JAMES JAY RIGGS
JAMES JAY RIGGS
On January 31st, 1870 at Fort Riggs, Bandera, Texas, James Jay arrived. He was our 4th son, 6th child. In April of that same year, when he was just 4 months old, he traveled with the family to the Trinidad, Colorado area.
EDUCATION
When he was old enough J.J. attended the school we had started in Colorado near where we lived. James J. was 8 years old when the family headed south for Arizona. At 8 he was old enough to help herd the milk cows we brought with us. James J. was 11 years old when the school house was built at home ranch and a teacher hired. Brannick Benjamin and James Jay were the first of our children to go away to school for higher education. They went to a school in San Diego, California for a year.
James Jay later joined his brothers at the Northern Indiana Normal School where he studied Law. He graduated in 1894with an LLB. After graduation, he returned to Arizona where he practiced Law in Tombstone Arizona for a time.
BEEF DELIVERIES TO FORT BOWIE
As James J. grew older he was given more responsibility. When he was in his teen years, J.J. and his brother, B.B., were given the task each day of taking the beef that had been butchered to Fort Bowie. The boys got up early, delivered the beef, returned home, got up a beef that would be butchered in the evening, did their school work and went to bed just to do it all over the next day. On March 5th, 1887 when J.J. was about 17 and B. B. about 19 they were delivering the beef. J.J. was riding a half broke horse that got into a deep rut, fell over and caught J.J.’s leg under him. B. B. had to lift the horse off J.J. so he could get his leg out from under the horse. The leg was broken in the knee. He was put to bed in the living room at Home Ranch and had to stay put until the bones healed. His leg didn’t heal quickly.
“March the 5 1887
our Son James J Riggs was hurt by a horse
Dr Chasby Set his knee from fort Bowie
The neighbors come to See him
it was a long time before he could walk
April the 10 the Doctor come to See JJ
he has to come nearly every day
oh he is Suffering So i am Sorry
god bless him”
On May 3rd 1877 there was a severe earthquake in the area. Because it cracked the house, J.J. was moved to the school house and in doing so his broken leg was dropped and injured again.
“May the 3rd 1887 we had a Severe Earth quake
Some thing unknown to Arizonians
it liked to Scared the people to death
it cracked our house
we had to moove JJ to the School house a lumber house in the yard”
LAW PRACTICE AND POLITICS
When J.J. returned from school with his Law Degree he opened a Law Practice in Tombstone, AZ where he practiced Law for a short time.
In 1896 James Jay began his political career. Arizona was a Territory at that time so his service was in the 19th Territorial Legislature. His political party was Democrat.
The following are articles in the Arizona Range News about J.J.’s service in our Territorial government. I am sharing these because they explain so much clearer than I can what service he gave to this area.
Arizona Range News
Tuesday, October 20th, 1896
STOCKMEN FOR THE LEGISLATURE
Shortly before the date of the conventions in this county The News editorially urged the stockmen to secure the nomination of honest representatives of their industry for supervisors and the legislature. It is not desirable that all members of these bodies should be cattlemen but at least one third of them should be, to secure a proper recognition of our special interests. The republican and democratic conventions in Cochise County, conceding the right of the stockmen to representation, nominated two young men from the northern part of the county as candidates for the assembly. Wm. Speed, of Willcox, candidate on the republican ticket, is a thorough cattleman and a heavy tax payer. He was for several years manager of the O.T. outfit and still retains his interest in the company. He is well known among stockmen in this and adjoining counties and fully qualified to promote the interests of stockmen in the coming session of the legislature.
Mr. J.J. Riggs, while educated for the legal profession, owns a herd of cattle and belongs to a family of stockmen whose united holdings aggregate several thousand head. The entire wealth of the family being in cattle and pasture lands, Mr. Riggs can, aside from his established reputation for honesty, be safely depended upon to protect the interests of the cattle-growers in the territory. Either of these young men would make a good legislator and the stockmen should give them their loyal and hearty support. It would be no misfortune to the county if both of them should be elected.
