RIGGS FAMILY HISTORY
RIGGS FAMILY HISTORY
BRANNICK RIGGS FAMILY ARRIVES IN COCHISE COUNTY, ARIZONA, 1879
In 1871 the Brannick Riggs Family joined a large wagon train headed for California from Bandera, Texas. They left Fort Riggs -- which they had built while living on the Medina River -- and traveled to Chicosa Canyon near Trinidad, Colorado. They lived here until the latter part on 1876 when they left to start again for California with Arizona as their immediate destination. Brannick's brother Jim and his family had settled in Dos Cabezas, Arizona in 1875 and had written about the magnificent Sulphur Springs Valley.
They came down through New Mexico and into Arizona in 1877. From St. Johns on the Little Colorado River, Fort Apache and on to Fort Thomas, they settled nearby for about a year at a place which became known as Buttermilk Point.
In the spring of 1879 they again started for Dos Cabezas, moving to Big Immigrant Canyon, east of Fort Bowie. Several month later when the spring of water went dry, they moved to Sulphur Springs Valley through the famous Apache Pass settling first for a few months just south of the Old Star Ranch and then moved to what became known as the Riggs Home Ranch, the focus of the Riggs Settlement.
THE FOLLOWING FAMILY HISTORY PUBLICATIONS MAY BE VIEWED BY CLICKING ON THEIR LINK:
RIGGS FAMILY MIGRATION
The publication of the Riggs Family Migration compiled by John B Riggs describes the travels of Thomas Riggs, Brannick's father, starting in the state of Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee or North Carolina sometime between 1802 and 1820 and ending in Texas with his death in 1867. Also included are the travels of Brannick Riggs, the son of Thomas Riggs, from his birth in 1828 in Alabama, his marriage to Mary Elizabeth Robbins, the birth of their children and their travels from Alabama to Arizona ending with their settling at the western base of the Chiricahua Mountains, Cochise County, Arizona, in September 1879, an area which became known as the Riggs Settlement. The Riggs Family Migration publication includes births, deaths, marriages, land purchases and other significant facts from about 1802 until the Riggs Family Centennial in 1979.
MARY ELIZABETH RIGGS: MY STORY
An amazing, engaging publication by Nancy Sloan, daughter of Thomas Riggs, granddaughter of Brannick Benjamin Riggs (fifth child of Brannick and Mary Riggs). The story is carefully and creatively written as though it was written by Mary Elizabeth Riggs and includes excerpts from Mary Elizabeth's diary as well as from local newspapers. The story begins with the birth of Mary Elizabeth and ends in 1911 with Mary Elizabeth living with her youngest son and his wife at the Riggs Home Ranch. The publication also includes information and stories of Brannick's and Mary's children and their families.
Mary Elizabeth Riggs: My Story
MARY ELIZABETH RIGGS DIARY
Mary Riggs diary includes two volumes with the first entry on April 9, 1895 and the last entry on July 16, 1929. Both original volumes are located in Special Collections at the University of Arizona Library, Tucson, Arizona.
Thank you to Mindy Moore Scott, daughter of Gus Lee Moore, Jr., granddaughter of Lucy Elizabeth Riggs (ninth child of Brannick and Mary Riggs) for submitting the first volume of the diary to the Special Collections and thank you to Chris Roll, third son of Jeanette (Riggs) Roll for submitting the second volume of the diary to Special Collections.
Mary Riggs Diary
Both volumes are currently being photographed to be included on this website.
OUR EL DORADO
Our El Dorado is a family history initially written in part by John Casey Riggs and completed by his daughter Jeanette (Riggs) Roll. It was completed in December, 1957 and includes history from approximately 1800 to 1957.
Thank you to Chris Roll, third son of Jeanette (Riggs) Roll for submitting Our El Dorado publication to be included in this website.
CHICOSA BILL
Chicosa Bill
Currently being scanned to be included on this website.
RIGGS CENTENNIAL REUNION 1879 - 1979
The Riggs Centennial Reunion was held in Willcox, Arizona on June 16, 1979. The publication was written by Marge Bell, Elizabeth Ditmars, Mary Ann Grimes, John B Riggs, Ron Riggs and Jeannette Roll in preparation for the Centennial and includes photographs of family members attending the Centennial.
Riggs Centennial Reunion 1879-1979 / Section I
Riggs Centennial Reunion 1879-1979 / Section II
Riggs Centennial Reunion 1879-1979 / Section III (Family Recipes from the John Stark Family)