Robert L. Riggs and Cordelia C. B. Whigham

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Husband Robert L. Riggs ^{1 2}

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           Born: 26 Aug 1838 - Snowden Twp, Allegheny Co, PA 3 4
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         Father: John Riggs (1800/1800-1848/1848) 1 4
         Mother: Mary Phillips (1800-1882) 4 5

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       Marriage: 19 Apr 1864 6 7

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Wife Cordelia C. B. Whigham ^{6 7}

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         Father: John Whigham (      -      ) 6 7
         Mother: Margaret Cunningham (      -      ) 6 7

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Children

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1 F Effa W. "Effie" Riggs ^{6 7}

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           Born: 21 Jan 1865 7
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2 F Jessie J. Riggs ^{6 7}

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           Born: 26 Jan 1868 7
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           Died: 21 Sep 1891 7
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3 M Thomas Alvin Riggs ^{6 7}

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           Born: 2 Mar 1871 7
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4 M William W. Riggs ⁷

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           Born: 3 Feb 1874 7
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           Died: 7 Sep 1874 7
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         Spouse: Did Not Marry

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5 F Viola M. Riggs ^{6 7}

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           Born: 16 Dec 1875 7
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6 M Clifford R. Riggs ^{6 7}

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           Born: 14 Dec 1878 7
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7 M Walter Lee Riggs ^{6 7}

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           Born: 24 Nov 1882 7
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General Notes: Husband - Robert L. Riggs

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He was born and reared on the old Riggs farm, near what is now Library, in Snowden township, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. When a boy, he attended the district school and then completed his education at Bethel academy. Being thrown onto his own resources by the death of his father, he supported himself for several years by teaching school, and for two years, 1864-1866, acted as principal of the McKeesport schools. He next embarked successfully in the drug business, with Jesse Sill as a partner, the partnership continuing until the death of Mr. Sill, in 1878. While in the drug business, Mr. Riggs improved his spare moments by studying telegraphy, the P. & A. telegraph office being located in his private office until the company was combined with the Western Union telegraph company. After the combination, he had charge of the Western Union office and transmitted many messages. After the death of his partner, Mr. Riggs conducted the drug business for about two years alone, and then, in 1880, engaged in the planing mill and lumber business with James R. Gemmill and John A. Lucas, under the firm name of Gemmill, Riggs & Co., the concern owning the property later occupied by the National lumber company. In 1885 Mr. Riggs sold out his interest in this concern, and in 1889 again embarked in the same business in company with Bert Hubbell, the second partnership lasting about three years. After this, he was not actively engaged in business, his full attention being required in looking after his extensive real estate holdings.
He was treasurer of McKeesport in 1878 and 1879, and was for fifteen years a member of the board of education, being most of the time either secretary or president of that body. He was one of the prime movers in the establishment of the McKeesport hospital, and was on the board of trustees almost continuously beginning from its organization. He was also one of the organizers of the bank of McKeesport, and for many years one of the directors of that institution. Mr. Riggs was a member of the Baptist church, and was a deacon in the church for thirty-four years or more, beginning from February, 1869. He was also, from 1865 to 1894, with the exception of two years, superintendent of the Baptist Sunday-school. In politics he was a republican. [MAC 1904 ii, 18]

1 —, The History of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Part II (Chicago, IL: A. W. Warner & Co., 1889), Pg 344, 469.

2 —, Memoirs of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Vol. II (Madison, WI: Northwestern Historical Assosciation, 1904), Pg 17.

3 —, The History of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Part II (Chicago, IL: A. W. Warner & Co., 1889), Pg 344.

4 —, Memoirs of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Vol. II (Madison, WI: Northwestern Historical Assosciation, 1904), Pg 18.

5 —, The History of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Part II (Chicago, IL: A. W. Warner & Co., 1889), Pg 469.

6 —, The History of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Part II (Chicago, IL: A. W. Warner & Co., 1889), Pg 345.

7 —, Memoirs of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Vol. II (Madison, WI: Northwestern Historical Assosciation, 1904), Pg 19.