Arizona Range News
November 10th, 1896
THE OFFICIAL COUNT
The following figures, wired from Tombstone, show the relative votes received by the winning candidates for assembly. Riggs, 510; Speed, 443; Jones, 433. For Supervisor; Montgomery, 485; McPherson, 483.
Arizona Range News
January 18th, 1897
Riggs of Cochise Co. is chairman of the Judiciary Committee., member of committee on Printing and on Public Buildings and Grounds.
Arizona Range News
February 5th, 1897
J.J. Riggs introduced a bill that would combine the Board of Equalization and the Board of Control.
The Board of Equalization determined the taxes to be paid on one’s property.
Arizona Range News
August 25th, 1897
Board of Equalization
. . . . J.J. Riggs appeared before the Board on behalf of the Riggs Bros. And asked the Board to cancel the raise on their saw-mill. After hearing the statement of Mr. Riggs the Board ordered the raise cancelled.
Communication received from T.J. Riggs asking a reduction on the raise of his cattle. The Board considered the matter and refused to grant the request,
Over the years there have been at least 3 attempts to split Cochise County into 2 counties.
Arizona Range News
November 1897
THE NEW COUNTY MOVEMENT.
Our able representatives, Riggs and Speed, need fear no serious injury from the mudslinging of the Tombstone Prospector or any other newspaper which lowers itself to the level of personal invective. Violent abuse is always the weapon of those who lack argument and the resort to it is properly regarded as a confession of weakness. Having no work of reason or argument to offer, save the calamity cry of increased taxation, which is a pitiful begging of the whole question, our Tombstone contemporary burdens its columns ad nauseam with vilifying epithets aimed at our two young assemblymen, and no doubt intended to annihilate both them and all advocates of county division.
The situation in a nutshell is this. The people resident in the territory proposed to be embraced in the new county are practically unanimous in their demand that it be created. We do not, in fact, know of a single prominent taxpayer who opposes the measure.
The natural topography of the region and the location of Willcox on the main line of a great trans-continental railroad render this point the commercial center of the land area embraced within the boundaries of the proposed county of Chiricahua. The people resident in this region with one voice demand the organization of a separate county. Their cause is just and will prevail. Successive defeats only widen the breach and intensify the determination of our people to win the fight; and the new county, whether it be Miles or Chiricahua or some other name, will be an issue in every legislative session until it is a geographical fact. The efforts of the Prospector to make it appear that the demand for a new county is not general but emanates from a few property owners and office seeking politicians in Willcox, is utterly unworthy of a reputable journal, its claim being absolutely untrue. From Aravaipa camp on the north to Rucker Canon on the south, the citizens depend upon Willcox for their supplies and want the place to be made the seat of their county government. The chief objection of the people residing just outside of the boundary of the proposed county is that they are not included.
As to the position taken by Messrs. Speed and Riggs on the question they follow the lead of many illustrious men in casting their lot with their immediate section. The citizens resident in that portion of Cochise County proposed to be embraced in the new county want division. The people of the remaining portion oppose division. Could Messrs. Speed and Riggs be expected to array themselves in line against their own section and their own interests? Many of our readers are from the south. Do they condemn Lee and Stonewall Jackson for casting their fortunes with the Confederacy though under oath to support the constitution of the United States and defend the country against enemies, foreign or domestic? Was not Washington a rebel against the established government when he drew his sword in defense of the colonies?
Speed and Riggs are acting in behalf of the citizens of their section, and the people of this section willingly assume all responsibility in the matter. If the Prospector and the Guardian, in order to be solid with the citizens of their respective towns, must abuse somebody, they may abuse the citizens of the proposed county of Chiricahua, and may also rest assured that every word of their recent tirades will be treasured up to the coming day of retribution.
Arizona Range News
Friday, February 15th, 1901
Hon. J.J. Riggs, well known as an ex-legislator and prominent cattleman of Cochise County, arrived in the city Wednesday morning for a stay of several days on business. Mr. Riggs gave very material assistance in the preparation and passage of the present livestock code, and it is hoped that he will remain in the city for the meeting of cattlemen on Monday. The spring rains have been ample in the section of southern Cochise, where Mr. Riggs with the other members of the family reside, and the cattle business has a promising future as a result. -- Phoenix Stockman.
