James & Minerva Riggs

RIGGS, METCALF, DOWLEY

Posted By: Emmet County IAGenWeb Coordinator (email)
Date: 3/10/2011 at 19:19:18

The James L. L. and Minerva (Metcalf) Riggs Family

James Lawerence Ludlow Riggs was born on May 19, 1819, in Ontario County, New York State. At some point the county boundaries were moved and/or James moved, as later he lived in Stueben County, New York. Minerva Lucile Metcalf Dowley was born Jan. 7, 1818 in Broome, New York State. James and Minerva were married on March 6, 1834 in Stueben County and lived in Troopsburgh town (township) near the village of Highup. Five children were born to them:

Russell F. Dowley b. March 23, 1835 Penn
Hestina Amelia b. Nov. 6, 1843 Penn
Amos C. b. Sept 29, 1845 NY
Isaac Hammon b. April 14, 1850 NY
William Ellsworth b. July 4, 1856 NY

The Troupsburgh 1860 census is the last one to list the James Riggs family in New York. In the spring of 1864 James, Minerva, Isaac and William arrived in Emmet County, IA, Estherville township. There were only seven log cabins and Fort Defiance, built for protection of the settlers, when the family came. In the History of Emmet County and Dickinson County, Iowa, vol. 1 (pg 129) it is stated the J. L. L. Riggs was one of the petitioners for incorporation of Estherville. The same year Hestina and her husband, Sylvanus, and two small sons, George and Lawerence, moved to Emmet County also. The families farmed and James was an expressman, hauling freight. James passed away on April 16, 1888 and Minerva on Feb 22, 1904. James is buried at East Side Cemetery in Estherville, IA

Contributed by: Doreene Hansen