Mrs. Mary Riggs (1846-1941)

RIGGS, MOONEY, REED, CANN, BLACK, BARKER, ROBERTS

Posted By: John Davis (email)
Date: 10/15/2019 at 15:43:00

Obit posted in Ottumwa Courier December 17, 1941
One Of County's Oldest Resident Dies At 95
Mrs. Mary Riggs Came To Wapello County With Parents In 1848.
Mrs. Mary Riggs who probably had lived in Wapello county longer than any other resident, died at the home of her granddaughter, Mrs. Sylvia Mooney, 609 South Sheridan avenue at 10:45 p.m. Wednesday. Mrs. Riggs would have been 95 years old next Christmas eve. She was born December 24, 1846, in Indiana, the daughter of David and Sarah Reed. When less than two years old, she came with her parents to Wapello county. Mrs. Riggs lived on a farm near Eldon for 52 years and then after staying in Davis county for a short time came to Ottumwa where she lived the remaining 24 years of her life. Surviving are five sons, William and George of Ottumwa, Charles and L.W. of Eldon and Jasper of Newell S.D. three daughters, Mrs. Ross Cann, Mrs. Sarah Black and Mrs. Effie Barker, all of Ottumwa; 43 grandchildren, 62 great-grandchildren and 12 great-great grandchildren. Two half brothers, George and Sam Roberts of Bloomfield, also survive. Her husband John, died in 1904. Two sons also preceded her in death. Funeral services will be held Saturday at 1 p.m. from the Church of God, Vine and Hancock streets, conducted by the Rev. C.A. Longton. Burial will be in the Sihwak cemetery two miles west of Eldon. The body will be taken from the Johnson's chapel to the church at 11 a.m. Saturday.