Tombstone Epitaph
August 11th, 1901
J.J. Riggs, who represents Cochise in the notable 19th, is in Phoenix consulting an eye specialist. Mr. Riggs has been troubled with an injured eye for some time and it was feared that he might be obliged to have same removed. The oculist however hopes to save the injured member and restore his eyesight.
James Jay served only one term in the Territorial Legislature. He returned to his ranch in the Riggs Settlement and spent time ranching.
MARRIAGE AND CHILDREN
Tombstone Epitaph
May 27th, 1900
The following press dispatch dated May 18th explains itself, the groom being well known in Cochise County.
Springfield, O., -- The romantic marriage of James J. Riggs of Wilcox, Ariz., and Miss Margaret Dumm took place at the home of the bride’s mother, Mrs. May Dumm, of Upper Sandusky, Ohio, today. Miss Dumm during the past year acted as deputy probate judge and is a graduate of the public schools of this place. Mr. Riggs is well-to-do and served one term in the legislature of Arizona.
James Jay and Margaret Dumm Riggs
Arizona Range News
May 23rd, 1900
The many friends of J.J. Riggs congratulate him upon his marriage to Miss Margaret Dumm of Upper Sandusky, Ohio, and wish the happy couple a long and prosperous voyage on the matrimonial adventure.
“1 Jimmie J and Margrete got home today
he went for Supliesthey will go to the Prue ranch”
Jim and Maggie had three children: a daughter Ida Berry, a daughter Edith Leoi who died at 10 months and William Christopher.
MINING VENTURES
There was copper and other ores found in the mountains around the Riggs Settlement leading to the development of a number of mines in the area. This led to the men of the family becoming involved in some of the mining ventures. J.J. was involved with several mining ventures in the Chiricahua and Dos Cabezas mountains.
Arizona Silver Belt
February 1st, 1900
J.J. Riggs was in town yesterday and reported the shipment of a 25-ton lot of ore from the Riggs -- Bridger mine. The last car of 15 tons yielded over $800.
Bisbee Review
January 29th, 1903
. . . . James J. Riggs, VP of company of the Hill Top Mine . . . .
Bisbee Daily Review
September 10th, 1903
. . . . J.J. Riggs was a director of the Chicago & Arizona (Casey Copper, properties) . . . .
LIVESTOCK SANITARY BOARD
Up until the 1900’s Arizona was sparsely populated and in some parts fairly lawless. The Territorial government was struggling to get laws and regulations in place that would better protect its citizens. J.J. was back on his ranch when the Governor made this appointment.
Bisbee Review
September 6th, 1902
Governor Brodie Appointees
On Thursday, the following appointments were made by Gov. Brodie: J.J. Riggs of Dos Cabezas Cochise County was appointed a member of the Livestock Sanitary Board . . . .
LIVESTOCK SANITARY BOARD: The Board is responsible for the prevention, control and eradication of diseases in livestock and poultry. The laws governing and regulating the raising and handling of livestock is administered by a board of 3 commissioners known as the Livestock Sanitary Board.
The Board was responsible for cattle brands and ear markings. They collected the Brand taxes. The first Brand recorded in Arizona was recorded April 28th, 1897.
The Board had Range detectives and dealt with Cattle Rustlers.
There were cattle inspectors that verified the ranchers brand at the time of shipping.
The Board issued Butcher’s licenses. The cattle inspectors examined the hides of the butchered cattle to identify proper ownership.
The Sanitary Livestock Board employed a Veterinarian.
Arizona Range News
Friday September 12th, 1902
J.J. Riggs of Dos Cabezas, was in town Saturday. He has been appointed a member of the Live Stock Sanitary Board by Gov. Brodie. The appointment is a good one as Mr. Riggs is not only thoroughly competent, but a man of intelligence and force of character who will render valuable service to the stockmen of the territory.
