For
Muscatine County Iowa
1911
| Biographies For Muscatine County Iowa 1911 | |
Source: History of Muscatine County Iowa, Volume II, Biographical, 1911, page 491
WILLIAM MILLAR RIGGS....In a record of the stock-raising interests of Muscatine county prominent mention should be made of William Millar Riggs, for few have done more than he toward sustaining a high standard of stock in this and adjoining counties. In community affairs he has also been deeply interested and by the consensus of public opinion has been awarded a prominent place among the public-spirited and influential citizens of his part of the county. The family comes of Revolutuinary stock, the grandfather, a native of Virginia, having fought in the American army during the war for independence. The watch which he carried throughout that war is now in the possession of W. M. Riggs. The latter was born in Dayton, Ohio, June 13, 1850, a son of John Summers and Eliza ( Longsteth ) Riggs. The father who engaged in farming and stock-raising, was well known as a breeder of fast horses, having raised some of the most speedy animals in the county.Coming to Iowa in his boyhood, William Millar Riggs is indebted to the schools of this state for the excellent educational advantages which he enjoyed. As a pupil in the public schools he passed through consecutive grades until his graduation from the Muscatine high school, after which he pursued a course in the Iowa State University, from which he was graduated in due course of time. A desire for travel then led him to leave the parental roof and he first sought the gold mines of California, where he remained for some time. His next trip took him to Boston, New york and other points of interest, but after wandering from coast to coast, throughout the southland and the northern country, no place seemed more attractive as a place of residence than Iowa, and he returned to this state, content here to make his home and seek what the future had in store for him. It being incumbent upon him to regain some of the money which he had expended during his travels, he at once began teaching school during the winter months, having charge of a country school whose average attendance was more than forty pupils, many of whom were over eighteen years of age. For nine terms he was thus identified with the educational interests of the community, proving a capable instructor who imparted readily and clearly to others the knowledge which he himself had acquired. Aside from being a competent teacher, he thoroughly enjoyed his work and today looks back upon that period as the most pleasant time in his entire career. Throughout this time the summer seasons had been devoted to farming and the feeding of stock, and after withdrawing from professional lines he gave his entire attention to agriculture and stock-raising. He owns a well improved and valuable farm where he cultivates the cereals best adapted to soil and climate, but gives much of his tme to raising and shipping livestock, principally cattle, horses, and hogs. He makes a specialty of horses, however, and is a breeder of high grade Percheron horses, being the owner of one of the finest stallions in the west. His stables also contain some full blooded mares which cannot be excelled anywhere in the country, and he has come to be recognized as one of the best and most reliable stock-dealers in his section.
On the 18th of December, 1877, Mr. Riggs was united in marriage to Miss Anna N. Hitchcock, a relative of Grover Cleveland, former president of the United States, and to this union have been born four children : Lee S., Emma E., Edith and Anna Gertrude. Reared in the faith of the United Brethren church, Mr. Riggs has been a member of that denomination for thirty-five years, the teachings of which have been the guiding influence of his life. He holds membership in the Odd Fellows Lodge, and, believing firmly in a government for the people and by the people, has given stalwart support to the democratic party since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. Never a politician in the usually accepted sense of the term, he has never sought nor desired public office. He has, however, been called to fill several important positions, but his election thereto was unsolicited on his part, being the expression of the trust and confidence reposed in his character and ability of his fellow citizens. He has always been interested in measures and enterprises affecting the community and having for their object its material, political, intellectual and moral advancement. Particularly has he been active in the developement of live-stock interests which have been stimulated by his efforts and have profited by his labors. He has done much to raise the grade of stock in this state to its present high standard.
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