RIGGS, Noah H.

RIGGS, CHENY, THOPSON, ELLIOTT, BIDDLE

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 1/19/2014 at 05:12:14

Biography ~ Noah H. Riggs

"Biographical and Historical Record of
Ringgold and Decatur Counties, Iowa"
(Lewis Publishing Company (1887)), p. 648:

NOAH H. RIGGS, section 25, Fayette Township, was born in Guernsey County, Ohio, May 25, 1837, a son of SIMEON and HARRIET (CHENEY) RIGGS, natives of Virginia, where they were reared and married. When but six years of age he was left an orphan, and his early youth was spent with a friend of the family, ROBERT THOMPSON, who gave him a good home, but only limited educational advantages. When eighteen years of age he started out in life for himself. In 1858 he came west as far as Clay County, Illinois, and in 1859 went o Colorado, returning in September of the same year to Ohio, and in the spring of 1860 went again to Colorado, where he remained until February, 1863, engaged in mining. Returning to Ohio he was married, March 14, 1863. To Miss CATHERINE ELLIOTT, daughter of JAMES ELLIOTT, of Jefferson County, where Mrs. RIGGS was born, April 23, 1839. Immediately after his marriage he started with his wife for the Hawkeye State, and lived in Keokuk County about three and a half years, and in August, 1866, moved to Decatur County, and located first on section 21, Fayette Township, commencing on a farm of forty acres, but by industry and energy he was prosperous, and finally owned a good farm of 260 acres, all under cultivation , selling his land on section 21 the same year. He also owns a good farm of eighty acres in Bloomington Township. Mr. RIGGS is one of the influential citizens of the township. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. In politics he affiliates with the Republican party. His family consists of seven children – HARRIET, wife of J. M. BIDDLE, of Lamoni, THOMAS, NELLIE, JENNIE, EDITH, CLARENCE and HARRY.

Transcribed by Sara LeFleur, Decatur County Historial Society Musuem, January of 2014