Arizona Range News
June 5th, 1903
J.J. Riggs a member of the sanitary board was in Willcox Wednesday and left for Pearce to assist at a cattle trial held Thursday at that place.
J.J. was well respected among his contemporaries. He enjoyed his work and was successful in helping bring law and order to the Territory although he was not a lawman.
Arizona Range News
September 25th, 1903
The Douglas Dispatch says: J.J. Riggs, of Dos Cabezas, arrived in Douglas and will stop a few days to get acquainted with many of his old time friends who are now living in this city. Mr. Riggs is a member of the Live Stock Sanitary Board and has done much toward getting conditions in a satisfactory shape. He was a member of the nineteenth legislature and has been largely interested in politics since that time. He has one of the big copper properties in the Dos Cabezas Mountains which promises to be one of the finest in that district. For many years Mr. Riggs has been interested in cattle, and is eminently fitted to serve on the Live Stock Sanitary Board with best results.
J.J. Riggs gave very material assistance in the preparation and passage of the present livestock code.
Sometimes accidents happen. Thank goodness the accident J.J. and Maggie had was not terribly serious.
Arizona Range News
Friday, December 11th, 1903
THROWN FROM BUGGY
Hon J.J. Riggs and His Wife While Enroute
From Dos Cabezas to Willcox Meet
With an Exciting Experience
MIGHT HAVE BEEN WORSE
Mrs. Riggs Escaped Without a Scratch, But
Mr. Riggs was Dragged and Received an Ugly Scalp Wound
Saturday morning as Hon. J.J. Riggs, a member of the Live Stock Sanitary Board and cattleman of Dos Cabezas, was driving to Willcox in company with his wife, they met with an accident they will not soon forget.
The morning was an exceptionally cold one and Mr. Riggs' hands had become numb from driving, and he had turned the team over to Mrs. Riggs, who was driving at the time the accident occurred. It seems the roads are in exceptionally bad condition, being full of holes and very uneven. When they were driving over a piece of this bad road the horses shied at something, running the buggy up onto an embankment. Mr. Riggs made a grab for the lines to get the team back into the road, when the buggy overturned, pitching the occupants out. Mrs. Riggs landed on a sand hill and received not a scratch.
With Mr. Riggs it was a different story. He became entangled in the wreck and was dragged a short distance before he could extricate himself. He was pretty badly bruised, besides receiving an ugly scalp wound over the right eye about three inches in length.
After the accident the team proceeded on its way to Wilcox and was caught by Mr. Tom Thomas. The team was recognized and the friends of Mr. Riggs, fearing a terrible accident had occurred, at once left to meet him. But in the meantime the Dos Cabezas stage had overtaken Mr. and Mrs. Riggs and picked them up and was just arriving on the outskirts of town when met by the party who had left Wilcox a short time before.
Mr. Riggs was attended by Dr. Nicholson and left for his ranch in the afternoon, where it is thought that after a few days of quiet rest he will be none the worse for wear.
Sometimes news would go statewide.
Coconino Sun Flagstaff
December 19th, 1903
Saturday morning as Hon. J.J. Riggs a member of the Live Stock Sanitary Board and cattleman of Dos Cabezas, was driving to Willcox in company with his wife, the buggy was upset and its occupants thrown out. The team ran away and Mr. Riggs became entangled in the wreckage and was badly bruised and a three-inch gash cut in scalp. Mrs. Riggs escaped injury.
J.J. was very interested in and involved in the forming of the State of Arizona. As was reported in the newspapers he was willing to travel to Washington D.C. to do his part in the forming of a new state.
WASHINGTON D.C.
Coconino Sun
January 6th, 1906
. . . . J.J. Riggs went to Washington D.C. as part of a group opposing Arizona and New Mexico being admitted to the Union as one state . . . .
Bisbee Daily Review
February 6th, 1906
. . . . James J Riggs in Washington D.C. with a delegation that oppose Statehood with New Mexico . . . .
Arizona Silver Belt (Globe City, Pinal County Ariz.
