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A. V. RIGGS, one of the well-to-do and representative farmers of Grand View Township, residing on section 8, was born in Hamilton County, Ohio, in 1836. To his parents, Daniel and Magdalene (Valentine) Riggs were born five children, of whom he was the second in order of birth. His father was a native of New York, and his mother of Germany, though both went to Ohio in their younger years, their marriage being celebrated in Hamilton County, in 1832. In early life Daniel Riggs had been employed upon a canal, but later lived in Cincinnati, where he followed teaming, and subsequently came West, attending the Burlington land sales of 1839, at which time he bought a farm in Cedar Township, Muscatine County. He then returned to his home in Ohio, and resided in the city of Cincinnati until 1849, when, being stricken with cholera, he died on the 6th of July, at the age of forty years. In 1852 the mother, accompanied by her family, came to Iowa, locating on the land which Mr. Riggs had purchased, and which was but partially improved, it being only partly fenced, and containing a little log cabin. There the family made their home for several years, and the mother is still living, making her home with our subject. She yet owns her interest in the old homestead in Muscatine County, and though seventy-eight years of age, retains both her physical and mental powers in a marked degree.
Our subject received a liberal education in the graded schools of Cincinnati, Ohio, and came West with the family in 1852. He was then sixteen years of age, a boy reared to city life, unused and unaccustomed to hard labor, knowing nothing of the hardships of frontier life which awaited him. He knew nothing about farming, except theoretically, but with energy and tact soon acquired a knowledge of this mode of life.
On the 15th of August, 1862, Mr. Riggs enlisted in Muscatine as a private of Company F, of the 25th Iowa Infantry, for three years’ service, and participated in the battles of Vicksburg, the Red River expedition, Tupelo, Old River Lake, Jackson, Miss., and Nashville. Contracting disease while in the service, from the effects of which he has never yet fully recovered, he returned to his home, and was honorably discharged at Davenport, Aug. 10, 1865.
In Muscatine County, Iowa, on the 26th of September, 1859, Mr. Riggs and Miss Louisa Idle were united in marriage. The lady is a native of Champaign County, Ohio, and a daughter of John and Nancy (Kiser) Idle, who were born in Pennsylvania, but emigrated to Ohio at an early day, and thence came to Muscatine County in the year 1845, settling on a farm in Adair County, where they yet reside. Both parents are yet in good health, and are now enjoying the fruits of a well-spent life. By the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Riggs ten children were born, seven of whom are yet living: Edwin Leroy, born July 10, 1860, died in infancy; William Isaac, born Dec. 23, 1861, died Feb. 4, 1863; Letta Florence, born Jan. 5, 1867, is now Mrs. Schaffnit, and resides in Letts; Hattie Olive, born Dec. 27, 1868; John Walter, born Sept. 22, 1870; Annie Mary, born Sept. 23, 1872; Myrtle Galena, born Nov. 21, 1874; Daniel Austin, born Jan. 5, 1877; Guss Mountain, born Oct. 20, 1878, died Dec. 2, 1880; Frank Clinton, born Dec. 2, 1883. All the living children, with the exception of the eldest daughter, are at home, and Hattie, John and Annie are attending school in Letts.
After his marriage Mr. Riggs engaged in farming in Muscatine County until 1872, when he purchased eighty acres of improved land in Concord Township, Louisa County. He also owned eighty acres in Muscatine County, but at that date removed to the former farm, which he made his home until 1883, when he sold out and bought 400 acres . . .
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. . . of fine, arable land in Grand View Township, which is well improved. He buys and sells considerable stock, principally cattle, but also raises a fine grade of Norman horses. In his political sentiments he is a Greenbacker, and during the past has held several local offices of trust. Socially, he is a member of the G. A. R., Caldwell Post, at Letts, and also belongs to Triangular Lodge No. 245, A. F. & A. M., and is at present S. W. of Triangular Lodge. He takes an active part in advancing the cause of education, and does all in his power to promote the interests of the community. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Church, and have many warm friends in the community.
