RIGGS CATTLE COMPANY

As the Riggs family members cattle businesses grew it became clear that it would be to the benefit of all the family if they incorporated so they started the Riggs Cattle Company in 1904. The Articles of Incorporation were drawn up in September 1905 and the Riggs Cattle Company was officially organized with members of the family all having equal interests.  All of the children, with the exception of Brannick B., for he did not live in the Riggs settlement at that time, and Martha, became part of this company.  After the company was incorporated Rhoda dropped out but left her calves in to help get the company going.  The company disbanded in 1922 with the land, cattle and equipment being divided equally among the members.

COWBOY TEXTING

There was no telephone service connecting the Riggs family ranches.  The distance between the various ranches and the Riggs Cattle Company headquarters bunkhouse didn’t lend to rapid communication.  Having to ride horse back to Home Ranch and back, or one of the other ranches, took time.  A way was devised to facilitate communicating the needs between the family and the cowboys.  A 50-page paper pocket notebook and pencil was obtained and left at the Riggs Cattle Company headquarters bunkhouse.  Directions for work to be done on the ranches like moving cattle from one pasture to another; repairs that needed to be done;  maintenance of water supplies; requests for supplies such as tools, groceries, and material for sewing were left in the notebook for the next person going to Willcox to purchase and bring back.  Any additional thoughts or needs concerning the following day’s work would be written in the notebook.  Today with cell phones the same kind of information would be communicated by “Texting” so we decided to call it “Cowboy texting” so the younger generation would understand that in 1916 there were no cell phones to leave messages on.  I’m sure that this situation and the need for communication among the family encouraged Thomas J. to install a telephone system among the Riggs ranches.

 "TEXTING" ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO. PHOTOGRAPH OF A TABLET LEFT AT THE RIGGS CATTLE COMPANY HEADQUARTERS FOR MEMBERS TO COMMUNICATE WITH EACH OTHER