February 15th, 1906
Will Talk To Death The Statehood Bill
James J. Riggs, a member of the Arizona delegation at Washington in a letter to the Bisbee Review says:
“The joint statehood bill will be talked to death in the Senate. Not because of any love senators may have for Arizona or the demerits of the present bill, but because solely of the personal regard of friends in both houses of congress for one man, and that man is Mack Smith. There are also a large number of Senators who hate the man on the other end of the Avenue, and who will seize upon the righteous cause of Arizona to hide the real cause of the grievance.
“This has been one of the bitterest struggles in all the history of congress. Parties and principles have gone to pieces. Legislation in the national capital is purely a matter of barter. Public building bills, favors and patronage are the commodities in exchange. In our country we call it bribery, but here in Washington it goes under more polite parlance.
“Mark Smith has served Arizona well. Ask any member of the Arizona delegation, and you will get the same answer.”
The sad thing with this is that J.J. died before Arizona became a state.
ARIZONA BOARD OF CONTROL
Arizona Silver Belt
March 22nd, 1907
. . . . J.J. Riggs becomes citizen member of Board of Control . . . .
What is the Board of Control?
(The Board of Control was started by Louis Hughes sometime between 1893 and 1896. The Governor and Auditor of the territory and one citizen who shall be appointed by the Governor, who shall hold office 2 years, who shall be ex-officio Secretary, shall constitute a Board of Control. Not more than two members shall belong to the same political party.
The Board shall have full charge of all charitable (the Insane Asylum), penal (Territorial Prison) and reformatory (State Reform School for Boys) institutions and the upkeep of the capitol building and grounds. They were responsible for the financial and administrative matters of these agencies.
The Board of Control established policies and procedures regarding declarations of insanity, patient confinement in and terms of release from the Insane Asylum. They established policies and procedures for the Territorial Prison and the Territorial Reform School. The Board was in charge of purchasing supplies for these agencies. They visited all of the institutions once every three months.)
People served voluntarily on the Board of Control. They received no pay for their service to avoid people trying to influence their decisions.
James J. served twice. He took the Oath of office on July 1st, 1907 and again on March 27th, 1909.
Serving as he did in his Territorial government J.J. had many interesting jobs and experiences. Learning how to herd cattle certainly prepared him for the following assignment.
Daily Arizona Silver Belt (Mohave, AZ)
May 2nd, 1909
Increasing Duties
J.J. Riggs, citizen member of the Board of Control, has been subpoenaed as a member of the Federal Grand Jury in Cochise County. As the holder of a Federal office, he is exempt from such service, but being a dyed in the wool patriot, he would not shirk it for that reason alone. However, Thomas Rynning, Superintendent of the Territorial Prison has been subpoenaed as a witness before the same tribunal, and the only way he can answer the summons without turning the prisoners at Florence loose, is to turn them over to Mr. Riggs as the law provides in such emergencies, the citizen member of the board being required to ride herd on them while the Superintendent is temporarily off the job. Mr. Riggs has therefore wired the Court at Tombstone asking him to please excuse him from jury duty. --
Arizona Range News
October 22nd, 1909
……J.J. Riggs was involved with a case concerning prison properties at the time the Yuma Prison was closed and the State Prison moved to Florence.
J.J. had health problems for a number of years. He was getting worse so resigned from his position.
Tombstone Prospector
March 11th, 1910
J.J. Riggs Resigns from Board of Control
Governor Sloan has announced that Robert Craig, the superintendent of the Phoenix water works, has been tendered the position of citizen member of the board of control to succeed J.J. Riggs. Mr. Craig has accepted.
Hon. J.J. Riggs, citizen member of the territorial board of control, has tendered his resignation to Governor Sloan, to take effect on or about the fifteenth of this month. Mr. Riggs has not been in good health for some months and on the advice of his physicians he will retire from the position of trust which he has long held with credit to himself and satisfactory to the people of the territory. Sometime ago Mr. Riggs suffered a nervous breakdown and took a brief rest in California. He will leave Phoenix after his retirement and devote three or four months on the coast to recuperation.--Gazette.
