My Genealogy Hound

JOHN EDWIN RIGG, physician, Wilkinsburg, was born in Washington county, Pa., October 13, 1855. His father, Newton Rigg, was born and reared in Washington county, where he engaged in farming, and died in 1879, aged sixty-eight years. He was a very active supporter of the government during the civil war. He was twice married, and had three children by his first wife. His second wife, mother of Dr. Rigg, was Margaret Jennings, nee Winnett, and also had three children by her first husband. She now resides in Washington county. They had two sons and two daughters: Ella, John E., Laura and Mark Allison. The last named is a Methodist Episcopal clergyman, now in Jamestown, N. Y. Mrs. Rigg is a granddaughter of William Wallace, who deserted the British army to join the American, and distinguished himself in the latter service. Gens. Lew and W. H. Wallace, who were prominent figures in the war of the rebellion, were his grandsons. When thirteen years old John E. Rigg went with his father to Illinois; after spending nearly a year there, entered a store at New Salem, Fayette county, Pa. In 1874 he secured a small interest in a drugstore at Belle Vernon, which he managed, and became interested in the study of medicine. After pursuing a course at Long Island Medical College and at the College of Physicians and Surgeons in Baltimore, he began practice in 1879 at Stoneville, Westmoreland county. He located in Wilkinsburg in October, 1886, immediately after taking a post-graduate course under the Polyclinic College in the Philadelphia hospitals. In 1888 he built the handsome residence and office on Wood street which he occupies. He is a member of the county, state and American Medical associations, of the Methodist Episcopal Church, I. O. O. F., R, A. and O. C. F., and is a thorough republican. In 1878 he married Ida Belle, daughter of John and Eliza Weaver, and has three children: Lida Carrie, Carl Hazlett and Laura Belle.