Jacob Lincoln Riggleman
Among the citizens of Stockhold township who is successfully engaged in general farming and stock-raising is Jacob Lincoln Riggleman, who is a native of Pendleton county, West Virginia, his natal day being March 29, 1862.
Unto his parents, Jacob and Julia (Borror) Riggleman, were born the following children: Martha, of Indiana; Mary Ellen, the wife of William Tomlinson, of Illinois; Emily, deceased, who married John Ours, of West Virginia; George David, deceased; Ann Rebecca, the wife of Levi Reel; Benjamin, deceased; Henry, a resident of West Virginia; Jacob, the subject of this sketch; John, of West Virginia; and Mahala, the wife of Isaac Judy, of West Virginia. The mother passed away in 1865 but the father survived until 1905.
Jacob Lincoln Riggleman was reared at home, acquiring his education in the common schools of his native state. Arriving in Denison on the 15th of October, 1883, he obtained employment as a farm hand, which vocation he followed for two years. Migrating to Colorado in 1885, he engaged in ranching for three years, and on returning to Crawford county at the expiration of that period he rented one hundred and ten acres of land, which he cultivated until 1890. During the first two years he kept house for himself while operating the farm; the third year he boarded; and the fourth he married. His fatherin-law presented the couple with a quarter section of land in Stockholm township, on section 32, to which he later added two hundred acres more on sections 5 and 6, Milford township. Mr. Riggleman has effected many improvements in his homestead during his occupancy, the property being considered one of the most valuable in the township. Here he follows general farming, making a specialty, however, of the breeding and raising thoroughbred Hereford cattle and Poland China hogs, in which he is meeting witb more than average success.
On Christmas, 1893, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Riggleman and Miss Anna Beatrice Newcom, who was born November 21, 1869, a daughter of John D. and Sarah Ann (Dobson) Newcom. Two children were born unto Mr. and Mrs. Newcom, but the son, James Eli, passed away at the age of five years. Mrs. Newcom, a daughter of Thomas Dobson, has the distinction of being the first white girl born in Crawford county, and Mrs. Riggleman the first white girl born in Stockholm township.
Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Riggleman: John Randolph, born March 29, 1895; Jesse Austin, who was born on the 10th of January, 1898; Leslie Earl, born on the 4th of March. 1899; Newcom Dale, born on the 5th of August, 1901; and Ruby Margretta, whose birth occurred on the 24th of April, 1903.
The family attend the Methodist Episcopal church. Although he is not an aspirant for public honors or the emoluments of office Mr. Riggleman is an ardent advocate of the principles of republicanism, for the candidates of which party he always casts his vote.
Source: History of Crawford County, Iowa. Vol. II. Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1911.