ARIZONA CATTLE GROWERS ASSOCIATION
J.J., along with William, understood the importance of being involved in situations where laws and policies were being determined that affected the ranching business. When the Cattle Growers Association was formed the family became a vital part of it in Cochise County.
Arizona Range News
October 1907
After spending a week at his ranch near Dos Cabezas, Hon. J.J. Riggs returned to his Phoenix headquarters Tuesday. Mr. Riggs is president of the Arizona Cattle Growers Association and says there will be something doing at the association meet during fair week. All cattlemen should make it their special business to be present.
Arizona Range News
Friday, January 31, 1908
J.J. Riggs is appointed to the Executive Committee of the American National Live Stock Association. Arizona will be represented in the executive committee of the National Live Stock Association the ensuing year by E. Gosney of Flagstaff, Dwight B. Heard of Phoenix, N.O. Perkins of Junction, and J.J. Riggs of Dos Cabezas.
ILLNESS AND DEATH
James J. was involved in many things through his life but from the time his knee was broken when he was 17 he had not enjoyed the best of health. Over the years he had many problems with his eyes requiring medical attention from Specialists. There was even a point where the removal of one eyeball was considered but it was decided that was not necessary.
Phoenix Stockman
August 1901
Hon. J.J. Riggs, a prominent cattleman of Cochise County, who represented his county in the legislature a few years ago, came to Phoenix on Wednesday morning to consult with Dr. Martin, eye specialist, concerning his left eye, which had been injured to an extent that Mr. Riggs believed the eye would have to be removed. Dr. Martin made a thorough examination and assured his patient that the eye could be saved and that the eyesight will be as good as ever. This was encouraging to Jimmie and he will remain in the city for a few days while under the treatment of the doctor. By saving this member, Jimmy will have to “wink the other eye” when he shoots, just as he always did.
In March 1910 his health had deteriorated to the point that he was forced to resign from his position on the Board of Control. J.J. and Maggie came from Phoenix to the Prue place. A nurse was hired to help care for him. He was ill for almost a year. The Death Certificate states that no physician was present at time of death and that the cause of death was probably Tubercular Laryngitis. He was 59 years old and his wife was 53.
“Nove the 15 1910 taken the Nurs went home
Miss Kerning She Nursed JJ Riggs
3 Dec 1910 Jimmies Nurs has come back to him
31 Dec 1910 Jimies Riggs nurs is coming back
the horse run a way with her
24 Jan 1911 Jimmie Riggs passed a way XXX
25 bried him with his Father
31 JJ birthday So good by
”
James Jay Riggs died on January 24th, 1911. He was buried in the Riggs Family Cemetery.
(Riggs Family Cemetery location, row 1 headstone e)
As can be seen by the following obituaries, J.J. was highly thought of all over the state of Arizona.
Arizona Range News
January 24th, 1911
J.J. RIGGS DIES AT HOME IN DOS CABEZAS
Deceased Was Former Member of the Territorial Board of Control
J.J. Riggs, a prominent Cochise county cattleman, and until a few months ago citizen member of the territorial board of control, died this morning at his home near Dos Cabezas.
Mr. Riggs was one of the best-known citizens of the territory and possessed possibly the widest acquaintance among the residents of Arizona generally. He was especially well known in Cochise, Pima and Maricopa counties. As the citizen member of the territorial board of control he had most of the work of that important organization to administer. He was compelled to resign because of ill health.
The deceased was about 45 years of age and is survived by a family. It is understood that his remains will be shipped east for burial. The news of his death was received by the Parker Undertaking Company.
Graham Guardian
February 10th, 1911
Death of J.J. Riggs
Well known Cattleman Passes Away at Dos Cabezas
J.J. Riggs, a prominent cattleman of Cochise County, died at his home at Dos Cabezas, Tuesday morning, January 24th. Mr. Riggs was well-known in this section and had many friends in this city. Until a few months ago, he was a member of the Territorial Board of Control, which he was compelled to resign on account of ill health.
