PETER RIGG, a prominent farmer of Missouri township, Brown county, is a native of Anderson county, Kentucky, having been born there, March 11, 1830. His grandfather, also Peter, came from England and settled in Virginia when it was yet a colony of Great Britain, serving in the Revolutionary war. He resided on the banks of the Potomac river for many years, but finally removed, at an early period, to Bourbon county, Kentucky, and later resided twenty years in Anderson county, Kentucky. From there he removed to Shelby county, Kentucky, where he died. He reared an interesting family of six children, of whom Richard Watson, father of our subject, was the second. Richard was born in Virginia in 1789, and grew to manhood in that State, but was married in Anderson county, Kentucky, to Elizabeth George, a native of Kentucky. Her father came from the Carolinas. This marriage ceremony took place in the early part of 1812. Mrs. Rigg died, and in the fall of 1830 Mr. Rigg married Peggy Utterback. By his first marriage he had two children: William T., an honored citizen of Missouri township; and Sarah, who married Henry Ausmus, but died April 17, 1852. By the second marriage he had seven children: Elizabeth, wife of John B. Ausmus, of Texas; Susan, wife of Joshua P. Singleton, of Missouri township; Eliza J. married James M. Parker and died August 13, 1855; James N. (see sketch); Margaret, wife of Abner Cogburn, of Hancock county; our subject; and John, who died November 24, 1852.
In the fall of 1831 Mr. Rigg moved from Kentucky to Illinois, first stopping in Morgan county. He then settled in Schuyler county, in that part which is now in Brown county, on section 20, Missouri township. Here he improved a farm, where he resided until his death, October 23, 1869.
Mr. Peter Rigg was reared on a farm until manhood and remained at home until his marriage in 1852, when he was united to Mary E. Clark, daughter of William A. Clark. She was born in Logan county, Kentucky, March 7, 1833.
Mr. Rigg continued to reside on the homestead, of which he became owner. He now has 190 acres of land and carries on mixed farming, to which he has given his entire attention.
Mr. and Mrs. Rigg have had nine children, three of whom grew up. They are: William C., born December 14, 1863, married February 4, 1890, to Nettie Miller, and they have one daughter, Myrtle, born in 1891; Melissa, born August 22, 1871, married March 15, 1892, to Eldred Yowell, resides in Monroe county, Missouri; Richard W., born July 8, 1874.
Mr. Rigg is a stanch Democrat in politics and has served his township as School Treasurer and Commissioner of Highways.
He is an old regular Baptist in religion. He has been a hard working man all his life and richly deserves all the prosperity that he now enjoys.