Clare A. Briggs was born in Reedsburg on 5 August 1875 to Mr. and Mrs. William Pardee Briggs and lived there into his early teens. He became one of the nation's best known cartoonists, often using local scenes and names in his popular series “When a Feller Needs a Friend,” "The Old Swimming Hole," and "Skin-nay." His cartoons appeared in newspapers throughout the country. He died on 3 January 1930 in New York City.