George Washington Rigg
The photo is of George Washington Rigg
George Washington Rigg was born on August 27, 1865 in Spring Arbor, Jackson County, Michigan to Leslie and Sarah Ann Shaw Rigg. He was named after his great-grandfather, George Rigg, of Perry County, Ohio and his Uncle, George Washington Rigg, who died in the Civil War.
The George Rigg Family - Back: L to R - Clara, Fern, Ray, Lydia and Sarah "Sadie"; front: L to R - Mabel, Mary, Inez and George Rigg.
George moved to Emerson Township, Gratiot County from Alaeidon Township, Ingham County, Michigan with his parents in 1879. George married Mary Willard on July 3, 1888 in Ithaca, Gratiot County, Michigan. Mary was born February 12, 1869 in Gratiot County, Michigan to Simon and Rebecca Byers Willard.
In 1893, George and Mary purchased 40 acres of land in Section 10 on the SW corner of Roosevelt and Fenmore Roads in Lakefield Township. They farmed the land and raised their children on this property for 48 years. George specialized in sheep shearing.
The George Rigg Family - Back: L to R - Clara, Fern, Ray, Lydia and Sarah "Sadie"; front: L to R - Mabel, Mary, Inez and George Rigg.
George and Mary had the following children:
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Sarah Ellen “Sadie” Rigg was born December 10, 1888 in Lafayette Township, Gratiot County, Michigan. Sadie married Roy Peirson in June of 1912.
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Ray Rigg was born October 30, 1890 in Lafayette Township, Gratiot County, Michigan. Ray married Amelia Christina Wenzel on May 19, 1915.
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Lydia Rigg was born July 1, 1892 in Gratiot County, Michigan. Lydia married John W. Briggs on January 26, 1916 in Lakefield Township.
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Nina “Fern” Rigg was born February 25, 1895 in Lakefield Township. Fern married Maxwell Arman on January 1, 1914 in Lakefield Township.
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Clara Rigg was born February 13, 1898 in Lakefield Township. Clara married Vernon M. Joley on October 11, 1917.
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Mabel Irene Rigg was born May 30, 1900 in Lakefield Township. Mabel married George Myers on August 9, 1920 in Ithaca, Gratiot County, Michigan.
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Inez Delta Rigg was born December 23, 1902 in Lakefield Township. Inez married Theodore L. Snyder on August 19, 1922 in Lansing, Ingham County, Michigan.
The George Rigg's children went to the Byrnes School which was located on the corner of Swan Creek and Fenmore Roads.
George and Mary's neighbors in 1896 were Louie Baker, Ed Miller, Joseph Tolfree, F.H. Cooper, John Baker, George Trudgeon, John Shay, Jacob Lauer, Charles Eggebrecht and Edward Gazette,
George and Mary Rigg
George registered to vote on April 1, 1893. He was appointed Gatekeeper by the Board of Elections, April 5, 1897. Mary was one of the first ladies in Lakefield Township to register to vote on March 29, 1919, after the women's suffrage movement. George was a member of the O-Saw-Wah-Bun 100 F Lodge in Merrill, Michigan.
George passed away April 22, 1941 and Mary passed away on November 3, 1939. They are both buried in the Lakefield Township Cemetery.
SOURCES: Grandchildren, Ray Jr. and Valaria Rigg; 1896 and 1916 Lakefield Township Plat Maps; George and Mary Rigg's marriage record; Lakefield Township Records; George Rigg's death record and obituary; researched by Great-Great Niece, Jackie Bucholz Rohde
Pioneers of Lakefield Township - Left to Right: Jacob Brown, Lawrence Dubay, Alva Hinterman, David Dubay, Mr. Harris, George Easlick, Calvin Harris; Ray Rowell standing towards the top of photo and his daughters, Mildred, Dorothy, and Carrie Rowell, sitting on the wood pile. Carry Rowell later married Fred Honaman. photo from John and Linda Honaman Johnson.
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