From GREATER WHEELING AND VICINITY
By Charles A. Winegerter, 1912; pages 670-671.
     
Contributed by Linda Fluharty. 


     WILLIAM G. RIGGS is one of the leading contractors and builders of this 
section, his place of business and residence being at McMechen. He stands at 
the head of his interesting profession and enjoys high prestige as the author 
of many of the finest buildings in his city. In his comparatively brief 
career, beginning in 1903, he has made great headway, and doubtless his 
greatest achievements lie before him. The McMechen Bank building, which has 
been widely praised, is of his planning and construction. Mr. Riggs is a 
tactful and progressive business man and a skilled mechanic.
     The subject was born in Marshall county,  West Virginia, in 1870 and 
is the son of Lemuel and Mary A. (Jones) Riggs, both of whom are natives of 
Marshall county. Lemuel Riggs was a farmer of considerable means, who enjoyed 
the respect and confidence of his community. To him and his worthy wife were 
born six children, five of whom are living at the present time, namely: 
Anginetta, John F., William G., Chester and Charles. All are farmers and all 
experienced and prosperous ones, well representing the great basic industry 
in the localities in which they are located. 
     Mr. Riggs, immediate subject of this review, received a good public 
school education, and learned his trade at Moundsville when a young man, 
early exhibiting proficiency of a marked character. In 1897 he removed to 
McMechen, and here has ever since made his residence and played his part in 
the many-sided life of the community. On December 14, 1895, he laid the 
foundation of a happy household and congenial life companionship by his 
marriage to Birdie, daughter of Silas and Martha Hammond. They share their 
home with three children, namely: Laurence, Beatrice and May.  Mr. and Mrs. 
Riggs are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and are valued helpers in 
the promulgation of its good works. The former is a loyal member of the lodge 
of Knights of Pvthias, his only fraternal relation. 
     The Riggs family has been for several generations in America, the first 
of the name to take up his residence here having been the subject's 
grandfather, Thomas Riggs, who was born in England. He was one of three 
brothers who came across the Atlantic together in quest of the new world's 
opportunity. Thomas located at Blue Stone, Pennsylvania, in which locality 
members of the family still reside.