he developed practical agricultural skills by driving horses and operating farm machinery, eventually mastering the use of tractors and trucks for local farming operations. When the United States entered the World War, he was drafted into military service and strategically assigned to the truck service due to his mechanical expertise.

Following two months of training at Camp Lewis, Briscoe sailed overseas with the Ninety-first Division in July 1918 to serve in France and Belgium. He participated in the Argonne Woods campaign and was stationed in Belgium when the armistice was signed, ultimately earning an honorable discharge at the Presidio in May 1919. Upon returning home, he immediately resumed his agricultural pursuits and expanded his landholdings within the De Wolf district alongside his brothers. Specializing in the cultivation of raisin and wine grapes, he utilized modern equipment like tractors and a G. M. C. two-ton truck to manage his extensive vineyards.