Porter Riggs b. 27 Aug 1832 Tyler County, Virginia, United States d. 25 Apr 1911 Kankakee, Kankakee County, Illinois, United States: Tangled Roots

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Porter Riggs

1832 - 1911 (78 years)

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Name	Porter Riggs
Born	27 Aug 1832	Tyler County, Virginia, United States [1]
Gender	Male
Mentioned	19 Oct 1844 [2]
	in the will of his grandfather Basil Riggs
History / Bio	1893 [1]
	Portrait and Biographical Record of Kankakee County, Illlinois (Chicago: Lake City Publishing Company, 1893), p404
	PORTER RIGGS is engaged in carrying on his farm situated on section 26, Aroma Township. He was born in Tyler, W. Va., on the 27th of August, 1832. His father, Isaac Riggs, was a native of the same place and was of German descent. He was twice married, our subject being the only child by the first union. By his second marriage Mr. Riggs became the father of four children. When Porter Riggs was a young child his mother died, and he went to live with his grandmother. Her death occurred when he was about ten years of age, and after this he lived on the same old homestead in Virginia with an aunt, remaining with her until he was about eighteen years of age. As he was without means, he commenced working on a farm by the month, receiving $10. For five years he was employed at farm labor, never receiving over $12 per month. His school privileges were very limited and he is largely a self-educated man. In the spring of 1851, he came West to Perryville, Vermillion County, Ind. He rented land and engaged in farming at that place for a period of about four years. The year 1858 witnessed his arrival in Illinois. He settled in Kankakee County, where he purchased two hundred and eighty acres of land. This was entirely unimproved and there was not a stick of timber upon it. By his years of labor and improvement he has developed this property until it is now one of the most valuable pieces of land in the township. His well-tilled fields yield him a golden tribute in return for the care and labor he expends upon them, and success has largely attended his efforts. He is now engaged in general farming and stock-raising. Mr. Riggs enlisted in defense of his country in February, 1865. He entered the service as a private in Company A, One Hundred and Fifty-sixth Illinois Infantry. He was mustered out of service September 13, 1865, at Memphis, Tenn., and received his discharge about September 23, 1865, at Springfield, Ill. In 1859 Mr. Riggs was united in marriage with Miss Mary Swan. Her parents, Matthew and Susan Swan, are numbered among the old settlers of this county, where they are held in the highest regard. Four children have blessed the union of our subject and his wife: Edwin H., Leonard W., Grant and May, who have all received good educations and take an active part in the social circles of this community. Mr. Riggs has always taken a great interest in political affairs and is affiliated with the Republican party, with which he has been connected for many years. He has never been an office-seeker, but has always taken a leading part in the advancement of all measures tending to the welfare of his fellow citizens. Socially, he is a member of Whipple Post No. 414, G. A. R., of Kankakee, and the boys in blue have ever held a warm place in his affections. For thirty-five years Mr. Riggs has been associated with the progress and welfare of this section, and has done much in making this county what it is today, a prosperous and thriving community.
Died	25 Apr 1911	Kankakee, Kankakee County, Illinois, United States
Person ID	I12738	TangledRoots
Last Modified	19 Aug 2021

Father	Isaac Riggs, b. 1799, Tyler County, Virginia, United States , d. 16 Nov 1861, Pleasants County, Virginia, United States (Age 62 years)
Mother	Anna Isabel Porter, d. 1832
Family ID	F4836	Group Sheet \| Family Chart

Event Map

Died - 25 Apr 1911 - Kankakee, Kankakee County, Illinois, United States

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