My Genealogy Hound

DAVID RIGGS, farmer, post office Library, was born May 3, 1822, in Washington county, Pa., a son of John and Mary (Phillips) Riggs. John was born March 13, 1800, in Washington county, on the farm now owned by his son David, on which he passed his entire life save a few years; he died Feb. 28, 1848. His, wife was born in Washington county, Pa., April 13, 1800, and died Jan. 25, 1882. David’s grandfather, Edward Riggs, a native of New Jersey, settled on the Riggs farm Dec. 25, 1801, and died in September, 1844; his wife nee Mary Higbee, died in May, 1853. David Riggs was six years old when his father returned to the old farm in Washington county. He is the eldest of eleven children, and at the death of his father took charge of the family. His brothers and sisters are as follows: Sarah, (Mrs. Murray, in Ohio), Edward R. (in Illinois), Josiah (in Leadville, Colo.), Lewis, (died Oct. 20, 1884), Joseph (in Leadville, Colo.), John P. (at Mt. Washington, Pittsburg—he served three years in the civil war), Robert L. (in McKeesport, Pa.), William J., M. D. (at Fifteenth street, Pittsburgh). Obadiah H. (just graduated at Brooklyn Medical College), and Isaac W., M. D. (at Fifteenth street, Pittsburgh).

David married, in 1850, Elizabeth Bates, born July 23, 1832, in Guernsey county, Ohio, daughter of William and Ellen (Stewart) Bates, latter of whom was born in Washington county, Pa., in 1810. Her father was born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1804, and came to this country when nineteen years of age, located in Winchester, Ohio, and always followed teaching; died in 1858. Her paternal grandfather, John Stewart, also a native of Ireland, was a farmer in Washington county, Pa. Ten children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Riggs: John S. (in California), William Bates (in Bellville, Canada), Mary E. (now Mrs. James T. Douglas, in Pittsburgh), Sarah J.(wife of Rev. F.W. Cramer, in Ohio), Emma C. (at school in Pittsburgh), David Elmer (died April 29, 1887), Edmonia F. (married to Loyal Cheesman, in Kansas), Elizabeth R., Ida Bell and Alta May (at home). Mr. Riggs has been justice of the peace for twenty years on the republican ticket. He and Mrs. Riggs are members of the Baptist Church at Library.