Mr. Riggs was about 45 years of age and is survived by a widow and several children. The remains were sent back east for interment. As a Territorial official, he was active in the discharge of his duties. Since he was compelled to forego the activities of public life has been residing at Dos Cabezas, looking after his private interests.
Tombstone Epitaph
January 29th, 1911
Prominent Cochise Cattleman is Dead
J.J. Riggs, a prominent Cochise County cattlemen, and until a few months ago a Citizen Member of the Territorial Board of Control, died yesterday morning at his home near Dos Cabezas.
Mr. Riggs was one of the best-known citizens of the territory and possessed possibly the widest acquaintance among the residents of Arizona generally. He was especially well known in Cochise, Pima, and Maricopa counties. As the Citizen Member of the Territorial Board of Control he had most of the work of that important organization to administer. He was compelled to resign because of ill health.
The deceased was about 45 years of age and is survived by a family. It is understood that his remains will be shipped east for burial.
James Jay Riggs
1870 - 1911
From Fort Riggs, Texas, where he was born in January 1870, James Jay Riggs migrated to Arizona with his family in 1877. His father established a cattle ranch in the Sulphur Springs Valley, and young Riggs became an expert bronc-twister.
Riggs received his initial education from a private tutor. He went to college in San Diego for two years, and later went to the University of Valparaiso in Indiana. After graduation, he returned to Arizona and opened a law office in Safford.
Always active in Territorial politics, Riggs was elected to the Territorial Legislature in 1898 and served under Governor Kibbey as citizen member of the Board of Control.
Two years later he went to Upper Sandusky, Ohio and married Margaret Dumm. He brought his bride to Arizona and set up a cattle ranch near Dos Cabezas. They had three children.
His renewed interest in cattle prompted Riggs to become a member of the Arizona Cattle Growers’ Association and the organization elected him their president in 1907. Riggs served in this office one term. Failing health forced him to retire to his ranch where he died in 1911.
From: Pioneer and Well Known Cattleman of Arizona by Roscoe Willson
El Paso Herald
January 30th, 1911
J.J. Riggs died at his ranch home after a lingering illness of more than a year. The funeral was conducted by Rev. Light of Curtis (Rev. Curtis of Light?), and interment was made at the Riggs cemetery. Mr. Riggs was a native of Belton, Texas, but for many years had been a resident of this section, being prominent in politics and social circles. He was several years ago a representative in the legislature, for a long while a member of the Livestock Sanitary Board and up to within a year of his death a member of the Board of Control, being chosen under the administration of Governor Kibby. He leaves a wife, two children, a mother, several brothers and sisters.
After the death of her husband, Maggie stayed in the Riggs settlement where she was set up with a ranch. Our family help look after her ranch until her children are both old enough to take over running the ranch themselves. She spends the school year in Long Beach, California, where her children attend school.
IDA BERRY RIGGS
Arizona Range News
June 27th, 1930
A very beautiful out-of-door ceremony in the garden of the Far Away Ranch, the home of Mr. and Mrs. Ed Riggs, on Wednesday evening June 18, Miss Ida Berry Riggs became the bride of Wendel B. Hopkins of Chicago, the Rev. Henry B. Moore of Tombstone, officiating.
On account of the death, only a few days before, of Jim Riggs, a cousin of the bride, the wedding was a quiet one, only relatives being present.
At nine o'clock, the strains of Lohengrins wedding march, played by Mrs. George Amalong, sounded through the garden. The bride, wearing an elegant white net dress and veil approached the alter, a bower of Yucca blossoms. Between the betrothal and the ring ceremony, the Riggs girls, cousins of the bride sang "O Perfect Love".
The bride is the only daughter of Mrs. Maggie Riggs and has lived in the Riggs Settlement practically all of her life except at intervals when she lived in Long Beach where they have a home. She is loved and admired by a great host of friends for her sterling traits of character.
Mr. Hopkins is an artist from Chicago. He met his bride while he was a guest at the Faraway Ranch. They left Thursday for a honeymoon through the eastern states and will later reside at the ranch home of the bride. Congratulations and best wishes go with the happy couple.