Genesee-Oakland-Livingston County MI Archives Biographies.....Riggs, Frederick F. 1810 - 
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Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com December 26, 2006, 7:01 pm

Author: Chapman Bros. (1892)

FREDERICK F. RIGGS. This worthy Michigan pioneer was born in Avon, Livingston
County, N. Y., April 23, 1810. He is a descendant from Jeremiah Riggs, and he a
son of Jeremiah, Sr., who, with two brothers, came to the New World from Wales
some time prior to the Revolution. The eldest, James, settled in New Jersey and
the second brother, Joseph, settled in Massachusetts, while the youngest,
Jeremiah, settled in Connecticut. Our subject's grandfather was also Jeremiah
Riggs, a native of Connecticut, who was born near New Haven. He took an active
part in the Revolutionary War. The immediate progenitor of our subject was also
Jeremiah Riggs. He too was born in the Nutmeg State but reared in New York and
early in life became a miller.

  Our subject's father with his family came to Michigan in August, 1828, and
located for a short time at Pontiac, where he leased and operated a gristmill
for a few months with some success. He subsequently moved to Grand Blanc,
Genesee County, and there permanently settled, but late in life removed to
Saginaw and later to Fenton, where he died June 22, 1858, while in his
eighty-first year. He had been thrice married, his first wife, Lucy Peck, the
mother of our subject, dying in September, 1812, leaving four children, of whom
our subject is the only one surviving. There were four children by the second
marriage and two by the third.

  Frederick Riggs lived with his father until of age and during that time had
but limited educational advantages. He learned the milling business under his
paternal parent and after coming to Michigan assisted in the management of the
mills of Pontiac and there established an enviable reputation for turning out a
good quality of flour. He located with his father at Grand Blanc and knew every
one for many miles around. His every day associates were mostly Indians and he
learned to speak their language as fluently as he could his own. After becoming
of age he acted as assistant in an United States engineering corps who made a
complete land survey between Saginaw and Mackinaw. The country along the lake
shore in this region was reported to be worthless and the Government made the
survey in order to establish the facts of the matter.

  Mr. Riggs was married to Miss Eveline Bishop, January 26, 1836. She was a
native of Avon, N. Y., and was born in 1810. In 1837 our subject located on a
wild piece of land in the Township of Tyrone, Livingston County, and there built
a log house and barn, living in true pioneer style for several years. He there
remained for thirty years and made of his tract a fine and perfectly cultivated
farm. In 1867 he retired from active farming and returned to Fenton. In 1874 he
went West in the hope of regaining his health which had not been robust for.
some time. He spent several years in Western Kansas and later, following the
advice of a physician, went to the-mountains in Colorado.

  Delighted with the mountain scenery and the beneficent effect of the climate,
Mr. Riggs spent several years prospecting and eventually located ssveral [sic]
mining claims in Southwestern Colorado. He erected a cabin in Rio Grande County,
which is perched upon a dizzy mountain eleven thousand, five hundred feet above
the level of the sea. He has here spent much of his time for the past sixteen
years. He has familiarized himself with mining and now has his claim leased to
parties who are preparing to open them on an extensive scale, as adjacent mines
are already yielding rich returns in gold. Although eighty-one years old our
subject still enjoys mountain life, and especially in perfecting his fine
collection of ores. Mr. and Mrs. Riggs have had four children, only one of whom
is now living. Esther is the wife of C. J. K. Stoner and lives in Fen ton. Mr.
Riggs is a Democrat in politics and has been Justice of the Peace. Socially he
is a Mason and an Odd Fellow. They have a very pleasant home and he and his wife
have lived together for fifty-five years.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

Portrait and Biographical Record of Genesee, Lapeer and Tuscola Counties,
Michigan, Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative
Citizens, Together with Biographies of all the Governors of the State, and of
the Presidents of the United States

Chicago:
Chapman Bros.
1892


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