Joseph Riggs
was born near Amity, Washington County, Pennsylvania, July 2, 1796, the eldest son of Stephen and Anne Baird Riggs. He had four brothers and six sisters. His father removed to near Steubenville, Ohio, when he was a child; and later to Sardinia, Ohio, where both he and his wife are buried. In August, 1817, our subject left his home near Steubenville Ohio, to visit his uncles James and Moses Baird in the Irish Bottom in Green Township, Adams County. While there he was offered the position of clerk in the West Union Bank, kept by George Luckey. This position he accepted on December 31, 1817; and in coming from Steubenville to Manchester, travelled on a flat boat.
While living at West Union he was a great friend of lawyer George Fitzgerald, and frequently borrowed his fine horse to ride to North Liberty to court Miss Rebecca G. Baldridge, daughter of Rev. William Baldridge. On January 1, 1819, he was elected cashier of the West Union Bank; and on December 8, 1819, he married Miss Rebecca Baldridge, before named. Soon after, they joined the Associate Reformed Church, at Cherry Fork. He served as cashier of the West Union Bank until 1823. On March 1, 1824, he was appointed auditor of Adams County, Ohio, to serve an unexpired term. He was elected and re-elected; and served from March 1, 1824, until the fall of 1831. In 1831 he was appointed a deputy surveyor of the Virginia Military District of Ohio, for Adams County. While holding that office, he made a connected survey of all the lands in Adams County, and made a map of the county which remained in the auditor's office till it fell to pieces from age. Mr. Riggs was an accomplished surveyor, but when or where he learned the science we are not advised. He resigned the office of auditor on October 3, 1831, to accept the office of state senator from Adams and Brown counties, to which he was elected as a Democrat in 1831 and served until 1833. In the fall of that year he removed to Hanging Rock, Ohio. He remained there until 1837, when he removed to Portsmouth, Ohio, where he resided the remainder of his life.
On reaching Portsmouth, in 1837, he and his wife connected with the First Presbyterian Church, and he was ordained an elder in 1838. He served until February 9, 1875, when he connected with the Second Presbyterian Church. He was at once made an elder in that Church, and continued as such during his life.
In 1837 he opened a general store in the city of Portsmouth, and con tinued in that business, either alone or with partners, for many years. He was a man of substance and of excellent business qualifications. In March, 1838, he was elected to a township office in Wayne Township, in which was located the town of Portsmouth. He was elected a member of the city council of Portsmouth, March 3, 1838; and continued in it, with intervals, until 1868. He was elected recorder of Portsmouth, April 10, 1838, and served until March 15, 1844, and again from March 17, 1848, to March 16, 1849 He was county surveyor of Scioto County from 1839 to 1841. On May 21, 1838, he was appointed on a committee to secure an armory at Portsmouth. He was surveyor of the town of Portsmouth from November 7, 1845, to March 7, 1849, and again from 1852 to 1854. On December 4, 1846, he was appointed one of the first infirmary board. of Scioto County, Ohio, and served by subsequent elections till 1852, and during that time he was clerk of the board. In 1860, he engineered the construction of the tow path from the city of Portsmouth to Union Mills, and charged $70 for his entire services. In 1867, he was president of the city council of Portsmouth. He was usually on the committee of ordinances, and was one of the most useful members of the council. He was responsible for most of the city ordinances and general legislation during his membership of council.
He was a public-spirited citizen, and was so recognized. When any delegation was to be sent on a public mission by the city authorities, he was usually one of it. In 1869 he retired from all business, and lived quietly until his death on July 28, 1877, at the age of 81 years, 26 days. He was a just man, a consistent Christian, and a most valuable citizen.
From "History of Adams County, Ohio from its Earliest Settlement to the Present Time" - by Nelson W. Evans and Emmons B. Stivers - West Union, Ohio - Published by E. B. Stivers - 1900